The name or dedication of the church.
This identifies the church type. Most churches are parish churches which means they serve a specific parish or area. Other types such as chapel, daughter and mission are mostly historic designations as many are now also parish churches. Please note that former churches are no longer used for worhsip and may be in private ownership.
A unique identification number given to every church.
The name of the diocese in which the church is located.
The name of the archdeaconry in which the church is located.
This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.
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There are 3 levels of listing: Grade I, II* & II. The majority of buildings which are of special interest are Grade II. A much smaller number of particularly important buildings are listed as Grade II*. Buildings of exceptional interest (approx 2% of the total number of listed buildings) are Grade I.
Ancient monuments and archaeological remains of national importance are protected by law. Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service is responsible for compiling a schedule (list) of these ancient monuments, some of which can be found in churches and churchyards. Examples can include churchyard crosses and the archaeological remains of previous churches or buildings on the site.
There are three National Parks in Wales: Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons. These protect 20 percent of the land in Wales, including precious landscapes, habitats, villages and heritage sites.
There are over 500 conservation areas in Wales. They are designated by local planning authorities for their special architectural and historic interest.
The Buildings at Risk register is managed by Cadw (the Welsh Government’s historic environment service) in order to identify the number and type of listed buildings at risk in Wales.
It is often extremely difficult to determine a precise date of construction for a church as many have been extensively altered over time. Church Heritage Cymru therefore shows a date range within which a church is believed to have been constructed. The dates are as follows: Early Medieval (pre 1066), Medieval (post 1066 to 1540), Post Medieval (1540 to 1837), Victorian/Pre WWI (1837 to 1914) and Modern (post 1914).
This is a very brief summary of the church's main features. More detailed nformation can be found in the other fields and pages (tabs) in this database.
Useful information is displayed here for people wishing to visit the church. This may include things like opening hours, catering & toilet facilities, parking, etc.
If the church has its own website the details will be displayed here.
Any further sources of information for the church will be listed here (eg. links to other historic databases).
This is the Ordnance Survey (OS) reference for the location of the church. Some locations will be approximate as this data is continuously being refined and updated.
This is the name of the Local Authoirity within which the church is located.
This describes how the church relates to its immediate and wider environment, sometimes called its setting. It describes how the church contributes to its landscape or townscape and how these things collectively contribute to the character of the area.
St Asaph is just south of the A55 North Wales Expressway 45km northwest of Chester and 34km east of Conwy. The cathedral is at the top of the hill dominating views of the city from the west.
Reference AA Route Planner OS Map 116 Cadw Listing Notice 1460
This is a description of the ground plan of the church.
If known, the dimensions (measurements) of the church ground plan will be displayed here.
If the footrprint (area) of the church is known, it will be displayed here.
A description of the history and archaeology of the church and its site.
A monastery, clas site and an episcopal see were established here c560 by St Kentigern (also known as St Mungo) after he left Glasgow. On his return to Glasgow, he was succeeded by St Asaph. The see was re-established in 1143 by the Normans creating the four ‘Sees’ of Wales and the Norman cathedral was built with an Early English Choir being built in c1239. Damage caused by royal troops in 1245 and 1282 resulted in a building programme begun by Bishop Anian in 1284 and lasting until 1381. The major part of the work took place between 1310 and 1320 and has been attributed to Master Henry of Ellerton. He was the Master of Works at Caernarfon castle in 1309 and Master and Surveyor of the King’s Works in the castles of North Wales. It is the resemblance of the style of work in both Caernarfon and St Asaph which has led to this conclusion. The central tower, the work of Robert Fagan, was added in 1391-2. Owain Glyndŵr burnt the cathedral and the subsequent restoration was completed by Bishop Redman in 1482. The top of the tower was blown down on 2nd February 1714. The chapter house and choir were remodelled by Joseph Turner in 1778/9. The tower parapets were the work of Benjamin Gummow in 1810/11 and Lewis Wyatt lowered the ceiling in the nave so obscuring the clerestory c1822. A full restoration took place in 1867-75 by Sir George Gilbert Scott assisted by H J Fairclough when many of the C18 and early C19 were removed and alterations were made to the choir. Restoration of the tower was carried out by C M Oldrid Scott to the tower in 1929-32 and the vestry wing was added during the restoration of 1956-70
Reference Buildings of Wales– Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice 1460
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
The cathedral is now a Decorated Gothic building with a 5-bay nave, 2 transepts, a crossing tower with a crenelated parapet and a 3-by Victorian Early English square ended choir. A variety of stone, variously textured and coloured grey, buff and red; course rubble and roughly dress save to the choir which is mainly dressed sandstone. There are slate roofs. The chamfered buttresses at the west end are survivals form C13. On the northside of the building is a round arched recessed Norman door which formally led to the Chapter House. The C18 Gothic tower has a square stair turret and clock face to the North dated 1794. The square octofoil clerestory windows were re-opened by Scott. In the 4th bay of the north side of the nave, the entrance dating from mid C19.
Information about any noteable architects, artists, people, or events associated with the church.
Information about any important features and building fabric.
If known, a list of the church's major building material/s will be displayed here.
Any renewable energy systems the church is using will be listed here.
This section gives a general description of the interior of the church. Further details of any important internal fixtures and fittings will be listed below.
The interior of the cathedral is mainly coursed rubble with freestone dressing. The nave has a timber ceiling which is heavily ribbed to suggest a lierne vault – the work of George Gilbert Scott, the crenelated springers sit on the original corbels. The arcades have 2 wave and sunk chamfered moulded orders which are a fine example of early C14 work and all with a timber vaulted ceiling. The transepts were exposed in 1929 by Oldrid Scott, to the north is the organ and Translators Chapel while to the south, in what was a Consistory Court, is the Lady Chapel. There is a course of stones laid on end to about impost level which may suggest the height of the Norman Building. On the south side of the choir is the remains of Thomas Jones’ choir screen. The chancel still has the fine late C15 stalls, they are the only surviving canopied examples in Wales, they were possibly made by William Frankelin. They are tall and vaulted with crocketed canopied with carved foliage, elbow knobs and misericords and now have traceried backs the work of Gilbert Scott. He also added one stall diagonally at either end and the Bishop’s Throne (the Cathedra) to the south east. The colonettes to the front were inserted in 1906. Gilbert Scott lined the choir with mainly red and beige ashlar and inserted a panelled wagon ceiling with rose bosses. There are detached polished marble shafts to the eastern windows and clustered shafts with some stiff leaf to the western bay. The full width reredos from 1871 is the work of Earp of London, it has a central triptych, its alabaster shows the Procession to Calvery . At the west end of the building is an iron chest dated 1738 and is by the Davies brothers. The Perpendicular font incorporated four quatrefoil panels from its previous font said to have been destroyed during the Commonwealth period, it is said to date from the 1660s but looks C19. Gilbert Scott’s restoration include the communion rails, the eagle lectern and the pulpit which has some incised patterning and busts looking out from the panels. The stained glass: ‘Scenes from the Life of Christ’, Ward & Hughes, 1864; elsewhere there is Victorian glass. There are two bells, one cast in 1848 by C & G Mears and one cast in 1947 by John Taylor & Co.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice
Information about the church's important internal fixtures and fittings.
Information about the church's important moveable items and artworks.
A description of the ecology of the churchyard.
Information about the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.
Records whether the church has been consecrated.
Records whether there have been burials in the churchyard.
Records whether the churchyard is still being used for burials.
Records whether there are any war graves in the churchyard.
Any important churchyard structures will be listed here.
Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship of the church to its surrounding area and helps place it within its wider landscape context.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the significance of the historic building fabric of the church.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the historic significance of the interior of the church.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship between the church and its community.