St Collen's Church

Collen was a monk from Glastonbury who is reputed to have arrived in Llangollen in a coracle and founded the first church on the site in the 6th century. It is the only church in Wales with a dedication to Saint Collen. In the 13th century, a new church was built on the site and developed further in the following centuries. Of this building, the major remaining element is the tower, which dates from the 18th century. In the early 19th century, the church was the place of worship of Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, the Ladies of Llangollen, whose house, Plas Newydd, was situated just outside of the town. They are buried in the churchyard. Between 1864 and 1867 the church was almost…

The 13th-century church was of a double-nave design. Little of this building now remains, although a fragment of a medieval stone shrine has been incorporated into the current structure. The unusual arrangement whereby part of the church forms part of the churchyard boundary may also reflect its medieval origins. The present church is mainly the work of Smith, who undertook a mid-Victorian reconstruction. The 18th-century tower was retained on grounds of cost. The building has triple aisles and is constructed of coursed rubble with a slate roof. The church is a Grade I listed building.