St Sadwrn's Church

Heritage listing

Reason for designation: Listed Grade II* for its special interest as a largely early C19 parish church retaining its preaching box plan and some contemporary detail, but incorporating substantial elements of a late medieval parish church, including some primary architectural detail. Group value with other listed items at the Church of St Sadwrn. History: A Celtic Llan was established on this site some time in the C6 or C7 by St Sadwrn: the Ecclesia de Henlan is first mentioned in Pope Nicholas Taxatio of 1291. The present building is probably of late C13 or C14 origin, though with the exception of the N doorway, a small piscina and a re-located tracery window in the vestry, nothing diagnostic remains of this early period. A large Perpendicular E window (restored in the C19) belongs to a late C15 or early C16 phase. The church was extensively rebuilt in 1807-8 at a cost of 964, at which time simple Y-tracery Gothic windows were inserted. A further restoration was carried out in 1878/9 by Richard Lloyd Williams, architect of Denbigh, at a cost of 1,900. During this phase the internal plaster was hacked off, a new S porch and vestry were constructed and the W end was remodelled. The Y tracery windows were improved by insertion of cusped elements in the pointed lights. Exterior: Medium-sized, single-cell parish church of rectangular plan. Of limestone rubble construction with yellow sandstone (1807) and limestone (1878) dressings; primary red/brown sandstone quoins to the corners, with limestone to the upper (heightened) sections. Slate roof with coped C19 gable parapets, having moulded kneelers and eaves course; stone gable crosses. Five-bay sides with S porch and N vestry projection to the second bay from W. The former has a gable as before and a double pointed arch with

From Cadw under OGL v3.