All Saints' Church, Llangar

About

Llangar Church, or All Saints Old Parish Church, Llangar, was formerly the parish church of Llangar with Cynwyd, in the Dee Valley, Denbighshire, North Wales. It is now under the guardianship of Cadw, is a Scheduled Monument, and a grade I Listed Building. It is conserved and open to the public as an example of a rural church with medieval wall paintings and largely intact 18th century interior fittings.

History: Documentary sources show a church at Llangar in 1291, but the present building would appear to date to the 15th century (1971 excavations within the church found this to be the earliest identifiable occupancy). The Church has an undivided nave and chancel, flagstone floor, and arch-braced roof with 15th century roof trusses. The walls have wall paintings, which probably represent at least 8 different layers of painted schemes. The earliest of these date to the 15th century. The extensive woodwork of the interior includes a gallery, box pews, benches and pulpit, all of which date to the early part of the 18th century. By 1682 the parish was two identifiable townships of Llangar and Cymmer. By 1856 the majority of the population were living even further up that valley, at...