St Philip's Church, Caerdeon

About

St Philip's Church, Caerdeon, near Barmouth, in Gwynedd, North Wales, is a redundant church and a Grade I listed building in the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches. The church was built in 1862 for the Rev. William Edward Jelf, a High church clergyman and senior censor at Christ Church, Oxford.

It was designed by his brother-in-law, John Louis Petit. Petit was a noted architectural critic and artist, but St Philip's is one of only two buildings known to be by him. Jelf wanted a church on his newly acquired estate where his Oxford seminarians could worship in the English language.

This led to a considerable controversy as there was an existing legal obligation to hold services in Welsh in all churches in Welsh-speaking areas. Jelf lost his case in the Court of Arches but was supported by the Bishop of Bangor who used his influence and position in the House of Lords to secure the passing of the English Services in Wales Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c.

82), which allowed for English-language services in certain circumstances.