St John the Baptist's Church, Penyffordd

St John the Baptist's Church is a Grade II* listed Gothic Revival church in Penymynydd, part of the community of Penyffordd in Flintshire, north-east Wales. Built in the 1840s, it is regarded as one of the finest Victorian village churches in the area and is the only active church in Penymynydd today.

What is the history of the church?

The church dates from 1843 and was paid for by Sir Stephen Glynne of Hawarden and his family, a prominent local landowning family. Building costs were reported at more than £3,000, a considerable sum for a rural parish at the time. Sources spell the patron's surname both as Glynne and Gwynne, but the connection with the Hawarden estate is consistent. The design is attributed to the architect John Buckler, who worked in the Gothic Revival manner popular in the mid-nineteenth century.

Its listing at Grade II*, a category reserved for particularly important buildings, was confirmed in 1997 by Cadw, the Welsh heritage body. Only a small share of listed buildings in Wales hold this higher grade.

What does the building look like?

The church follows a clear and compact plan:

• an aisleless nave;
• a west tower that doubles as the entrance porch;
• a chancel that is narrower and lower than the nave;
• an octagonal vestry on the south-east side.

It stands in its own churchyard on the north side of the A5104, at the northern end of Penymynydd. The churchyard is still used as a cemetery.

What can you see inside?

The interior is the main reason to visit. The nave is covered by a false hammerbeam roof, a decorative timber structure that gives the impression of a medieval hall without carrying the load of a true hammerbeam. The painted decoration here is restrained. In the chancel the scheme becomes richer, with more elaborate gilded decoration that draws the eye towards the altar.

The painted interior is linked to the first priest-in-charge, the Rev. John Ellis Troughton, who shaped the early appearance of the church. The stained glass includes a window of around 1910 by James Powell & Sons, a well-known London glassmaking firm. The glass is catalogued in Welsh stained-glass records, which makes it of interest to anyone following this craft across Wales.

Is it worth a visit?

Yes, if you enjoy Victorian architecture, church interiors or local history. The church is small, and a visit takes under an hour, but the quality of its decoration sets it apart from more modest village churches. It also fits well into a wider route through Flintshire, close to the Welsh border with Cheshire.

Frequently asked questions

Where is St John the Baptist's Church? In Penymynydd, in the Penyffordd area of Flintshire, on the A5104 road.

When was it built? In 1843.

What is its heritage status? It is a Grade II* listed building.

Is the church still in use? Yes. It is the village's church, and its churchyard serves as a cemetery. Check locally for service times and opening hours before you travel.

Who designed it? The architect John Buckler, in Gothic Revival style.