St Michael's Church, Tremain

Summary

St Michael's Church, Tremain, is a redundant church in the hamlet of Tremain (or Tremaen), Ceredigion, Wales. It has been designated by Cadw as a Grade II* listed building,[1] and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches.[2]

St Michael's Church, Tremain
West front of St Michael's Church, Tremain
St Michael's Church, Tremain is located in Ceredigion
St Michael's Church, Tremain
St Michael's Church, Tremain
Location in Ceredigion
52°06′28″N 4°34′42″W / 52.1078°N 4.5782°W / 52.1078; -4.5782
LocationTremain (or Tremaen), Ceredigion
CountryWales
DenominationChurch in Wales
WebsiteFriends of Friendless Churches
History
StatusFormer parish church
Architecture
Functional statusRedundant
Heritage designationGrade II*
Designated17 August 2009
Architect(s)John Jones
Architectural typeChurch
StyleGothic Revival
Groundbreaking1846
Completed1848
Closed2008
Specifications
MaterialsPwntan sandstone
Slate roofs

History edit

The church was built in 1846–48 on the site of an earlier church. The architect was John Jones, who had trained in London with George Gilbert Scott and William Moffatt. Jones was also a poet, known by his bardic name of Talhaiarn.[1] Jones is acknowledged as the first architect in Wales to have received a formal training,[2] and this is the only building to have been designed exclusively by him.[1] In 2008 the local rector applied to have the church closed.[2] At that time it was listed at Grade II, but in August 2009 Cadw raised its Grade to II*,[1] and in 2012 it was vested in the Friends of Friendless Churches.[2]

Architecture edit

St Michael's is constructed in Pwntan sandstone quarried locally at Tan-y-Groes, and has slate roofs. Its plan consists of a nave, a north aisle, a south porch, and a chancel. At the west end is a stepped single bellcote with a coped gable, and at the northwest is a small octagonal turret. The windows are all lancets, with a three-light east window and a two narrow lancets at the west end of the nave. On the gables are cross finials.[1]

Inside the church the walls are rendered, and support five oil lamps, three on the north walls and two on the south. The grey stone font dates from the 13th century, and was originally in the earlier church. It is square and stands on a thick cylindrical shaft and a square base with steps. The pews and pulpit are in stained pine. Between the nave and the north aisle is a pine screen, and the aisle contains pews that are smaller than those in the nave. In the chancel the choir stalls are also in stained pine, and have large poppyheads.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Church of St Michael, Y Ferwig Date Listed: 3 June 1995 Cadw Building ID: 15871". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "A New Vesting", Newsletter, Ancient Monuments Society and Friends of Friendless Churches, pp. 5–6, January 2012