St Gastyn's Church

Heritage listing

Reason for designation: Listed II* as an important early work of J L Pearson and for its fine and almost complete Tractarian interior. Group value with The Old School and the lychgate. History: A medieval church preceded present building, itself possibly on an earlier site, since the churchyard is nearly circular and there is archaeological evidence of crannogs and lakeside settlements in the Early Christian period. Church rebuilt 1850 by J L Pearson, part of extensive redevelopment of Treberfydd Estate following its purchase by Robert Raikes in 1840s; architect and patron had already worked together in Hull, Raikes family home town. The rebuilding of Treberfydd mansion, the church and the School House were Pearson s first major commissions. Raikes had been strongly influenced by the Oxford Movement at University and had become a committed Tractarian, these principles being strongly reflected in the building. Alterations since building are few but apparently a metal chancel screen now removed was designed for the re-used wooden wainscot. Exterior: Church in early Gothic Revival - Early English - style. Built of coursed rubble with ashlar dressings, stone tile roof in diminishing courses, blue ridge tiles, apex crosses, stepped coping. Plan of W tower, nave, S porch, short chancel, SE organ chamber, NE vestry. W tower of 2 storeys, plain string courses at 3 levels, plain coping; staircase tower NE and gargoyle N; ringing chamber has double pointed arched louvred lights with pierced quartrefoil tracery and hood mould with scroll stops on 3 sides; lancets to tower chambers and staircase. Wider nave has steep and deep roof with moulded ends to rafters and hollow chamfered eaves course; nave windows are single lancets. S porch has similar pitched roof with prominent kneelers

From Cadw under OGL v3.