St Paul's Church, Colwyn Bay
| St Paul's Church, Colwyn Bay | |
|---|---|
 St Paul's Church, Colwyn Bay, from the southeast |
|
| Coordinates: 53°17′38″N 3°43′35″W / 53.2939°N 3.7265°W | |
| OS grid reference | SH 850 788 |
| Location | Abergele Road, Colwyn Bay |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Weekly attendance | 50-75 |
| Website | St Paul's, Colwyn Bay |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Paul |
| Consecrated | 13 July 1888 |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 25 July 1994 |
| Architect(s) | Douglas & Fordham |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1887 |
| Completed | 1911 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 200 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Colwyn Bay with Bryn-Y-Maen |
| Deanery | Rhos |
| Archdeaconry | St Asaph |
| Diocese | St Asaph |
| Province | Wales |
| Presbytery | Located on Walshaw Avenue |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar(s) | Rev'd Christine Owen |
| Assistant priest | Rev'd Dennis Kay |
| Laity | |
| Reader(s) | Michael Cotterell, George Wilson, David Smith |
| Organist(s) | Bryn Heywood |
| Churchwarden(s) | Nigel Cooper |
| Music group(s) | St Pauls Church Choir |
St Paul's Church, Colwyn Bay is the parish church of the town of Colwyn Bay, in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It is an active Anglican church in the deanery of Rhos, the archdeaconry of St Asaph, and the Diocese of St Asaph.[1] It is a Grade II* listed building.[2]
History
The first religious building on the site was a mission room in 1872 which was replaced by an iron and timber church in 1880. This building was burnt down in 1886.[3] The present church was designed by the Chester firm of Douglas & Fordham and built in stages. The nave was built in 1887–88 and the chancel was added between 1894 and 1895. The tower was started in 1910 and completed the following year.[4] It was the last major project to be undertaken by John Douglas but he died before it was completed.[5][6] In 1920 a narthex with a west door, designed by W. D. Caroe, was added as a war memorial.[4]
Architecture and contents
The church is large and cruciform, built in coursed rubble limestone with Runcorn red sandstone dressings and bands. The nave of five bays is broad with low arcades and a tall clerestory. The windows are lancets, with a rose window in the south transept. The tower is "bold, craggy and heavily buttressed".[4]
Internally there is a sedilia in the chancel, designed by Douglas. The stalls are carved with detail which is in "typical Douglas" style.[4] The reredos and riddle posts, dating from 1934–35, were designed by Caroe and are elaborately carved.[4] Depicted on the reredos are representations of the Supper at Emmaus and the Annunciation together with figures of Saint Kentigern, Saint Asaph, St Aidan and the Venerable Bede.[7] In the west window and in the two narthex windows is stained glass designed by Horace Wilkinson in 1920–21.[4] The first stage of the organ was built by Peter Connacher and Son in 1888. It was completed when the nave was built in 1891 and rebuilt by John Cowin in 1960.[3]
Hubbard describes the church as "an extraordinary building" and suggests that it might be Douglas' "prodigy church of its decade".[8]
Recent Incumbents
Towards the Entrance of the tower inside the Church, is a plaque holding all the Priests of Colwyn Bay Parish. Rev'd Nigel Williams arrived at the Church in 2004. He was fluent in Welsh so was able to take any matter of service at Dewi Sant (St Davids) Which is the Chapel next to St Pauls on Rhiw Road. In June 2011 it was announced that he would be leaving to become the Dean of St Asaph Cathedral. He Left in August 2011 and became the Dean in September that year. In December 2011 the new Priest had been chosen and Rev'd Christine Owen, who left Eglwysbach for Colwyn Bay was Chosen. She became the Parish Priest in March 2012. In November 2012, Rev'd Ginny Burton left Colwyn Bay with Bryn Y Maen Parish as she is now Priest-in-Charge in the Parish of Towyn and Associate Priest in the new ministry area which covers the parishes of Abergele & Pensarn, St George, Llanddulas and Llysfaen.
The Parish of Colwyn Bay with Bryn Y Maen
St Pauls Church is the largest church in the Parish of Colwyn Bay with Bryn Y Maen, and the largest in the Diocese of St Asaph. In the Parish of Colwyn Bay with Bryn Y Maen, there are three Churches and a Chapel. The Churches are St Pauls, St Andrews and Christ Church, Bryn Y Maen. Dewi Sant is a Welsh chapel with regular Welsh services on Sundays. It is located on Rhiw Road next to St Pauls. St andrews is a small Church located towards the back of West End, Colwyn Bay. Regular services are held there during the week with a small hall/room at the back for hire. Christ Church, Bryn Y Maen is a large church located in Bryn Y Maen which is One Mile from Upper Colwyn Bay. It carries a small congregation for a large Church. The Parish Hall (St Pauls Church Hall) is located towards the back of Dewi Sant, It has kitchen facilities and a Stage. It was designed by Douglas and Fordham in 1985.[citation needed]
Service Times for the Parish
St Pauls Church and St Andrews share a Family Eucarist together on the first Sunday of the Month at 10:30. St Pauls has holy communion (no singing and no sermon) at 8:30 on every Sundays except from seasonal holidays, it has a Holy Communion (Singing and a Sermon) at 10:30. On a Thursday it has a 10:30 Holy Communion (no singing and no sermon). St Andrews has Holy Communion at 10:30 and Evensong at 6:00. Christ Church has Holy Communion on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday in the Month. Matins is held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the Month. Dewi sant has only one service which is Holy Communion at 4:00 on a Sunday. St Pauls Runs a Sunday School at 10:30 for kids which is held in Dewi Sant.[9]
St Pauls Church Hall
The Parish Hall (St Pauls Church Hall) is located towards the back of Dewi Sant, It has kitchen facilities and a Stage. It was designed by Douglas and Fordham in 1985. It was the largest hall in the Parish. Unfortunately, In January 2013 the PCC (Parish Church Council) announced that the Church hall would be closed and given back to the Church in Wales Representative Body, who own it. The Church Hall was officially closed soon after.
Choir
There is a long standing choir with committed members. This is the largest choir in the parish by far and one of the largest in the diocese. Young members are encouraged to attend and take part in practice and services and other events. At the present time, the choir is flourishing and has been successful in its bid for funding, requested by the Association.[citation needed]
Youth
St Pauls has two youth groups. The first set up was called SPYCE; it was set up after the children's summer workshop, which has just celebrated its 3rd anniversary; it includes Arts and Crafts, Games and Drama. This caters for young people aged from 7 to 15 years old. A Brownie group is also attached to the church and meets in Dewi Sant during term time. Messy Church is also now taking place and proving to be very popular - see the church website for details of when this takes place.
Church Tower Youth Club
The Tower Senior Youth Group is currently being set up for 14 to 18 year olds. The group have decided what they will require, have cleared the space that has been allocated, are now setting up the space to their requirements and will be responsible for the maintenance of this area. They have sourced all the items required through their own initiative and through kind donations from the congregation.
References
- ^ About Colwyn Bay Parish, Parish of Colwyn Bay, archived from the original on 2009-10-25, retrieved 19 May 2009
- ^ Listed Buildings in Wales: Conwy, Cadw
- ^ a b Specification & Brief History of the Organ, Parish of Colwyn Bay, archived from the original on 2009-10-25, retrieved 19 May 2009
- ^ a b c d e f Hubbard, Edward (1986), The Buildings of Wales: Clwyd, London: Penguin, p. 135, ISBN 0-14-071052-3
- ^ Hubbard 1991, pp. 8–9.
- ^ Hubbard 1991, p. 204.
- ^ Churches and Worship Centres, Parish of Colwyn Bay, archived from the original on 2009-10-25, retrieved 19 May 2009
- ^ Hubbard 1991, p. 175.
- ^ Services, Parish of Colwyn Bay, archived from the original on 2009-10-25, retrieved 19 May 2009
Bibliography
- Hubbard, Edward (1991), The Work of John Douglas, London: The Victorian Society, ISBN 0-901657-16-6
