The Parish and its People
The parish of Llanymynech lies half in England and half in Wales. Originally it was part of the Diocese of St Asaph, but it was transferred to Lichfield when the Church in Wales was Disestablished in 1920.
The site of the church is a very early foundation, as can be seen in what remains of its circular enclosure.
There is evidence of rectors being appointed to the living of Llanymynech since 1254. A list of names is given on the incumbents board, which is sited on the north wall of the nave.
The Church Building
The present building is at least the third on the site. A water colour still exists of the previous church building to occupy the site, which was a double building with a small bell turret at the west end. It was probably constructed in 1272-1307 of rubble stone and plaster. By the nineteenth century it was in poor repair and it was demolished in 1843.
The foundation stone of the present church was laid on May 25th 1843. The church was constructed in Normanesque style, with distinctive arches, pillars and capitals. Local limestone was used for the bulk of the construction with additional ornamentation in terracotta. The new church cost £2000.
Significant refurbishment took place in the 1970s and 1980s, and again following an earthquake which caused considerable damage in April 1990.
Inside the Church
The present organ, which is still used every Sunday, was installed in 1888. It was built by John Bellamy of Denbigh.
The mediaeval stone font was removed from the church prior to demolition in 1843. For over 100 years it was used as a flower trough, before being restored to the church in 1961.
The church has several Victorian stained glass windows. The East Window, comprising 5 lights, dominates the church and was placed in there in 1855 by the Rev'd John Luxmoore in memory of his second wife Anne. The window shows five events in the life of Jesus - His birth, baptism, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, with Old Testament counterparts given below - Adam, the crossing of the Red Sea, the sacrifice of Isaac, Jonah and the Whale and the ascension of Elijah.
The current congregation hopes to install a porch in the west end of the nave in the near future.
The Clock
The clock is a prominent feature of the church. From the outside its faces can be seen from a considerable distance. This was a deliberate choice to allow workers at the quarry above the village to read the time. It has a particularly loud tick, which is most noticeable in the north porch. The clock was made by Richard Roberts and donated to the church in 1844. Roberts was born in Llanymynech and became a successful engineer, working in the cotton industry in Manchester.
The Bells
The two bells currently housed in the tower pre-date the building. The larger bell was cast by Mears in 1836. The smaller bell is much older, probably seventeenth or eighteenth century. In 1894 eight tubular bells, made by Harrington, Latham and Co were installed in the tower. All the bells are still in working order.
The Churchyard
The Churchyard was substantially levelled and cleared in 1972 and seven years later it was officially closed, along with the 1898 and 1929 extensions. The maintenance of the churchyard then passed to the local authority. In 2006 the Montgomeryshire Genealogical Society published a record of the memorial inscriptions. This can be purchased from them, or viewed at the church by prior arrangement.
A longer account of the history of the church is available in 'The Parish Church of Llanymynech', published by the Rev'd Prebendary Tony Villiers in 1994. This is available for sale from the church.