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Bettisfield, Maelor South, Wales |
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BETTISFIELD VILLAGE WEB |
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Built by Lord Hanmer in 1873 the church is now a grade ll* listed building. It was built entirely at his own expense and only the finest materials were used. The east & west windows are by Clayton and Bell; the bells by John Taylor of Loughborough; the tiles surrounding the alter are Minton and the church was built using Grinshill stone. |
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The west window showing scenes from the life of St John the Baptist |
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On Sunday evening April 27 1851 cottage lectures were begun in the parlour of the Bettisfield village shop, by the vicar John Allen school master of Hanmer. So successful were these lectures that the vicar decided to build a wooden chapel on glebe land. Sir John Hanmer gave two oak trees, and two baulks of timber were brought from Liverpool by canal . The chapel was designed by the vicar and built by John Price of the Rowry. It was opened for service on October 12 1851. |
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During the years 1999—2004 the Parish Church Council improved the lighting; installed a new boiler; added more radiators; the bells were removed by John Taylor of Loughborough who were the original manufacturers; new headstocks fitted and tuned. These are now full circle rung every Sunday. A toilet for the disabled was built of Grinshill stone and the church is now fully accessible for the disabled. |
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Services continued for the next 23 years until the present church of St John the Baptist was completed.
It was in 1856 that Sir John Hanmer decided to build a full sized church for Bettisfield and plans were drawn up, but it was not until 1873 that the church was built by Powel & Rogers of Prees and completed in October of 1874. |
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Since the start of 2007 The Parish Church Council has embarked on a project to fully comply with the requirements of the last quinquennial report which involves repairs to the church roof; repairs to the lytch gate roof; replacing all the plastic rainwater goods with cast iron; repairs to the drains ground levels and gravestones; repairs to the east & west windows; stonework repairs and re-pointing. The first three items are now completed and paid for. The final three items are work in progress and according to the schedule should be finished by the end of August |
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The Rev. Joseph Dobell then curate of Gresford was appointed curate, his stipend being paid by Lord Hanmer who by then had been raised to the peerage. |
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For further information - www.openchurchnetwork.co.uk |