St. Tysilio's Bryneglwys

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A walk around the church

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Yew_trees.jpg (51658 bytes) As you walk up the church path you pass the Yew trees on your right. Yew trees are often found in churchyards. A variety of reasons are given for this, including the idea that the evergreen Yew is a symbol of immortality and that the wood of the Yew tree was particularly good for bow-staves in the days when each community was expected to have a supply of archers ready for service in their overlord's fighting force. These particular trees are probably those referred to in the Churchwardens' accounts of 1680: "Item to John Thomas for two young plants of yew tree, and the setting thereof 1s 8d" (less than 10p!)

In the past a churchyard cross stood level with the west wall of the church, three paces from the south of it. In 1878 the steps and basement of this cross were still in existence, but all the other parts had disappeared. These last signs were removed shortly afterwards 'by the parish clerk without the knowledge of the vicar' (Old Stone Crosses of the Vale of Clwyd: Rev. Elias Owen).

The church has one bell dating from 1735. The Churchwardens account book of the time hints at some comings and goings surrounding its purchase:

"Paid the Bell founder £5 - 10 - 0 (£5.95)

Paid for weighing the bell 3d (about 1p)

Paid for two days journey to Ruthin 4/- (20p)

Paid for taking the bell from the steeple 1 /- (5p)

Paid for carrying the bell to the steeple 3 /9 (19p)

For the carrying of the bell to Ruthin and back again 2/6 (12p)

Paid the smith for work and iron 1/4 (7p)"
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Come in through the main door and notice the large hinges across the centre of the door on the inside. Before the gallery on the west wall was removed, the door needed to open in half to make access to the water stoup on the wall and the gallery stair possible. The gallery was taken down in the restoration of the church in 1875. At that time most of the wood in the church had to be burnt because of woodworm, except for the pulpit. New seating was fixed, new choir stalls and a new altar table. The vestry dates from this restoration also.
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The font dates from 1875 also. It is one of the many gifts and memorials given by the Yale family. A brass plaque on the floor states that it is in memory of the infant son of William and Isabella Corbett Yale, who died age five months. Around the font is carved "IEUSU AU CYMMERODD HWY YN EI FREICHIAU AC AU BENDITHIOD" ("JESUS TOOK THEM IN HIS ARMS AND BLESSED THEM").

To the right of the door note the brass plaque commemorating the dedication of a Hydro Electric Plant. This scheme in 1926, using a stream that flowed near the vicarage,  provided electricity for the church and also for the vicarage, village shop, Ty'n Bedw, a light by the War Memorial, the school and school house and Llan Ucha. But at service times the lights in all these places had to be switched off in order to ensure enough power for the church lights to work! It was opened by the first Archbishop of the Church in Wales, who also happened to be the Bishop of St. Asaph.
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The pulpit is seventeenth century with bands of carved foliage. This is one of the few old bits of wood to remain after woodworm was discovered during the 19th century restoration. The choir stalls date from the nineteenth century but include older sections, including a carved panel dated 1615.

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The East Window is in memory of 'John Parry Jones, Clerk, and Margaret his wife' and dates from 1876. The scenes in the window are commentaries on the three Christian qualities of faith, hope and charity (love) which St. Paul wrote about in his first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13. 'Faith' is illustrated by the story of Abraham's trust in God that enabled him to be ready to obey even when obedience east window.tif (1950222 bytes) seemed to mean the sacrifice of his only son. God intervened to prevent his son, Isaac's, death and Abraham became one of the great symbols of faith. (Genesis 22:1-19). 'Hope' pictures the wise men, travelling to visit the child, Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12). 'Charity' shows the practical and unselfish love of the Samaritan traveller for his 'neighbour' who had been mugged and robbed (Luke 10:25-37).

On the floor beside the wall in the Yale Chapel lies a stone slab, somewhat battered, but one of our treasures. Between carved leaf trails can just be made out the inscription 'HIC JACET TAGWYSTYL FIL YEUAF AP MERERED. GRA. P. EAE.' ('Here lies Tagwystyl, daughter of Ieuaf ap Maredudd. Pray for her.') Tagwystyl was daughter and heiress of Ieuaf ap Maredudd of Bod Idris, just over five miles north east of Bryneglwys. Her husband was Gruffydd ap Llewelyn ap Ynyr of Gelli Gynan, near Llanarmon yn Iāl. He died about 1320 and both husband and wife were buried at Valle Crucis, the Cistercian monastery just over the mountain at Llangollen.  The sepulchral slab is thought to have come from the workshop of Madog ap Gruffydd at Valle Crucis. It was brought to Bryneglwys from the Abbey at the dissolution of the monasteries in Henry VIII's reign.

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