Brithdir St Marks – Interior – Looking East
The interior decoration and fittings are arguably the most complete and high-quality Arts and Crafts work in Wales. These include, amongst other outstanding features, a richly decorated circular font (not shown here but located behind), a decorated altar made by the 'lost wax' process that features a drawing of the Annunciation with the Virgin and dove to the left faced by a kneeling angel-child and to the extreme right, two sombre figures of Charles Tooth and his guardian angel.
The rendered interior has been repainted and whilst it does not correspond exactly with Wilson's intended (though possibly not executed) colour-scheme of 'rich warm red' nave walls, blue nave roof and 'warm cream, almost a yellow' for the chancel, the spirit of his mixture of strong primary colours has been retained.
It has been reported that the church is a shared space with a colony of lesser horseshoe bats, who are protected by Welsh Nature, but the church does limit their visits to the roof-space to reduce incidents of 'bombing' of important fittings!
The Church of St Mark, Brithdir was built in 1895–1898 under the patronage of Mrs Louisa Tooth, widow of the Revd Charles Tooth the founder of the Anglican Church in Florence. The character of the church is 'Mediterranean', not unlike other examples in the area such as St Philips Chapel at Caerdeon and Portmeirion, an Italian replica village near Porthmadog.
The church closed in 2003 but since 2005 is now in the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches (FoFC) who describe it as... “An Arts & Crafts jewel-box with Italianate influence situated on Cader Idris and designed by Henry Wilson”
Inside, it's unlike most other churches in the UK. You step in from a cool Welsh wooded countryside, albeit mostly rhododendron, into an unusually large space bathed in warm pastel colours of terracotta, light blue and yellow. Reminiscent of the Mediterranean! Instead of stained glass windows, of which there are none, you have decorations, ornaments, pulpits and fittings which are equally as interesting, as described above.
The FoFC carried out repairs and internal decorations in 2008. The building is now available for visitors to enjoy and for occasional services to take place. It is listed Grade 1.
The information in this set is derived from the church guide, the FoFC and the general internet, although one reference refers to the church as 'St Mary's' rather than St Mark's. I visited on a downcast day, the light of which only partly illuminated the inside, particularly the area around the organ. I'm sure if you visited on a bright day, the colours would be far more vivid with perhaps a few sunbeams shining in from the windows. A unique church and especially beautiful too in the right light.
For more information, please see.....
friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/church/st-marks-brithd...
Brithdir St Marks – Interior – Looking East
The interior decoration and fittings are arguably the most complete and high-quality Arts and Crafts work in Wales. These include, amongst other outstanding features, a richly decorated circular font (not shown here but located behind), a decorated altar made by the 'lost wax' process that features a drawing of the Annunciation with the Virgin and dove to the left faced by a kneeling angel-child and to the extreme right, two sombre figures of Charles Tooth and his guardian angel.
The rendered interior has been repainted and whilst it does not correspond exactly with Wilson's intended (though possibly not executed) colour-scheme of 'rich warm red' nave walls, blue nave roof and 'warm cream, almost a yellow' for the chancel, the spirit of his mixture of strong primary colours has been retained.
It has been reported that the church is a shared space with a colony of lesser horseshoe bats, who are protected by Welsh Nature, but the church does limit their visits to the roof-space to reduce incidents of 'bombing' of important fittings!
The Church of St Mark, Brithdir was built in 1895–1898 under the patronage of Mrs Louisa Tooth, widow of the Revd Charles Tooth the founder of the Anglican Church in Florence. The character of the church is 'Mediterranean', not unlike other examples in the area such as St Philips Chapel at Caerdeon and Portmeirion, an Italian replica village near Porthmadog.
The church closed in 2003 but since 2005 is now in the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches (FoFC) who describe it as... “An Arts & Crafts jewel-box with Italianate influence situated on Cader Idris and designed by Henry Wilson”
Inside, it's unlike most other churches in the UK. You step in from a cool Welsh wooded countryside, albeit mostly rhododendron, into an unusually large space bathed in warm pastel colours of terracotta, light blue and yellow. Reminiscent of the Mediterranean! Instead of stained glass windows, of which there are none, you have decorations, ornaments, pulpits and fittings which are equally as interesting, as described above.
The FoFC carried out repairs and internal decorations in 2008. The building is now available for visitors to enjoy and for occasional services to take place. It is listed Grade 1.
The information in this set is derived from the church guide, the FoFC and the general internet, although one reference refers to the church as 'St Mary's' rather than St Mark's. I visited on a downcast day, the light of which only partly illuminated the inside, particularly the area around the organ. I'm sure if you visited on a bright day, the colours would be far more vivid with perhaps a few sunbeams shining in from the windows. A unique church and especially beautiful too in the right light.
For more information, please see.....
friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/church/st-marks-brithd...