Church of All Saints Deganwy

DEGANWY CHURCH, NORTH WALES - In the design of country churches few English architects have been so successful as Messrs. Douglas & Fordham, of Chester, whose method of pleasing simplicity and sturdy breadth of effect has found its realization in many a country parish. We lately illustrated a particularly telling design of a simple type at Maentwrog, and now we have another, also in a beautiful surrounding. This is being built on a commanding site at Deganwy, overlooking the estuary of the Conway, in North Wales. The building is being erected at the cost of Lady Augusta Mostyn, in memory of her parents (the late Earl and Countess of Abergavenny), on land given by her ladyship's son, Lord Mostyn. The walling of the exterior and interior will be of Bodysgallen stone, from a quarry on the estate, all the dressings will be of chiselled Helsby mottled sandstone. There will be seating accommodation for 4oo. The vestries for clergy and choir are at the N.E. end, and the baptistery under the tower. The roofs will be carried out in Stettin oak, those over the chancel and sacrarium being ceiled in oak with moulded ribs. The roof will be covered with dark Llanberis green slates. The chancel will be paved with ancient glazed tiles and bands of Anglesey marble.

* In the laying out of the adjoining roads it is arranged for the church to be in the centre of a square, with roads all round, approached by a broad one from the sea. The church will be visible from the Holyhead Railway from Penmaenmawr to Conway. Messrs S. Parry & Sons, of Llanrwst, are the contractors. [British Architect 10 December 1897 page 423] 

DEGANWY, THE NEW CHURCH - All Saints' Church, Deganwy, is nearing completion n, and will probably be consecrated in the course of a lew weeks. The fabric, designed by Mr John Douglas, of Chester, is the gift of Lady Augusta Mostyn, who has also endowed the benefice. The church contains a beautiful font, given by Mr C. J. Wallace, ex-mayor of Conway, in memory of his parents. The clock to be placed in the tower is the gift of Mr W. M. Sever, and the organ' and lectern are also presentations. Deganwy forms part of the parish of Llanrhos, which extends from Llandudno, to the Junction. The Rev F. G. Jones is the vicar. This interesting parish church is situated on the hill between Deganwy and Craigydon, which latter suburb, with the new memorial church in course of erection there, is also situated in this extensive parish. The organist at the Deganwy Church is Mr C. W. P. Arrowsmith, who was awarded the coveted degree of "Pencerdd" at the National Eisteddfod last week. At present the services at Deganwy are held in the schoolroom, in the vicinity of the new edifice. [Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald 18 July 1899 page 5] 

DEGANWY CHURCH CONSECRATION. All Saints' Church, Deganwy, was consecrated by the Bishop of St. Asaph, on All Saints' Day. …. The new church necessitated by the increasing population of Deganwy, occupies, a charming position on the slope of a hill overlooking the estuary of the Conway, its limestone walls of a reddish tint relieved by light dressings, the robust tower and slated spire harmonising with the situation. The fabrics has been entirely erected at the cost of the Right Hon, Lady IL Augusta Mostyn, of Gloddaeth, in memory of her father and mother, the late Earl and Countess of Abergavenny, the first sod being out on "All Saints' Day," 1897. The site was given by her son, the Right Hon. Lord Mostyn. The church consists of a nave, two aisles, chancel, and sacrarium, vestries at the north with organ over, and a. baptistry at the west end under the tower, and provides accommodation for between 400 and 500 people. The walling is of local stone from a quarry at Bodysgallen and the chiselled work is of Manley stone which forms a pleasing contrast. All the roofs are of oak and are covered with dark green slates. The choir stalls and pulpit are also of oak, the latter containing a sculptured panel or our Lord charging his disciples "to go forth into the world and preach the gospel to every creature." The east window is filled with painted glass and is the gift of Lady Augusta Mostyn in memory of her father and mother, the late Earl and Countess of Abergavenny. The five compartments in it illustrate the subject of our Lords life, namely: -The Nativity, The Agony in the Garden, The Crucifixion, The Resurrection, and The Ascension. The windows in the side walls of the chancel are the gifts of Lady Augusta Mostyn and Lady Isabel Bligh in memory of their sister Lady Caroline Emily Nevill. These illustrate post-resurrection scenes in the life. of our Lord, viz -The Noli me Tangere St Peter and St John at the tomb, the Incredulity of St. Thomas, and the final charge to St. Peter, The remaining windows in the chancel contain figures of the Four Evangelists. These are in what is termed grisaille work, that is to say the pictures are painted on grey tinted glass and but very little colour is introduced, and consequently the light is not shut out. The elegant and richly-coloured west window, together with two smaller ones, are different in style and are the gift of Mr C. J. Wallace, MA, JP, of Deganwy, in memory of his relations. Another stained, glass window at the south aisle is the gift of Mr Douglas, the architect All the windows have been designed and executed by Messrs Lavers and Westlake, of Endall Street London. Another stained-glass window is to be placed at the end of the south aisle, the gift of Mr and Mrs Fincham, of Deganwy. Several other valuable gifts have been made towards the furnishing. The organ is the gift of Mr and Mrs James Walsh, of Sunny Cottage, Albert Drive, and constitutes a valuable addition to the church. This organ was specially built by Messrs Alex. Young and Sons, of Manchester. The case has been specially designed by the architect, the woodwork being of beautifully- carved oak, and! the front pipes are of very rich spotted metal. In the sacrarium is a richly- carved oak communion table, given by the Rev Francis G. Jones, vicar of the parish. Also, two carved oak chairs, given by the Hon. H. Lloyd Mostyn, J.P., D.L., of Bodysgallen. Other generous donors are Mrs Sever, and her son, Mr Cornelius Sever, of Manchester, and the Mount, Deganwy, who have presented a clock with two dials and also a peal of seven bells in the tower, manufactured by Messrs Taylor, of Loughborough, which were on view at the Ecclesiastical Arts Exhibition, Imperial Institute, London, during the Church Congress week of this year. The handsome white marble font, with green shafts and pavement under, is the gift of Mr C. J. Wallace, M.A., J.P., in memory of his late father and mother, and was executed by Messrs George Roberts and Brother, sculptors, Llandudno. The communion plate, of solid silver, is the gift of the parishioners, the acting treasurers being Mrs Tritton, Deganwy Castle Hotel, and Mrs Kirkby Smith, of Deganwy.' The communicants' kneeling cushion, from the well-known firm of Messrs Jones and Willis, is the gift of Mrs Cotes Preedy, widow of the late Rev Digby H. Cotes Preedy, vicar of King's Norton, Worcester.  A very handsome Bible is the gift of Mrs Elborough Woodcock, 3, Buckingham Palace Road. The large Prayer-book in the reading desk is the gift of Miss Blacker, Gloddaeth. Messrs Douglas and Minshull, of Chester, are the architects of the church, and the contractors are Messrs Samuel Parry and Sons, of Llanrwst and Llandudno Junction. [Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald and North and South Wales Independent 3 November 1899 page 3] [ North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser 4th November 1899 page 7]

The Bishop of St Asaph on Wednesday consecrated the new church of All Saints', Deganwy which had been erected entirely at the cost of Lady Augusta Mostyn, of Gloddaeth, in memory of her father and mother. [Towyn and Merioneth County Times 9 November 1899 page 7]

* The proposed square in front of the church never materialised.  All Saints Avenue now terminates in an irregularly shaped unpaved area in front of the church.