Church of St David Chester Road / Croes Atti Lane, Pentre, Oakenholt, Flint

His first work, St David’s Church, which opened in 1872, was built at a cost of £1,350 as a daughter church of St Mary’s, Flint, and intended to serve the small industrial community at Pentre FF. It is assumed to be the school/chapel on St David’s Road for which tenders were sought in June 1871 and comprises a four-bay nave and polygonal apse. Externally it is of red and yellow polychromatic brickwork, many of the patterns and designs identical to those which appear on the slightly later Ardwick and Ancoats Dispensary. Stone plate tracery. Later baptistery.

Encaustic tile pavement by Minton, the tiling including references to the builders of the church on the chancel step. Encaustic tile pavements were installed at several Flintshire churches in the late Victorian period, including that at Emmanuel Church, Mold Road, Bistre, Buckley (manufacturer J. C. Edwards, fitted 1881). Internally the polychromatic brickwork has been painted over. The 1899 OS map also show a small building at the rear of the church which may have been the master’s house referred to in the Manchester Guardian advertisement.

The church is now closed, the final service being held on 9 January 2011

Reference    Manchester Guardian Tuesday 27 June 1871 Page 3 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Guardian Thursday 29 June 1871 Page 1 (Contracts)
Reference    Hubbard Buildings of Wales: Clwyd. page 350