St Paul’s Mission Church, (St Andrew's Church), Lansdowne Road, Colwyn Bay

• Foundation         2 November 1908, stone laid by Mrs Gamble
• Opening              February 1909
• Extended            1924-1925
• Closed                30 September 2013

COLWYN BAY'S NEW CHURCH. FOUNDATION STONE LAID BY MRS D. GAMBLE. The new building, which is now in course of construction, is situated at the corner of Alexandra (sic) and King's-roads, so that the site has been removed nearly half a mile further west. In taking this step Canon Roberts and his co-adjutors have been obviously influenced by the fact that the town is extending its wings westwards, so that, in addition to meeting the wants of a large section of the community at present, provision has been made for the future. The new church will eventually provide seating accommodation for about 550 people, and will form two naves with a tower. For the time being. however, only one section is undertaken. This measures 72 feet in length by 22 feet in width. It will have a fine open-timber roof, while the floor will be made up of a patent composition. It will be electrically lighted; the heating will be by means of the most efficient of modern hot- water systems, whilst the ventilation will be on the latest principle. Seating accommodation will be provided for between 250 and 300. The site has cost £750. whilst the contract for the present portion has been let to Mr J. O. Davies, of Mochdre, for £1065, "extras" being estimated at £150—a total of £1965. [Welsh Coast Pioneer 5 November 1908 page 5]

TENDERS REQUIRED. ST. PAUL'S MISSION CHURCH, COLWYN BAY - Tenders are invited for the Building and Completion of the first portion of the above. Plans may be seen and Bills of Quantities, Forms of Tender, etc., obtained on application to the Architects, Messrs J. M. PORTER and ELCOCK, The Estate Office, Colwyn Bay, upon payment of a deposit of £1 1s, which will be returned upon receipt of a bona fide Tender, and the return of all Documents, Bill of Quantities, etc. Note - Quantities will be issued on Wednesday, the 29th inst. Plans may be seen from Monday, the 27th inst., and Tenders are to be lodged with the Architects, on or before Wednesday, the 5th August, at 5 p.m. The lowest or any Tender will not necessarily be accepted. [Welsh Coast Pioneer 23 July 1908 page 1]

NEW MISSION CHURCH CONTRACT. Mr J. O. Davies, of Mochdre, has secured the contract for the erection of the projected new, mission church in the West end of the town. The plans, which have been prepared by Messrs J. M. Porter and Elcock, provide for a fine, commodious structure, but the whole scheme will not be pushed forward until such time as the needs of the district call for it. The nave only will be proceeded with now, but over this there is to be no unnecessary delay, for the work is to commence at once so as to be completed by the beginning of March. As already, announced in the "Pioneer," the site chosen is situated at the corner of Lansdowne and King's roads, land formerly owned by the Colwyn Bay Estate Company. The new church will, of course, take the place of the iron church at present in use in Coedpella-road, and the project has been taken up with so much enthusiasm that there is every reason to believe the expenditure entailed on the edifice will be speedily guaranteed. [Welsh Coast Pioneer 3 September 1908 page 6]

NEW CHURCH FOR COLWYN BAY. On Monday, at Colwyn Bay, in summer-like weather, the foundation stone was laid of a stone mission church which is being erected in the western end of the parish. A large and representative gathering witnessed the ceremony, among those present being the Countess of Dundonald and the Hon. L. A. and Mrs Brodrick, together with a number of the clergy of the St. Asaph and Bangor dioceses. It was expected that the Bishop of St. Asaph would take part. but his lordship was prevented by another engagement from attending. When completed the church will afford accommodation for 550, but for the present only one of the two naves is to be constructed, the cost of the first portion being about £1,100, almost the whole of which has been subscribed. The building is being executed by Mr J. O. Davies from the designs of Messrs J. M. Porter and Elcock. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs Gamble, of Colwyn Bay and St. Helens, to whom a silver trowel was presented by Mr Elcock on behalf of the architects. Among those who officiated at the service were Archdeacon Evans., the Revs. Canon Hugh, Roberts (vicar of Colwyn Bay), Thomas Jones (vicar of Abergele), and Rees Morris (curate), and addresses were delivered by the Hon. L. A. Brodrick and Mr John Brock. Clarion Roberts stated that that was the fifth ceremony of the kind he had been associated with at Colwyn Bay.  [Llandudno Advertiser 7 November 1908 page 6]

Colwyn Bay's New Mission Church. St. Andrew's Church, Colwyn Bay, was opened for divine worship on Sunday. Holy Communion was celebrated at eight, and thirty-three received the Sacrament. At the time of the laying of the foundation stone sufficient had been subscribed to cover the most of the portion since erected, but there is still a debt on the land. This portion seats about 250, and will form the side nave of the completed Church, when the accommodation will be for 536. The architects are Messrs. J. M. Porter and Elcock, and the contractor, Mr. J. 0. Davies, has also, secured the contract for the Church walling. [North Wales Weekly News 26 February 1909 page 5]

Work on the first phase of the scheme, comprising a single nave and north-west timber-framed porch, in an Arts and Crafts style was begun in 1908. Window dressings were unmoulded. The five-light west window is a pointed lunette, with arched-up transoms, the middle one higher than the others. However, the second phase of Porter and Elcock’s scheme was not implemented. In 1924-1925 a new chancel, gabled north transept organ chamber, and flat-roofed south transept vestry were constructed at a further cost of £2,930, with windows in a more conventional Perpendicular style.

The church closed on 30 September 2013, and was offered for sale in 2017.

Reference        Welsh Coast Pioneer 23 July 1908 page 1 - contracts
Reference        Building News 31 July 1908 Page xiv - contracts
Reference        Welsh Coast Pioneer 3 September 1908 page 6 -contractor selected
Reference        Llandudno Advertiser 7 November 1908 page 6 - foundation
Reference        Welsh Coast Pioneer 5 November 1908 page 5 - foundation
Reference        North Wales Weekly News 26 February 1909 page 5 - opening