parish church wales closed ruins structure dates 15th century chapel added north 17th century replacement church built parish old church closed partly demolished abandoned restoration work taken place 21st century occasional services held grade listed building national designation given buildings special interest warrant effort preserve particular important survival retaining original late medieval features history location set churchyard countryside north wales kilometres village leads church nearest road metres away area takes church welsh word originally meant enclosure church modified form michael welsh saint church dedicated present structure dates 15th century extended local family added chapel north decision taken 1840s build new church different site parish centre population area shifted coal mining construction road road london opened old church closed welsh politician church historian sir visited chancel north chapel remained new wall built west end chancel joined nave restoration work taken place 21st century assisted funding statutory body responsible built heritage wales services occasionally held positions rector vicar church combined held increase dean income people associated church include appointed perpetual priest antiquarian better known later dean architecture fittings remains church chancel feet inches feet inches north chapel feet inches feet nave south chapel roof demolished removed walls built rubble masonry dressed sandstone church entered doorway west end chancel doorway 15th century pointed arch south wall shows chapel opposite wall window late 16th century lights sections window separated stonework entrance north chapel reduced width light east window dates late 16th century inscribed stone window records date north chapel windows north east wall similar style chancel inscription north window recording construction chapel west wall chapel blocked round headed window blocked pointed arch doorway north wall priest antiquarian visited time church feet internally recorded north chapel measuring feet inches feet south chapel separated main body church rotting wooden columns feet main entrance porch south nave door north bench windows north nave inscribed southern chapel said similar windows north chapel external wall east window noted shield topped apparently date step altar noted appeared priests given inscribed cross similarly marked use survey ancient historical monuments wales dated altar 11th 12th century churchyard contains chest tombs 18th 19th centuries slate survey noted fragment 9th 11th centuries built 18th century memorials church bell church plate benches bearing inscription moved new church south east church commonwealth war grave marine world war assessment church national recognition statutory protection alteration designated grade listed building lowest grades listing designating buildings special interest warrant effort preserve given status january listed consists substantial remains 15th century church 17th century additions responsible inclusion welsh buildings statutory lists notes old churches rebuilt 19th century remains constitute important survival retaining original late medieval features writing church closed antiquarian described ancient structure noted ancient stained glass east window brilliant colours visiting years later said greatly dilapidated interesting island described north doorway nave having elegant mutilated details good design state church wrote unfit purposes public worship sir noted visit church abandoned presenting scene decay internally commented good doorway west end chancel referred character north chapel guide churches describes lonely spot says worth visit
St Michael's Church, Llanfihangel Ysgeifiog