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Rug Chapel & Llangar Old Parish Church

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About

Walk through the beautiful garden of herbs, roses and lavender towards simple stone Rug Chapel with its little arched doorway – and prepare to be amazed.

Inside are wonders out of all proportion to the plain exterior. As your eyes adjust to the atmospheric lighting you’ll see fantastic carved animals adorning the walls and benches – scaly dragons, serpents and other strange whimsical monsters.

Above you the magnificent carved roof is painted in a glorious flowing floral design and four cut-out wooden angels guard the scene. Every surface seems to be a riot of colour or extravagant decoration.

Rug is one of very few 17th-century churches to avoid the ‘restorers’ of the Victorian Gothic revival. It was the private chapel of Colonel William Salesbury, affectionately known as ‘Hen Hosanau Gleision’ or Old Blue Stockings.

He was a staunch Royalist who defended nearby Denbigh Castle for six bitter months during the Civil War before reluctantly surrendering to parliamentary forces. While others embraced simpler forms of worship, he prayed here in high church splendour.

Old Blue Stockings died at the age of 80 having lived just long enough to see the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 – so perhaps his prayers were answered.

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Facilities

Children

  • Children welcome

Map & Directions

Road Directions

Rug Chapel: Off A494 2km/1.2mls N. West of Corwen. Llangar Old Parish Church: Follow A5 north-west towards B4401. 2km/1.2mls S. West of Corwen. The church is a walk of 300m/ 330 yards off the B4401.

Accessible by Public Transport: Ruabon station is 18 miles away.

Rug Chapel & Llangar Old Parish Church

Type:Church

Rug Chapel & Llangar Old Parish Church, Corwen, Denbighshire, LL21 9BT

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Tel03000 252239

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