1500 Years of St Bridget's

A church in Dyserth was noted in the Domesday Book of 1086, but the origins go further back - dedicated to St. Bridget and also to St. Cwyfan. St. Cwyfan was famous as a hermit and we can imagine him setting up a hermitage - and a bit like John the Baptist, calling people to be baptised in the waters of the stream.

The name Dyserth suggests a deserted place ideal for a hermitage, likely to be bult on the raised ground where our current church still stands - possibly 6th century, making it one of the oldest Christian foundations in North Wales, with strong connections to Ireland and much influenced by St. Bridget who we believe visited this part of Wales. This theory is strengthened by the wheel headed crosses of Dyserth, standing now at the back of the church.

Earliest parts of the church are dated to the 13th century when it was likely the wooden building would have been replaced in stone. These are clearly seen in the great buttresses that form the West door.

The 13th century building has been repaired and restored throughout its history, the most recent by Sir Gilbert Scott, who virtually rebuilt it in the 1870’s. The costs of the restoration were met by the Bodrhyddan family and the Tates.

Sunday, 1st June at 10.30 sees a celebration by the Rt. Rev'd Dr. Gregory Cameron, Lord Bishop of St. Asaph. The celebration will mark the 1500th anniversary of the consecration of our own village church.