One of the smallest churches in Wales, St Julitta's, renowned for its connections to aristocrats, artists, and mountaineers, is set for a major restoration.
According to North.Wales, The Friends of St Julitta’s have received approval from the Eryri National Park Authority’s planning committee to restore the 600-year-old building’s floor.
Constructed in the late 15th or early 16th century, St Julitta’s is now deconsecrated and maintained by the Friends, a voluntary conservation and local history group. Originally known as Curig’s Chapel, the Grade II listed church gave its name to a larger building opened in the village in 1883, now called St Curig’s. St Curig, who lived in the sixth century, was known as Curig Lwyd (Curig the Blessed) or Curig Farchog (Curig the Knight), according to the History Points website.
Historical evidence suggests that Capel Curig, built around 1540, was constructed under the patronage of Sir Rees Griffiths of Penrhyn. His sister Margaret and her husband leased the farm of Gelli Mynach, on which the chapel of ease was built. The chapel is located just west of the A4086, the Capel Curig to Caernarfon road, near the Plas Y Brenin National Outdoors Centre.
Restored in 1776 and extensively renovated by local landowner George Hay Dawkins-Pennant of Penrhyn Castle in 1839, it is believed that the Penrhyn slate slab floor dates from this period. Box pews were also introduced in the 1839 restoration, possibly recycled from elsewhere.
St Julitta’s is well-known for its picturesque view of Eryri from Capel Curig, frequently depicted in paintings and photographs. The Friends have been granted permission to expose the old slate floor beneath modern concrete paving stones inside the church. The approved work involves lifting, removing, and disposing of the approximately 160 flagstones from the 1960s floor. Additionally, the project includes work on two edge stones at the raised altar, sweeping, and removing underlying loose screed to reveal the mid-19th-century slate floor.
According to the news outlet, the aim, according to the Friends, is to “enhance the character and appearance of the church.” The restoration will use matching Penrhyn slab slates, and the box pews will be restored on a wooden frame with floorboards, as they originally were. Assessments will be made of the condition of the underlying slate flooring, with plans to review options for repair and restoration.
The group intends to remove the “inappropriate” 1960s concrete paving slab floor, which they believe “seriously damages the historic and aesthetic appearance of the church interior.” Before submitting the planning application, a community consultation was conducted, with the Capel Curig Community Council expressing support for the work.