This wonderful old painting shows St Collen’s Church before the great Victorian re-ordering of the 1860s.
If you look carefully, you’ll notice some striking differences. The high oak box pews that once filled the church have gone. During that major restoration, the church was enlarged with the addition of the south aisle, a west entrance was created, and the building was extended eastwards to form the present chancel. The St Collen’s we know and love today is itself the result of bold changes made by an earlier generation.
At the time, the Shrewsbury Chronicle (1867) explained the reason for those works:
“On account of the growing wants of this thriving and attractive town, it was felt that additional church accommodation was imperatively required.”
Those words still resonate today.
Every generation has been entrusted with caring for this remarkable building, ensuring that it continues to serve the people of Llangollen. While the needs of our community have changed since 1867, the calling of the Church has not. Through the Genesis Project, we are seeking to create a warm, accessible and welcoming space that enables St Collen’s to flourish as both a place of worship and a centre for community life for generations to come.
We know many people are interested in the progress of the Genesis Project, and we want to reassure everyone that it has certainly not been forgotten. Projects of this scale take time. a great deal continues to happen behind the scenes. We hope to be able to share further news and developments over the next couple of months.
The story of St Collen’s has always been one of faithful stewardship, preserving our precious heritage while ensuring the church continues to meet the needs of the people in our town that we serve today.
That story is still being written today.
For more information visit stcollenschurch.org.uk/genesis-project
