About St John’s

The parish of Rhosymedre was formed in 1844 when the old parish of Ruabon was split into the ecclesiastical parishes of Rhosllanerchrugog, Ruabon and Rhosymedre. The Parish consists of the villages of Acrefair, Cefn Mawr, Rhosymedre and Newbridge.

Built of local Cefn Stone the Church is dedicated to St John the Evangelist and was consecrated on the 6th of July 1837, on land which had been donated by Sir Watkin Williams Wynn. It was built largely at his expense but a grant of £600 was given by the Incorporated Church Building Society, and further endowments form the Tithe rent charge of Llanfair Caerenion of £100, and by interest from a consideration of £900 from Queen Anne’s Bounty, which also assisted in the purchase of a house presented by the governors to the living.

The architect was Edward Welch and his plan has been described as ‘sprawlingly cruciform’ with low pitched roofs and corner pinnacles. It has a western porch with a saddle back bell cote and a peal of tubular bells.

Former vicars of St John's, Rhosymedre include John David Edwards (vicar from 1843 to 1885), whose most famous hymn tune composition is Rhosymedre.^[3]