Church of St Mwrog

Three-bay arcade of red sandstone: wide shallow-pointed arches with 2 orders of chamfered mouldings on piers of 4 clustered circular shafts with square corbels which chamfer down to octagons. Medieval 7-bay arched-brace roof over nave and chancel, with 2 tiers of curved windbraces. Fine medieval tower arch at W end of N aisle, 4-centred-arched with 4 orders of red sandstone mouldings; infilled small opening above. The aisle has a 5-bay arched-brace roof of C19 date, possibly restored in the C20. Chapel at E end of aisle with boarded wagon roof, also C19. In the E wall is a broad segmental-arched recess which forms a wall-passage around the E respond of arcade. In front is a medieval octagonal bowl font of red sandstone on a later broached base. The remaining fittings and fixtures of the church are C19: The nave has pews with moulded bench ends, octagonal wooden pulpit to R with blind traceried panels; chancel has choir stalls with traceried decoration, moulded wooden altar rail with traceried openwork beneath, wood panelled reredos with brattishing. In the NW corner is a large panelled pipe organ, partly blocking the W window. Aisle has wood panelled screens decorated with rosettes, to chapel and tower, both C20.

Monuments: C18 and C19 wall monuments including: E end of aisle, pedimented pilastered tablet to Thomas Hughes, Rector of the parish and Master of Ruthin School (d. 1776), by R. Westmacott. On N wall of aisle, Grecian-style tablet to Jane Hughes (d. 1829), and also to her brother, Thomas Jones, by John Wright of Chester.

Stained glass: Stained glass to N and S sides is contemporary with the restoration of the church, and is by Lavers and Barraud. These include N chapel window depicting St Mark and St Matthew, to Robert and Sarah Anne Ellis; S wall of chancel, to Elizabeth Williams of Merllyn. The E window of the N aisle may be by Burlison & Grylls, 1907, to Robert Blisard. E chancel window, showing nativity, resurrection and ascension, is to Peter Roberts of Pen y bont.

Nave and chancel in one, N aisle, W tower, and S porch. Constructed of unusually large blocks of roughly coursed stone; the C19 work is of smaller blocks of stone, found to N wall, part of E end and upper levels of S wall. The church has a slate roof with tile cresting, raised stone copings on moulded kneelers and sandstone eaves cornice. Most of the windows are C19, of yellow or red sandstone. Those to N and S are 2- or 3-light, with trefoiled lancets. The E windows are in Perpendicular style.

Massive embattled 3-stage tower, now aligned with N aisle. Original doorway to W end, shallow-pointed arched, of large blocks of hollow-moulded red sandstone, under an original hoodmould, partly eroded. The fluted canted jambs are probably later. Double boarded and studded doors. C19 2-light yellow sandstone window above entrance. Small opening with red sandstone surround at mid-level of S side, which may be medieval; 3 small lights to N side lighting NW stair. Each face has a 2-light Decorated belfry opening of yellow sandstone, probably C19. Battlemented parapets above plain string course; saddleback roof.

South side of church has a timber-framed gabled porch on stone plinth, and with slate roof. Timber-framed front has jowled posts supporting a chamfered tie-beam, probably original features. The principal rafters appear C19. Angle struts to gable, and timber panel with bottle glass roundel. Under the tie-beam are late C20 double boarded doors. The sides of the porch are slate-hung, with single- and 3-light windows with ovolo-moulded mullions and quarry glazing; one to E side is blocked. Interior of porch has 2-bay arched-braced roof and curved windbraces. Flagstone floor, wooden side benches, horizontal boarding beneath windows. Doorway leading into nave has chamfered pointed-arched head containing a boarded door with strap hinges; truss above is boarded with band of pierced quatrefoils attached to tie-beam. South side of nave has 2 red sandstone windows to R of porch, 2-light to centre and 3-light to R; the former could be medieval. East end has C19 Perpendicular-style windows of yellow sandstone, both 3-light, the lights with trefoiled heads, under hoodmoulds. That to chancel has triangular head, that to aisle is rectangular. To W end of nave, similar 2-light rectangular window, the lights with ogee heads. The N side has 3 x 2-light windows in yellow sandstone, the lights with trefoiled heads.