Denbighshire

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Betws-yn-Rhos

"A parish in the Union of St. Asaph, hundred of Isdulas, four miles (SSW) from Abergele, containing 912 inhabitants. The village is pleasantly situated at the base of a lofty mountain, by which it is sheltered on one side, and has a fine opening towards the north, commanding a full view of the Irish Sea."
[ A Topographical Dictionary of Wales, 1833 & 1849, Samuel Lewis]

The ancient parish comprised the townships of Peniarth, Bodlyman, Maesegwig, Tre'rllan, Trofarth, and part of Cilcen.

Bibliography

• Owens, Miriam.   Dathlu canmlwyddiant Capel Hyfrydle, Betws yn Rhos, 1898-1998      1998.
• Wheway, J. Alan.     Betws-yn-Rhos  (1989 with additions during 2000-2008)    [Betws-yn-Rhos : John Wheway, 2009]

Church History

Church and chapel data from The Religious census of 1851 : A Calendar of the returns relating to Wales, Vol 11, North Wales. Ed. by Ieuan Gwynedd Jones, UWP,   1981. The names given towards the end of each entry are those of the informants.

Bettws-yn-Rhos Parish, Statistics; Area 6262 acres; Population 472 males, 423 females, total 895

• No return for parish church.   New church erected in 1839 ( Lewis 1849)
•  
• Horeb, Wesleyan Methodists             Erected 1833             Attendance - morning 20 scholars, afternoon 60 + 20 scholars, evening 69 + 17 scholars    William Henry Waylett, Steward, Cefn Isas near Coed Coch, Abergele
• Salem, Wesleyan Methodist         Erected 1825           Attendance - morning 55 scholars, afternoon 122, evening 142             Robert Hughes, Steward
• Sion, Calvinistic Methodist               Erected 1819          Attendance - morning 83, afternoon 52 scholars, evening 88              John Roberts, Manager and Calvinistic Preacher, Shopkeeper
• Tabernacle, Baptist         Erected 1831, attached to a house             Attendance - average - general congregation 100, scholars 35              Hugh Williams, Deacon, Carpenter

Ordnance Survey reference SH 907735.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Michael, was mentioned in the Norwich Taxation of 1254, as being part of the parish of Abergele, but it is distinct from Abergele in the Lincoln Taxation of 1254.
The old church was demolished in 1838; and the foundation stone of the present building was laid on 19 July 1838.

The Clwyd FHS website has a photograph of the church.

Nonconformist Churches "Welsh Church Commission - County of Denbigh - The Statistics of the Nonconformist Churches for 1905"lists the following nonconformist places of worship in the Civilparish of Betws-yn-Rhos :

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Church Records

Parish Registers

• The following Parish Registers have been deposited at the Denbighshire Record Office, Ruthin.
  They may be viewed on microfilm at the Denbighshire and Flintshire Record Offices, and at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.
  These microfilms are not available elsewhere.

• Clwyd FHS has published full transcriptions of the Registers / Bishop's Transcripts (complete with indexes) for the following years :

Bishop's Transcripts

• Bishop's Transcripts for the years shown below have been deposited in the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.
  Around the year 1951, most of the Bishop's Transcripts which had been deposited at that time were microfilmed by the LDS; and the films are available on request at Family History Centres of the LDS.
  The films may also be viewed at the Denbighshire and Flintshire Record Offices, and at the National Library of Wales.
  In general, the Bishop's Transcripts are less complete than the parish registers.

I.G.I.

• There are no official I.G.I. entries for St. Michael's, Betws-yn-Rhos.

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Civil Registration

In the GRO indexes to civil registration, entries for Betws-yn-Rhos are in the format :

• Years 1837 - 1851: St. Asaph XXVII. nnn
• Years 1851 - 1930: St. Asaph 11b. nnn

(GRO index references have no relevance at the local Superintendent Registrar's Office)

Description and Travel

Betws yn Rhos - on wikipedia

Betws yn Rhos - on the Welsh Icons site

Maps

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Population

• In 1831- the population was 912.
• In 1901- the population was 459.
  [ Royal Commission on the Welsh Church - October 1907]

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Last Updated 8 August 2011- Gareth Hicks