St Mary’s Churchyard, Brymbo / Mynwent Eglwys y Santes Fair, Brymbo
The Diocese of St Asaph is circulating information to residents of Brymbo and visitors to the St Mary's Churchyard letting...
Read moreInformation about Roof Safety Activity Update – May 2026
Over the coming weeks, a small section of temporary fencing will be installed at the back of St Mary’s Church in Brymbo ahead of repairs to stonework, supporting the roof.
The small section of fencing is required three metres from the building and will be close to the middle gate entrance to the churchyard. The fencing will not enclose the entire church and will only be in place until the work has been completed by a stonemason.
Further work is required on other sections of the roof to ensure the safety of visitors to the churchyard.
The churchyard will remain open and access to graves will be possible via the main entrance at the front of the church and the lower gate into the churchyard. The middle gate, via the steps, will be locked.
Previous fencing, erected around the entire church in April, has been removed. Snowboards have been installed around the roof to prevent any loose slates falling to the ground.
Thank you for your understanding while these necessary safety measures are carried out.
Questions & Answers – St Mary’s Church, Brymbo,
Roof Works and Graveyard Access
Why is fencing being installed now?
The fencing is temporary and will enable a stonemason to repair a gable end at risk of falling to the ground. Only a small section of the churchyard will be contained within the fencing.
Does this mean building work is starting?
No. These works are solely for safety purposes. They do not represent redevelopment, repair works, demolition, reopening, or any change of use.
Why is action being taken now?
The roof has been monitored for many years, but its condition has continued to deteriorate. A structural engineer has assessed the roof recently and identified a couple of areas in need of repairs to ensure the safety of visitors to the churchyard.
Who is paying for this work?
The work is being funded by the Representative Body of the Church in Wales, which has responsibility for managing safety risks associated with church buildings.
Does this change earlier decisions about the church closing?
No. The closure followed professional advice and Mission Area decisions taken because the building could no longer be used safely. These safety measures do not alter or reverse those decisions.
How might graveyard access be affected?
We do not envisage this work causing problems to visitors wanting to access the churchyard. While the work is completed, a small section of temporary safety fencing is required three metres from a section of the building at the back. The middle gate which accesses the church via steps will be closed. Access will be via the main entrance of the churchyard, and via the lower gate for the bottom section of the churchyard.
Will the Diocese keep people informed?
Yes. The Diocese recognises how important St Mary’s and its churchyard are to the community and is committed to being clear and transparent about what is happening and why.
Information about Roof Safety Activity Update – April 2026
Over the coming weeks, work will be taking place at St Mary’s Church in Brymbo to allow contractors to put in place temporary roof safety measures. This work is being undertaken solely to reduce the risk of loose roof slates falling and to keep visitors to the churchyard safe.
Due to the church’s exposed position, high winds significantly increase the risk of slates becoming dislodged. There is a real concern that falling slates could cause serious injury to anyone visiting the graveyard.
Specialist roofing contractors are currently confirming whether snow plates can be installed along the guttering around the building as a safety solution. If this is confirmed, snow plates will be installed around the entire church.
During the work, it will be necessary to create a temporary safety perimeter around the church building. This will be at least two metres from the church and could affect access to a very small number of graves for a limited period. We understand that this may be distressing, and we want to assure you that we are working to minimise any impact and ensure people can visit their family grave as required. We are looking to contact families directly, but if you feel your family grave could be impacted by the fencing, please contact us.
The temporary fencing is essential to reduce the risk to visitors while the safety measures are put in place. In addition, the middle gate into the churchyard will be locked and access will only be via the main entrance and the lower gate. These restrictions will be temporary.
No other works are taking place. The installation of the snow plates or the temporary fencing does not indicate redevelopment, demolition, reopening, or any change in the current status of the building. The work is being funded by the Representative Body of the Church in Wales as part of its responsibility to manage safety risks while wider discussions about the future of the building continue.
Thank you for your understanding while these necessary safety measures are carried out.
Questions & Answers – Roof Safety and Graveyard Access
Why is fencing being installed now?
The fencing is temporary and will enable visitors to continue to visit the churchyard, while contractors work to install roof safety measures, including snow plates if confirmed. These measures will help reduce the risk of loose slates slipping or falling and are necessary to protect people visiting the churchyard.
Does this mean building work is starting?
No. These works are solely for safety purposes. They do not represent redevelopment, repair works, demolition, reopening, or any change of use.
Why is action being taken now?
The roof has been monitored for many years, but its condition has continued to deteriorate. The increasing frequency of strong winds means that additional safety measures can no longer be postponed.
Who is paying for this work?
The work is being funded by the Representative Body of the Church in Wales, which has responsibility for managing safety risks associated with church buildings.
Does this change earlier decisions about the church closing?
No. The closure followed professional advice and Mission Area decisions taken because the building could no longer be used safely. These safety measures do not alter or reverse those decisions.
How might graveyard access be affected?
While the work is completed, temporary safety fencing is required and this will impact access through the churchyard. The middle gate which accesses the church via steps will be closed. Access will be via the main entrance to the top section of the churchyard, and via the lower gate for the bottom section of the churchyard. During the works, it will not be possible to move through the churchyard from the top to the bottom.
Access to some parts of the graveyard — including to a very small number of graves — may be restricted temporarily for safety reasons. This is to protect visitors from the risk of falling roof slates. Any restrictions will be for as short a time as possible.
Will the Diocese keep people informed?
Yes. The Diocese recognises how important St Mary’s and its churchyard are to the community and is committed to being clear and transparent about what is happening and why.
St Mary’s Church, Brymbo: Update Following Community Consultation (Spring 2026)
Thank you to everyone who took part in the recent consultation about the future of St Mary’s Church.
We have now received the independent report, which brings together what people shared through the consultation process.
What we heard
The consultation shows that:
We also heard that there has been confusion about:
We recognise that clearer communication is needed.
What we will do next
We are committed to being open and clear about the situation and to responding to the points raised during the consultation.
In the short term, we will:
In the medium term, we will:
In the longer term, we will:
Keeping in touch
We are committed to improving communication going forward and will provide updates as further information becomes available.
If you have any questions, please contact the Communications Officer for the Diocese of St Asaph, Karen Maurice: karenmaurice@cinw.org.uk / 07918 133420.