Bettws y Crwyn

The following photographs are of areas in the parish of Bettws y Crwyn, which borders that of Sarn.

Bettws is unusual in that there is no village centre. All dwellings are scattered among the hills.

The photograph below is of St Mary's Church which acts is one of the three meeting places in Bettws. The other two are the Parish hall and the Anchor pub. These are also not in the same place, but considerable distances from one another.

More information may be found on   http://bettws.wordpress.com/home

St Mary's Church, Bettws y Crwyn is said to be the highest in England. At approximately 400metres above sea level it lies near a ridgeway road, with stunning views of the parish.

First mentioned in records in 1276 had probably existed as a very small church - which was rebuilt in the early 14th century. Two hundred years later a new roof was added, together with a rood screen of great beauty and interest.. The wooden pulpit and altar rail are Jacobean. The roof is slate, but until Victorian times it had been thatched.

Unusually the ends of the pews are painted with the names of the farms to which they were allotted.

The people of Bettws y Crwyn form a close community

with a tradition of working together to create opportunities for meeting one another.

There are three main groups - The main groups are The Parish Council, The Parochial Church Council, The Parish Hall Committee, the Ladies Choir and The Womens'institute. 

Throughout the year regular events are held. These serve a dual purpose. They raise funds for the support and maintenance of the church and parish hall, and provide the opportunity for social events. There are monthly coffee mornings held in people's houses, and larger events held in the church or the parish hall.

One such event took place last weekend.

The Ladies Choir,and other performers from Bettws, together with guests' from Newcastle. Churchstoke and Lydbury North created an  entertainment following the traditions of the Music Halls  which flourished from Victorian times until the 1950s.

Performers and audience dressed in Edwardian (sort of) clothes  and sang along with the performers. The audience included residents of Sarn who may be familiar to you, as will some of the performers.

   It was a wonderful community event which grew from an initial idea from the project, and was guided by a member of our group.

The evening was hugely successful, and there is already talk of doing it again!