Clwyd Family History Society - Church Photographs
[ Clwyd FHS Home Page  |  Index  |  GENUKI for this Parish ]

Hawarden - St. Deiniol
Hawarden.jpg - 35512 Bytes
Ordnance Survey reference SJ 315659


Hawarden is one of the "ancient parishes" of Flintshire. It originally comprised the sixteen townships of Aston, Bannel, Bretton, Broughton, Ewloe Town, Ewloe Wood, Hawarden, Mancot, Manor, Moor, Pentrobin, Rake, Saltney, Sealand and Shotton.
On 12 December 1874, the new parish of Buckley was created, from the township of Ewloe Wood and parts of the townships of Ewloe Town and Pentrobin.
On 30 May 1921, the new parish of Shotton was created, from parts of the townships of Shotton, Aston, Sealand and Saltney.

The parish of Hawarden was traditionally a "peculiar" - the only one in Wales. The Rector was exempt from the jurisdiction of any Bishop - he held his own ecclesiastical courts, proved wills, and granted marriage licences. Confirmations were performed by invited Bishops.
Peculiars were abolished in 1849, and on the 30th of July 1849 the peculiar of Hawarden was attached to the diocese of St. Asaph. However, the Rector of Hawarden continued to prove wills until 1858, and he is still permitted to grant marriage licences to this day.

St. Deiniol's church has a history of at least 1000 years - the list of known Rectors dates back to 1180.
Considerable damage was caused by a fire, which was started deliberately, on the night of the 29th of October 1857. Fortunately, however, the parish registers were rescued by a young parishioner named Richard Hammond, who entered the burning building by breaking through a window.
After rebuilding, the church was re-opened on the 14th of July 1859.

The church was in Flintshire until 1974; and in Clwyd from 1974 until 1996.

It is now in "new" Flintshire.

For "family history" information about the church and parish, click on the GENUKI link at the top of this page.

Copyright © Clwyd Family History Society