Ruthin's St Peter's Church celebrates 700 years

St Peter's Church has been welcoming worshippers since the early 1300s

St Peter's Collegiate Church in Ruthin begins a fortnight of celebration to mark its 700th anniversary.

The Dean of Westminster, The Very Revd Dr John Hall, will preach at Sung Eucharist, to mark the start of events (13 June).

His visit celebrates the link between a famous former warden of Ruthin, Gabriel Goodman, who also became Dean of Westminster in 1561.

"I hope our celebrations will encourage all Christians to engage afresh with the people of this most beautiful town," said warden Rev Stuart Evans.

It's wonderful that for 700 years there has been regular worship here - I hope it continues. Church warden Margaret Parr

The church was built by John de Grey in 1310 and was consecrated by Anian, Bishop of Bangor.

From 1310 to 1536 St Peter's was a Collegiate Church (a church staffed by a community of priests) served by a prior and seven priests.

Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the college of priests was dissolved.

The church went into decay though it continued to be used.

In 1574 Gabriel Goodman returned to Ruthin and re-founded Ruthin School and, in 1590, the Wardenship of Ruthin.

The church continues to have a warden, rather than a vicar, to this day, a tradition that is peculiar to Ruthin.

It is also unusual in having four church wardens where most churches only have two.

One of these, Margaret Parr, is very happy to be taking part in the celebrations.

"For me, it's wonderful that for 700 years there has been regular worship here and I hope it continues," she said.

Another notable event in the history of the church is a visit by Charles Darwin, who attended a service in 1831 while on a geological expedition.

Among the striking features of the church are the gates by the famous Davies brothers of Bersham, Wrexham, and the oak panelled roof which, according to legend, was given to the church by Henry VII.

In 1859 a spire was added to the church, an unusual feature for a church in this area.

Today, the church is known for its music and has a director of music and a choir.

The church's organ, originally at the Royal Manchester College of Music, was restored in 2003.

The fortnight's celebration is just one in a year of events to commemorate the anniversary.

Events planned for the future include concerts, an organ recital and a lecture: St Peter's 700