Marble Church, Bodelwyddan

St Margaret's Church at Bodelwyddan in old Flintshire (modern Denbighshire) is nicknamed the Marble Church. Its construction costs were borne by immensely deep pockets in the 1850s. Its building materials include over a dozen types of marble, which decorate the insides much like paint is used elsewhere. While wandering about, I concluded that the maxim "spare no expense" was ringing in the architect’s ears, and was one to which he was only too pleased to offer full and unyielding compliance.

The extravagance within is matched by splendour without. The spire is rather tall at over 200 feet and has become a local landmark. Until the 1970s, the steeple and external walls were noted for their whiteness, but air pollution, perhaps from the nearby A55, has slowly tuned it a pale grey. This is still somewhat brighter than most Welsh churches but still a shade duller than it was once was. I might have assumed that it was always grey, never having called in the days of its brilliance. The greying process presumably continues; buildings never become cleaner and lighter with age.

Churches, by which I mean denominations and individual congregations rather than physical structures, decay slowly and gently. The whiteness of their morality, the fire of their zeal and the strength of their orthodoxy all decline gradually, almost imperceptibly. We who are tasked with their oversight must stand guard against such sliding, and in our own hearts, especially. The Marble Church is well worth a visit, but, sadly, it is already merging into the dull skies and grey surroundings of its evironment.

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Revelation 2:5

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