From Riots to Renovation in North Wales

The historic Tyddyn Street Church, in Mold, Flintshire North Wales has been transformed in a renovation that has turned it into a community and arts centre as well as a church.

Built in the early 1860’s as the Free Church, an independent Congregationalist church, it was the scene of the Mold Riots in 1869 when there was a confrontation between local miners and soldiers of the Kings Own Chester Regiment.

A crowd of over a thousand were protesting at the jailing of seven miners and when they began to throw stones the soldiers were ordered to open fire. Four people were killed, one of them dying in the churchyard.

With the transformation now completed the intention is to attract people to the church for more peaceful reasons as a centre for community activities, the arts and small business conferences.

The work has been carried out with funds from the sale of surplus property, the fundraising of many individuals and the support of a number of important grant funding organisations, including the rural regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd who have paid £14,823 from the Flintshire Key Fund which aims to help bring new life to the community buildings of rural Flintshire. The money, which has paid for the lift to the spectacular new mezzanine floor, has come from the Rural Development Fund for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Welsh Government.

Architect Robin Wolley, who specialises in church restoration and renovation, said: “The idea was to retain the original spatial concept of this Grade Two listed property and its very fine original features. This is a lovely example of an historic Victorian building and by the use of painting and lighting and a sensitive appreciation of the interior we've managed to make it live again.”

The audio and specialist lighting installations were designed and commissioned by Richard King Systems working closely with Robin Wolley and the main contractor B and M builders of Ruthin. Main controls have been sited in a bespoke cabinet and include remote control of the camera system which relays the images from the main church area to the first floor.

The Rev Brian Acty added: “They really have transformed the church and it is now full of light and life and we feel it is a fantastic amenity for the local community. There is new lighting and a new sound system, there is disabled access and new parking and groups like the Mold Players now rehearse here and we’re hoping many more organisations will approach us to use it because it is so versatile.”

• To find out more about sound systems for your church or buiding visit www.richardkingsystems.co.uk.