St Mary's Church Welshpool

The first Church on this site was founded in the 6th century during the ‘age of saints’ in Wales and dedicated to St. Cynfelyn. This was then re-founded by Gruffydd ap Powys in the 13th century, with the oldest parts of the church dating from the middle of the 13th century. The body of the church and the tower were extended over later centuries, and part of the church was rebuilt in the 19th century. This is now a Grade 1 listed building. There are magnificent views over the town from the churchyard.

Features within the church include a fine Father Willis organ, dated 1884. Also a memorial to William Morgan who was vicar here from 1575 to 1578, who completed the first Welsh translation of the Bible in 1588

There is an excellent history of the church at HistoryPoints.Org.

The final cache location is at

N 52 39.ACD W 003 08.ABB

Start the multicache from the street below the church.

Look for a notice board on the retaining wall. This will give you some information about the beautiful church you are about to explore.

(1) Notice Board.

What number is this notice board?

Number 17 A = 5

Number 18 A = 7

Number 19 A = 9

Number 20 A = 1

Walk up the steps past the notice board. If these steps look a little daunting, follow the road around and there is a more gentle, sloping path into the churchyard. To the right at the top of the steps is the Welshpool war memorial. There is a HistoryPoints QR code here, scan to find out more about the memorial.

(2) Welshpool war memorial.

On the far right slate within the semicircle of the memorial, how many men are remembered from Castle Caereinion? B

As well as housing the Welshpool war memorial there are also 7 commonwealth war graves within the graveyard. 5 from WWI and 2 from WWII. Look uphill from the memorial and walk until you find the grave of 355037 Serjeant A E Baines to your left.

(3) Sgt A E Baines.

How old was Sgt Baines when he died in 1917? 

18 C = 4

24 C = 3

36 C = 2

42 C = 1

Turn around and walk down and around to the left to the main door of the church, gaurded by a detailed metal gate.

(4) Gated Door.

How many open flowers can be found at the top of the gate? Add 3 to this. D

Take your time on the walk to the cache to enjoy this historic church and the views over Welshpool.

Caching Courtesy

Please beware of others and be respectful of the graves. There is a road nearby as well as through the churchyard, so please keep a watchful eye on geo-kids. Please rehide the cache exactly as found, thank you.

The Cache

It should take no more than 30 minutes to find the correct coordinates and the cache.

This is a micro. Please bring your own pen. Tweezers may be required

This cache is placed with kind permission from the church committee.

If you would like to add to the Church Micro series yourself then please look here

http://churchmicro.co.uk/

There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page that can be found at
http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/index.html