The Friends of St Julitta's
WHAT WE DO
The Friends spend most of their time maintaining the church and its graveyard. But in addition, they use the Church for musical events and exhibitions on the local area and have a range of publications including regular journals about the church and the local and family history of Capel Curig.
RENOVATING THE CHURCH
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In 1996 the two church buildings in Capel Curig were advertised for sale by the Church in Wales. Two local residents, Jill Tunstall and Harvey Lloyd, were concerned about the future of St Julitta’s old church and with local support, the Friends of St. Julitta’s was formed as a registered charity. The Friends took on responsibility for the preservation of the church and maintenance of the old churchyard in 1998 under a 99-year lease subject to a peppercorn rent. We decided to retain the Georgian-style interior furnishings from the 1839 restoration of St Julitta’s as this style of box pews, pulpit and reading desk are now relatively rare in Welsh Anglican churches.
A heritage architect was employed to examine the building and draw up a plan for repairs. By 2001 the bier house had been rebuilt to provide a store, all the wooden windows had been replaced, new cast-iron rainwater goods fitted, the outside stonework repointed with lime mortar, the bell cote reconstructed, and repairs undertaken inside the building to the oak roof beams and plasterwork. Disabled access was provided to both church and churchyard. Drainage around the church was improved in 2020 with the installation of French drains.
A further important milestone has been the renovation of the church floor completed in 2026. Unsightly concrete paving slabs laid in the 1960s were removed to reveal massive slate slabs laid in the 1839 restoration. Although some pews and tiered seating were scrapped in the 1960s, a raised wooden floor of reclaimed Victorian pine was built under the remaining box pews, pulpit and reading desk. A new Penrhyn slate floor has been laid in the south chapel, an oak dais recreated for the altar, electric wiring brought up to modern standards, and the walls and ceiling repainted. The work was made possible by a generous match-funding donation from two Friends of St Julitta’s, Kate and Liam Tiller, and a lot of volunteer help. See our 2026 Annual Report and Spring Journal for more about our latest restoration journey.
To donate to the Friends, click here
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FUTURE PLANS
Our next priority is the restoration of the Georgian-style pulpit and reading desk, which are suffering from dry rot. We also want to extend the hansom twentieth-century oak altar rails to fit the new altar dais. Further replacement of some of the timber windows is needed – the Capel Curig climate means a constant round of repairs and renewal. Future plans include the installation of mains electricity and a toilet.
The church and churchyard suffered extensive damage during Storm Darragh in 2024. Although the church roof was quickly repaired and a large fallen tree removed by volunteers, we still have several sections of the churchyard dry-stone wall to finish repairing.
The future progress of the project is largely dependent on the enthusiasm and support of the Friends and others such as The Snowdonia Society. From past response this has always been generously given and the committee thanks all who have contributed to what is here today. Regular working parties are held to maintain the church and churchyard – see our Programme of Events.
