A look inside St. John's

There are two stained glass windows the more attractive is the east window which depicts the Ascension by Done & Davies of Carlisle, this window was paid for by public subscription in 1867. Which is shown above.
Below we can see he window located in the north transept entitled 'The Way, The Truth and The Life, and is a memorial to Queen Victoria and was dedicated on 6th July 1902.

There are many memorials in the church including the Reredos which is inscribed "To the Glory of God in Rememberance of the Late J.C. Edwards D.L. of Trevor Hall, who generously assisted in the restoration of this Church in 1888, This Reredos was made and presented by the members of this Church and St. Paul's Acrefair, employed in the Trefynant Tile Works, July 1906.

The reredos is composed, on sides and rear of green lustre tiles embossed with vine, interspersed with brown and gold encaustic tiled panels, surrounded by a border of lustre tiles. The floor of the Sanctuary and the Chanel has medieval style encaustic tiles. In 1999 the Church was made a listed building because of the tiles.

Other memorials include the pulpit of Cefn stone " To the Glory of God in loving memory of the men of this parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-19," dedicated in 1923.
The Altar is carved oak and is in memory of Robert Ferdinand Graesser, Argoed Hall Froncysyllte, who founded the chemical works in the village of Cefn Mawr, which is part of the parish.
The name "Rhosymedre" is well known in musical circles as a hymn tune of that name was written by the first Vicar of the parish Rev, John David Edwards, whilst he was serving in the parish. It was later transcribed into an organ prelude by Vaughan Williams and was played at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. The tune is one of the favourite tunes of the parishioners in Rhosymedre.
There is another musical connection for Rhosymedre Parish, as Rev, Ellis Roberts (Elis Wyn o Wyfari was curate in Rhosymedre from 1862 to 1866. He is famous for both writing and translating hymns. His hymns can still be found in use in "Emynau'r Llan", the church in Wales' latest Welsh Language hymnbook. The Welsh version of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" which is most used was one of his translations from English. More information about him can be found in "A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen Who Flourished From 1700 to 1900 by E.H. Rowland (Helen Elwy) published in 1907. Another well know hymn which he translated is." O God Our Help in Ages Past" to O Dduw, ein eymorth ym Mhob Oes.
