Mold - Church of St Mary the Virgin

Church of St Mary is built on the site of an earlier Norman church which fell into disrepair in the 14th century. This was replaced by a larger church in the 15th century, which in turn became dilapidated. This church, other than its tower, was demolished and the building of the present church began about 1490. The first patron of this building was Lady Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby, and mother of Henry VII. She died in 1509 and the nave and aisles were not completed until about 1550. After the Reformation two bishops of St Asaph made financial contributions, Robert Wharton and William Hughes. Around this time the rectory of Mold passed to Bisham Priory. The priory was responsible for building the chancel, but this never took place. The chancel arch had been built but it was blocked up and a seven-light window was inserted. In 1674 a clock was purchased and the roof was re-leaded, in 1678 and 1733 new bells were added, in 1729 restoration work took place, and a gallery was added in 1751–52. The west tower was replaced between 1768 and 1773 to a design by the architect Joseph Turner. Hubbard comments that despite its proportions it is "a creditable