Exploring St Hilary's Church, Erbistock, Wrexham

A Hidden Gem on the Banks of the Dee
Recently, Mum and I ventured out to St Hilary’s Church, just under 7 miles from home in Erbistock, Wrexham—yet until today, we’d never heard of it. Inspired by a local council walking guide that mentioned a “lovely church” at the end of a loop walk, we decided to check it out.

A Scenic Setting by the River Dee

Nestled in a bend of the River Dee, the village of Erbistock is accessed by a quiet lane that ends at the churchyard. The current church overlooks the water and is surrounded by yew trees and open countryside.

From St Erbin to a Victorian Memorial

Records confirm a church on this site since the 13th century, originally dedicated to St Erbin. By 1748, a stone Georgian church stood here, replacing an earlier timber-and-thatch building. Between 1860–61, the present Gothic Revival church was commissioned by Caroline Boates in memory of her husband Lt Col Henry Ellis Boates of Rose Hill, with their daughter Gertrude completing the works after Caroline’s death.

Architectural Highlights

Built in richly hued red sandstone with a slate roof and red ridge tiles, the church features:

A nave with aisles under one roof
A polygonal apse, projecting south porch, north vestry,

and an ornate west triple bell-cote Gothic details combining Decorated and Early English styles with hoodmoulds and sculpted corbels

Inside, the space impresses with polished granite columns, a timber scissor‑braced nave roof, and stone corbels supporting chancel ribs. Furnishings include a Caen stone pulpit, an octagonal font with oak lid, pitch-pine choir stalls, an organ in a Charles Whitely & Co. case, and an 18th‑century chandelier. A disused Norman-era font bowl hints at the centuries of worship preceding the current building.

Churchyard Discoveries

St Hilary’s is not just a building—its churchyard is used as a cemetery, with memorials dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. It was extended in 1910 and again in 1939. Overgrown yew trees and antique sundials add atmospheric character.

We noticed several poignant personal memorials, including one for Jane Platt (d. 1903), erected by the family she served for over 40 years, and another small obelisk for Mary Ellen Jones, daughter of John and Emily, who died aged just 2½ in 1898. Parish records show Mary Ellen’s parents had five more children baptised there between 1891 and 1901.

We plan a return visit with more time to photograph the gravestones for Findagrave.com—work that has connected us with descendants globally.

The Boat Inn Next Door

Adjacent to the church stands the Boat Inn, a popular riverside pub. It takes its name not from the Boates family, but from a historic ferry crossing over the Dee—remnants of the ferry winch still exist nearby. The Inn likely served both ferrymen and church visitors across the centuries.

Why St Hilary’s Mattered to Us

I feel fortunate to have stumbled on this hidden gem while searching for dog‑walks. For us, it was more than just a church visit—it was time spent in peaceful reflection, connecting with local history, architecture, and human stories carved in stone.

Linda EYE on the PAST

For more tales from churchyards and historic parishes, visit my Church Visits collection.