History
Medieval Grosmont, with its stone castle founded by Hubert de Burgh in the 13th century and site of the birth of Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster in the early 14th century, was an important medieval lordship. Cadw records that the scale of the "great cruciform church mark(ed) the important standing of Grosmont during the early medieval period. [3]
The church was constructed in the early 13th and the roof of the nave is datable to c.1232, making it the oldest scientifically datable roof in Wales. [4] Tree-ring dating of the timbers show that they were felled in the period 1214–1244, which confirms the exceptionally early date of the roof's construction. [5] It is considered "the only surviving pre-1400 church roof in Wales". [5] The nave remains largely unrestored, but the rest of the church is later.
By the late 19th century the church was close to collapse and was saved through an extensive reconstruction in 1869–79 by J. P. Seddon. The work was largely funded by John Etherington Welch Rolls of The Hendre, a local landowner and benefactor. [7]
The church remains an active church in the parish of Grosmont. [8] Morning prayers at held at the church each Tuesday, as are Sunday services. [9]
Ewenny Priory, in Ewenny in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, was a monastery of the Benedictine order, founded in the 12th century. The priory was unusual in having extensive military-style defences and in its state of preservation; the architectural historian John Newman described it as “the most complete and impressive Norman ecclesiastical building in Glamorgan”. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, parts of the priory were converted into a private house by Sir Edward Carne, a lawyer and diplomat. This Elizabethan house was demolished between 1803 and 1805 and replaced by a Georgian mansion, Ewenny Priory House. The house is still owned by the Turbervill family, descendants of Sir Edward. The priory is not open to the public apart from the Church of St Michael, the western part of the priory building, which continues to serve as the parish church for the village. The priory is in the care of Cadw and is a Grade I listed building.
The Church of St Bridget (or St Bride) lies at the north end of the village of Skenfrith, Monmouthshire, Wales. It is an active parish church and a Grade I listed building. The church is dedicated to St Brigit (Welsh: Sant Ffraid), to whom 17 churches are dedicated across the country.
The Church of St John is the parish church of Llandenny, Monmouthshire, Wales. It is in the Perpendicular style and is a Grade I listed building as of 27 November 1953.
The Church of St Martin, Cwmyoy, Monmouthshire, Wales, was begun in the 12th century, although most of the current structure dates from the 13th century. The church is most notable for its extreme tilt, the result of a landslide. This has led to many attempts to strengthen the church and prevent its collapse, through the use of massive tie beams and buttresses. The church is in the Gothic style, and has a chancel, nave, south porch, and western tower. A round-headed north window dates to the 12th century, and the nave roof has been dated to the late 13th or early 14th century. St Martin's is a Grade I listed building and an active parish church. It is dedicated to St Martin of Tours.
The Church of St Cadoc, is the parish church of Llangattock Lingoed, Monmouthshire, Wales and sits in the centre of the village. It is in the Perpendicular style and is a Grade I listed building as of 1 September 1956.
The Church of St Tysoi, is the parish church of Llansoy, Monmouthshire, Wales and sits to the south of the village. It is in the Perpendicular style and is a Grade I listed building as of 19 August 1955.
The Church of St Martin, Pen-y-clawdd, Monmouthshire, Wales is a parish church with Norman origins which was rebuilt in the 15th century. It is located on the site of an early Welsh defensive earthwork. The church was restored in 1884–85. It remains an active church in the parish of Llangovan with Pen-y-clawdd. It is a Grade II* listed building.
The Church of St Teilo is the parish church of Llantilio Crossenny, Monmouthshire, Wales. "An unusually grand cruciform church", with an Early English tower crossed by a Decorated chancel, it was designated a Grade I listed building on 19 November 1953
Monmouthshire is a county and principal area of Wales. It borders Torfaen and Newport to the west; Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the east; and Powys to the north. The largest town is Abergavenny, with the other major towns being Chepstow, Monmouth, and Usk. The county is 850 km2 in extent, with a population of 95,200 as of 2020. The present county was formed under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, which came into effect in 1996, and comprises some sixty percent of the historic county. Between 1974 and 1996, the county was known by the ancient title of Gwent, recalling the medieval Welsh kingdom. In his essay on local government in the fifth and final volume of the Gwent County History, Robert McCloy suggests that the governance of "no county in the United Kingdom in the twentieth century was so transformed as that of Monmouthshire".
St Cenedlon's is a parish church in the village of Rockfield, Monmouthshire, Wales. The dedication to St Cenedlon is unusual and the history of the saint is obscure. Some sources suggest that she was a daughter of Brychan king of Brycheiniog while others identify her as the wife of King Arthfael ab Ithel, king of Glywysing. The existing church dates from the Middle Ages but only the tower remains from that period. After the English Reformation, the surrounding area of north Monmouthshire became a refuge for Catholics and Matthew Pritchard (1669-1750), Roman Catholic bishop and Vicar Apostolic of the Western District is buried at the church. By the mid-19th century the church was in ruins and a complete reconstruction was undertaken by the ecclesiastical architects John Pollard Seddon and John Prichard in around 1860. St Cenedlon's is an active parish church in the Diocese of Monmouth. It is designated by Cadw as a Grade II listed building.
The Church of St Jerome stands in the settlement of Llangwm Uchaf, (upper) Llangwm, in a remote part of Monmouthshire, Wales. Originally constructed in the twelfth century, in an Early English style, it was heavily restored in the nineteenth century. The church has a "large and unusual" tower, an "outstanding" late medieval rood screen and Victorian interior fittings of "exceptional quality". After being declared redundant by the Church in Wales, the church is now administered by the Friends of Friendless Churches. It was designated a Grade I listed building on 19 August 1955.
The Church of St Mary at Tregare, Monmouthshire, south east Wales, is the parish church of the village of Tregare. Dating originally from the fourteenth century, the tower is later, probably of the fifteenth century. The church was restored in the early twentieth century. Built in the Decorated style, the church is a Grade II* listed building.
The Church of Our Lady and St Michael in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, is a Roman Catholic parish church. A Grade II* listed building, it was built between 1858 and 1860 to a design by Benjamin Bucknall.
The Church of St Cybi, Llangybi, Monmouthshire is a parish church with its origins in the 13th or 14th century. Refurbished in the 15th century, the church was restored in 1909–10. The interior has a notable collection of medieval wall paintings, in particular a Christ of the Trades, dating from c.1460. The church is an active parish church and part of the recently-formed Heart of Monmouthshire Ministry Area. It is a Grade II* listed building and the architectural writer John Newman, recording the church in the Buildings of Wales series, described it as "one of the most interesting in the Usk Valley."
The Church of St Cadoc, Llangattock Vibon Avel, Monmouthshire is a parish church of medieval origins which was heavily restored in the 19th century. The estate church of The Hendre, it is closely connected with the Rolls family and the grave of Charles Stewart Rolls, the motoring and aviation pioneer, is located in the churchyard. The church is a Grade II* listed building and is now in the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches.
The Church of St Maughan in St. Maughans, Monmouthshire, Wales, is a parish church with its origins in the 13th or 14th century. It was reconstructed in the mid 19th century by John Pollard Seddon for John Etherington Welch Rolls of The Hendre in 1865. It remains an active parish church and is a Grade II* listed building.
The Church of St Michael, Llanfihangel Tor-y-Mynydd, Monmouthshire is a parish church with its origins in the 14th or 15th century. A Grade II* listed building, the church remains an active parish church.
The Church of St Bride in Llansantffraed near Raglan, Monmouthshire, Wales, is a parish church of Norman origins. The church was restored by John Prichard and John Pollard Seddon in the 19th century but retains much of its earlier fabric. It is an active parish church in the parish of Llansantffraed, Monmouthshire's smallest parish, and is a Grade II* listed building.
The Church of St David is a parish church in Llanddewi Rhydderch, Monmouthshire, Wales, with origins in the 12th century; the tower base may date from this time. The fabric of the current building is 14th–15th century in date, with a Victorian restoration by John Pollard Seddon in 1862 and 1863. It remains an active parish church.
The Church of St Andrew, Penrice, Swansea, Wales dates from the 12th century. A Grade II* listed building, St Andrew's remains an active parish church in the parish of South-West Gower, in the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon.
