The Church of the Holy Cross, Kilgwrrwg, Monmouthshire, Wales, is an early medieval parish church that once served a now abandoned village. A Grade II* listed building, the church remains an active parish church and is part of the Severn Wye Ministry Area.[1]
The writer Clive Aslet, who describes the church as "the remotest (.) in Wales",[2] recounts the legend of the founding of the church, on the spot where two yokedheifers rested.[2] The circular churchyard suggests a Celtic, possibly pre-Christian, origin for the site.[2] The present church is early medieval,[3]Cadw suggesting a 13th-century date. [4]
The existing features are from the 16th, 17th and 19th centuries.[4] By the early 19th century, the church was described as little more than "a dilapidated sheepfold".[4] A restoration took place in 1820, at the instigation, and mostly at the expense, of a local schoolmaster, James Davies.[4] More extensive rebuilding was undertaken by John Prichard in 1871,[3] and again in 1977-9 (Cadw)[4] or 1989-90 (Newman).[3] At the time of the 20th century reconstruction, the church was named Holy Cross, no earlier dedication being recorded.[4]
Architecture and description
The church is constructed of Old Red Sandstone,[3] the style a mix of Early English and Decorated.[5] It consists of a chancel, nave, porch and bellcote.[4] The interior is simple, the chancel having a plain truss rather than an arch.[3] The church is Grade II* listed, the listing noting it as an "attractive and little altered medieval church from a now deserted village".[4]
The churchyard contains an early cross, which is both a Grade II listed structure and a Scheduled monument.[6] It is the only complete churchyard cross remaining in Monmouthshire.[7][a]
The church has one bell by the William Evans Foundry of Chepstow.[1]
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