St James's Church, Llangua

St James's Church
St James's Church Location in Monmouthshire
51°55′36″N2°53′20″W / 51.9268°N 2.889°W / 51.9268; -2.889
Location	Llangua, Monmouthshire
Country	Wales
Denomination	Church of England
History
Status	parish church
Founded	C15th century
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	9 January 1956
Architectural type	Church
Administration
Diocese	Hereford
Deanery	Ewyas Harold
Parish	Llangua

The Church of St James is a former parish church at Llangua in the north-east of Monmouthshire. Although in Wales, the church is in the Church of England rather than the Church in Wales, being part of the parish of Kentchurch in the Diocese of Hereford. It is a Grade II* listed building and is owned and maintained by the Friends of Friendless Churches.

History

The church's original dedication was to St Kew, a Cornish saint believed to have been born in Llangua. ^[1] The present church dates from the 14th century, with restorations in 1889 and 1954–1955. ^[2] In 1886 the living of Llangua was merged by order in council with that of Kentchurch across the Wales–England border in Herefordshire. ^[3] Under the Welsh Church Act 1914, border parishes could decide whether to be part of the Church of England or the Church in Wales, and "Kentchurch with Langan" [sic] voted for England. ^[4]

The 20th century restorations were funded by Ivor Bulmer-Thomas, former chairman of the Redundant Churches Fund, in memory of his wife. ^[2] He led the project in 1954–55, with the repairs carried out by E A Roiser. ^[5] Bulmer-Thomas restored the church as a memorial for his late wife, Dilys Thomas, with a plaque dedicated to her placed at the church's entrance. After the restoration was complete he founded the Friends of Friendless Churches (FoFC) organisation in 1957 to "secure the preservation of churches and chapels, or of any part thereof, in the United Kingdom, whether belonging to or formerly used by the Church of England or by any other religious body … for public access and the benefit of the nation", marking St James's as a pivotal building in the history of church conservation and repair in England and Wales. ^[6]

Continuing his legacy, the Friends of Friendless Churches completed a substantial restoration of St James's Church in 2024–25, which included extensive repair of the wagon roofs, lime plastering, rendering and limewashing. ^[7]

Architecture and description

The church is built of Old Red Sandstone. ^[8] The tower has a wooden Pyramid cap. ^[8] The earliest parts of the church are 12th century, including the tub font, though most of the structure dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. ^[7] The two wagon roofs over the chancel and nave are from this period. New windows and a vestry were added by Thomas Nicholson of Hereford in 1889. ^[7] Much of the interior was remodeled during the 20th century renovations, and includes a painted partition with four panels which is said to have come from a demolished chapel in Whitford, Devon. ^[2]

Notes

1. A Church Near You. "St James, Llangua, Monmouthshire". A Church Near You. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
2. Cadw. "St James's Church, Llangua (Grade II*) (1958)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
3. "History 2". St. Mary's Kentchurch. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
4. "Welsh Church Bill (Balloting)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . 2 March 1915. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
5. "RCAHMW | Llangua Church – A Miracle of Survival". rcahmw.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
6. "About us". Friends of Friendless Churches. Archived from the original on 1 July 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
7. "St James's, Llangua, Monmouthshire - Friends of Friendless Churches". Friends of Friendless Churches. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
8. Newman 2000, p. 316.

Sources

• Newman, John (2000). Gwent/Monmouthshire. The Buildings of Wales. London: Penguin. ISBN   0-14-071053-1.