St Nicholas & St John, Monkton

Last updated
St Nicholas & St John, Monkton
Monkton Church - geograph.org.uk - 85069.jpg
Pembrokeshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
St Nicholas & St John, Monkton
Location in Pembrokeshire
51°40′31″N4°55′25″W / 51.675363°N 4.923515°W / 51.675363; -4.923515
CountryWales
Denomination Church in Wales
History
Dedication St Nicholas & St John
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade I
Architectural type Church

The Church of St Nicholas & St John, formerly the Priory Church of St Nicholas, is the parish [1] church of Monkton, a village on the south bank of the Milford Haven Waterway, in south Pembrokeshire, Wales. The church's medieval origins link it to Monkton Priory, founded in the 11th century. It is a Grade I listed building.

Contents

Location

The church is 200m southwest of the contemporary Pembroke Castle. It is close to the ruins of Monkton Priory on the south bank of Milford Haven Waterway. [2]

Description

The part-Norman [3] church has an uncharacteristically long nave as a result of changes in function and structure over the centuries. It is built from rubble stone which was probably rendered as traces of render remain. The roofs are slate. There are numerous windows and doors of varying design and age, and much alteration, including signs that there had been an upper floor. Some parts are buttressed. The tall tower has an embattled parapet and projecting stair tower. There are bell-lights, eight bells of date 1897, and a 1907 clock. [4]

Internally, the vaulting may have been added. The font is 1882 on a 13th-century base. The pulpit and lectern are late 19th century. The 1887 organ is by Wade & Meggitt of Tenby. The stained glass is 19th and 20th century. Windows, doors and other structural, functional and decorative features, variously dating from the 12th and all the subsequent centuries, are described in detail in the Cadw listing. [4]

Memorials

There are many memorials and some tombs from the 15th century onwards, including:

and some unidentifiable, probably earlier effigies. [4] A World War I memorial plaque lists the names of 27 killed. [5]

History

The site on which this church now stands was a Celtic Christian community before the coming of the Normans. [6] The precise date of the foundation of this former priory church is not known, but in 1098 a church of St Nicholas was founded within Pembroke Castle. As the precursor to the present castle may have been at Monkton Priory, this may be the foundation date. The comprehensive priory site, of which this church was a part, is described on the Royal Commission's online database Coflein. [7] The priory continued until 1532, when the monasteries were dissolved. The nave of the priory church was retained as the parish church of Monkton; the rest fell into ruin, with part even being used as a tennis court. [4]

East window Monkton Priory - East window - geograph.org.uk - 1356128.jpg
East window

Lewis, in his Topographical Dictionary of Wales of 1833 described the church as

…dedicated to St. Nicholas, formerly the conventual church of the priory, and all that remains of that establishment, is an ancient and venerable structure, partly in the Norman, and partly in the early English, style of architecture, with a Lady chapel at the eastern end, now roofless, but having four handsome windows on the southern side, and one in the eastern end. . . " [1]

The parish population at that time was 1,128.

In the 19th century, mostly under the Rev. D. Bowen, vicar from 1877 to 1926, there were major repairs and restoration by local artisans, with new fittings and sympathetic re-use of much older fixtures. Fragments of frescoes were found to be beyond repair, but at the end of the century, mural paintings were added. [4] The restoration completed in 1895 was comprehensively reported in The Welshman . [8]

The church (as the Priory Church of St Nicholas) was first listed in 1951 as a "substantial medieval priory church with vaulted nave, porch and transept, and fine monuments". Further historical details can be found in the Cadw listing. [4]

The present parish is in the Benefice of South West Pembrokeshire, in the Diocese of St Davids, and the church is known as Ss Nicholas & John, Monkton. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ewenny Priory</span> Former monastery in Wales

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nevern</span> Human settlement in Wales

Nevern is both a parish and a community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The community includes the settlements of Felindre Farchog, Monington, Moylgrove and Bayvil. The small village lies in the Nevern valley near the Preseli Hills of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park 2 miles (3 km) east of Newport on the B4582 road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diocese of Llandaff</span> Anglican diocese of the Church in Wales

The Diocese of Llandaff is an Anglican diocese that traces its roots to pre-Reformation times as heir of a Catholic bishopric. It is headed by the Bishop of Llandaff, whose seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Llandaff, a suburb of Cardiff. It currently covers most of the former Welsh county of Glamorgan, but once stretched from the River Towy to the middle of the Wye Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walton East</span> Human settlement in Wales

Walton East is a small rural village and parish established around a church at least as early as Norman times. It is 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of Llys y Fran and 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) north of Clarbeston Road and in Wiston community in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monkton, Pembroke</span> Village in Wales

Monkton is a village and parish adjoining Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales. According to the 2001 census, the population was 1,688.

Hasguard is a parish northwest of the town of Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The name applies to several other locations: Upper and Middle Hasguard, Hasguard Hall, Little Hasguard and Hasguard Cross, this last on the B4327 Haverfordwest to Dale road, and is a recorded historic place name by the Royal Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coedcanlas</span> Parish in Wales

Coedcanlas is a small parish in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on the eastern shore of the Daugleddau estuary, 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Pembroke, in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales, United Kingdom. Together with the parishes of Martletwy, Minwear, Newton North and Lawrenny, it constitutes the community of Martletwy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffreyston</span> Human settlement in Wales

Jeffreyston is a village, parish and community in Pembrokeshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren, Pembrokeshire</span> Parish in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Warren is an ancient parish in the community of Stackpole and Castlemartin, in the most southerly part of Pembrokeshire, Wales. Its northern edge is 5 miles (8 km) south of Pembroke and its southern edge reaches the sea at Flimston Bay. It is bordered by Castlemartin to the west, St Twynnells to the east and Monkton to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llanegryn</span> Human settlement in Wales

Llanegryn is a village and a community in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It was formerly part of the historic county of Merionethshire. It is located within Snowdonia National Park south of the Snowdonia (Eryri) mountain range. Travelling by road, it is around 4 miles (6 km) north-east of Tywyn and 17 miles (27 km) south-west of Dolgellau. The nearest railway stations are at Tonfanau and Llwyngwril, both less than 3 miles (5 km) away.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Pembroke</span> Building in Pembrokeshire, Wales

St Mary the Virgin is a church located in the town of Pembroke in Pembrokeshire, west Wales. The church is in the Diocese of St David's within the Church in Wales, and members of the Anglican Communion. Since 2004, it has been a part of the Monkton Rectorial Benefice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudbaxton</span> Human settlement in Wales

Rudbaxton is a village, parish and a local government community in the county of Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is 81 miles (130 km) from Cardiff and 208 miles (335 km) from London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haroldston St. Issell's</span> Human settlement in Wales

Haroldston St Issells is a former parish in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on the upper reaches of the Western Cleddau, 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of Haverfordwest. Its area is 1,104 acres (447 ha); Haroldston church is co-located with Lower Haroldston and is a small attractive building. Haroldston ruins and Lower Haroldston can both be viewed from a circular walk along the banks of the Cleddau. Haroldston and other places in the parish are preserved as historic place names by the Royal Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monington, Pembrokeshire</span> Village in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Monington is a small settlement and parish in the community of Nevern, north Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is on the Nant Ceibwr that flows through Moylegrove and into Ceibwr Bay. Part of the parish lies within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orielton, Pembrokeshire</span>

Orielton is a historic country house near Hundleton in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It has been used as a field studies centre for environmental sciences but was put on sale in early 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llanstinan</span> Rural parish in Wales

Llanstinan is a rural parish in the community of Scleddau, north Pembrokeshire, Wales, 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Fishguard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Michael's Church, Rudbaxton</span> Church in Pembrokeshire, Wales

St Michael's Church is a Grade I listed building and parish church in the community and parish of Rudbaxton in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The building dates from the 15th century, and has a 12th-century font. It was listed on 1 March 1963 as a fine example of a substantial mediaeval double-nave church with important memorials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St David's Church, Hubberston</span> Church in Pembrokeshire, Wales

St David's Church, Hubberston is the parish church of Hubberston, a village on the north bank of the Milford Haven Waterway, in south Pembrokeshire, Wales. The church has 15th century origins, was subsequently renovated and restored, and is a Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Elidyr's Church, Stackpole</span> Church in Pembrokeshire, Wales

St Elidyr's Church, is a Grade I listed building in south Pembrokeshire, Wales. The church is in the small village of Carew Cheriton in the southwest of the parish of Stackpole Elidor, on the Stackpole Estate in the community of Stackpole and Castlemartin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Registered historic parks and gardens in Pembrokeshire</span> List of buildings in county of Wales

Pembrokeshire is a county in the south-west of Wales. It covers an area of 1,619 km2 (625 sq mi). In 2021 the population was approximately 123,700.

References

  1. 1 2 "GENUKI: Monkton" . Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  2. ↑ Ordnance Survey
  3. ↑ "St Nicholas And St John, Monkton (300439)". Coflein. RCAHMW . Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cadw. "Priory Church of St Nicholas (Grade I) (6330)". National Historic Assets of Wales . Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  5. ↑ "Imperial War Museum:Monkton Priory" . Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "BBC: Norman Walks: Monkton Priory" . Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "Monkton Priory (582)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  8. ↑ "Restoration of Monkton Priory Church". The Welshman. 20 December 1895. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  9. ↑ "Benefice of South West Pembrokeshire" . Retrieved 23 February 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.