St Martin's Church, Pen-y-clawdd

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.

Church of St Martin, Pen-y-clawdd
Church of St Martin
"a medieval church with fine barrel roofs"
Church of St Martin, Pen-y-clawdd is located in Monmouthshire
Church of St Martin, Pen-y-clawdd
Church of St Martin, Pen-y-clawdd
Location in Monmouthshire
51°46′01″N 2°47′39″W / 51.7669°N 2.7943°W / 51.7669; -2.7943
LocationPen-y-clawdd, Monmouthshire
CountryWales
DenominationChurch in Wales
History
Statusparish church
FoundedC15th century
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade II*
Designated27 November 1953
Architectural typeChurch
Administration
DioceseMonmouth
ArchdeaconryMonmouth
DeaneryMonmouth
ParishLlangovan with Penyclawdd
Clergy
Vicar(s)The Reverend G J R Williams

History

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The church dates from the Norman period but is located on the site of an earlier earthworks.[1] The present building was constructed in the late 15th or early 16th centuries.[1] The church was restored in the Victorian period by Henry Prothero.[1] The church remains an active parish church.[2]

Architecture and description

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The building is of Old Red Sandstone rubble with slate roofs.[1] The church comprises a nave, chancel, and tower with a pyramidal roof.[1]

During the Victorian restoration, a stone coffin lid of the medieval period was discovered. It is carved in relief with a Greek cross and is now on display in the chancel.[1] Cadw describes it as of the 14th century, while the architectural historian John Newman attributes it to the late 13th century and notes, "It must once have been a fine thing".[3] The church is a Grade II* listed building, its listing recording the "fine barrel roofs" dating from the 15th century.[1]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Cadw. "Church of St Martin, Pen-y-clawdd (Grade II*) (17427)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Churches". The Church in Wales. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  3. ^ Newman 2000, p. 468.

References

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