St Martin's Church, Pen-y-clawdd explained

Church of St Martin, Pen-y-clawdd
Fullname:Church of St Martin
Pushpin Map:Wales Monmouthshire
Pushpin Mapsize:200
Map Caption:Location in Monmouthshire
Location:Pen-y-clawdd, Monmouthshire
Country:Wales
Coordinates:51.7669°N -2.7943°W
Denomination:Church in Wales
Founded Date:C15th century
Status:parish church
Functional Status:Active
Heritage Designation:Grade II*
Designated Date:27 November 1953
Architectural Type:Church
Parish:Llangovan with Penyclawdd
Deanery:Monmouth
Archdeaconry:Monmouth
Diocese:Monmouth
Vicar:The Reverend G J R Williams

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.

History

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

Architecture and description

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

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. 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". The church is a Grade II* listed building, its listing recording the "fine barrel roofs" dating from the 15th century.

References

. John Newman (architectural historian). The Buildings of Wales. Gwent/Monmouthshire. 2000. Penguin. London. 0-14-071053-1.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Churches . The Church in Wales . 21 October 2015. 12 August 2017.