Brecon Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brecon Cathedral |
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| Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist | |
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Brecon Cathedral
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| 51°57′04″N 3°23′31″W / 51.951111°N 3.391944°W | |
| Location | Brecon |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Dedication | John the Evangelist |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Designated | 16 January 1952 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Swansea and Brecon (since 1923) |
| Province | Church in Wales |
Brecon Cathedral (Welsh: Eglwys Gadeiriol Aberhonddu) is an important church in the town of Brecon, Powys, Wales. It is the main church for the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon and the home of the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon. This historic building was once a priory church, which is a church connected to a monastery. Later, it became a regular parish church. It officially became Brecon Cathedral in 1923.
Contents
Discovering Brecon Cathedral's Past
Brecon Cathedral stands on a very old site. Its churchyard has a round shape, which suggests there might have been an even older Celtic church here long ago. However, no parts of that ancient church remain today.
How the Normans Built the First Church
A new church was built around 1093 by a Norman knight named Bernard de Neufmarché. He had conquered the area and ordered the church to be built. It was dedicated to Saint John. Bernard gave the church to a monk named Roger from Battle Abbey. Roger then started a priory here, which was like a small monastery. The first leader of the priory was Walter, another monk from Battle.
Bernard de Neufmarché also gave the priory land and money from the surrounding area. After he died, the priory became even richer when it was passed to the Earls of Hereford. This wealth helped the church grow.
The Church's Medieval Changes
Around 1215, during the time of King John, the church was rebuilt and made bigger. It was designed in the Gothic style, which means it had pointed arches and large windows. In the Middle Ages, the church was known as the church of "Holy Rood" or "Holy Cross." This was because it had a large "golden rood" (a cross with a figure of Jesus) that many people visited. This special cross was destroyed in the 1500s during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, when many monasteries in England and Wales were closed down. The roof of its main hall was built between 1237 and 1267.
Becoming a Parish Church and Later a Cathedral
In 1538, the priory was closed, and the church became a regular parish church for the local community. Some of the buildings around it were used for other purposes, while others, like the cloisters (covered walkways), were left to fall apart.
By the 1800s, the church was in poor condition, and only the main part, called the nave, was being used. Some repairs were made in 1836, but major work to fix up the church didn't start until the 1860s. The tower was made stronger in 1914.
Brecon Cathedral is now a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historic building that is protected.
Modern Use of the Cathedral Buildings
In recent years, some of the buildings near the cathedral have been turned into useful spaces. These include a center for the diocese, a heritage center with exhibitions, a shop, and a restaurant called "the Hours."
A soldier named Charles Lumley (1824–1858), who won the Victoria Cross for bravery during the Crimean War, is buried in the cathedral churchyard.
The Cathedral Bells
Brecon Cathedral has ten bells. They are rung in a special way called "full-circle ringing." The heaviest bell, called the tenor, weighs about 16 hundredweight (which is about 812 kilograms).
