Christchurch, Newport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christchurch
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 Holy Trinity Church, Christchurch |
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 Christchurch
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| Population | 233 |
| Principal area | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWPORT |
| Postcode district | NP18 |
| Dialling code | 01633 Maindee exchange |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament |
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Christchurch (which is called Welsh: Eglwys y Drindod in Welsh) is a small village in South Wales. It sits on top of Christchurch Hill in the city of Newport. From the top of the hill, you can see amazing views! To the south, you can spot the Bristol Channel, and to the north, you can look across the beautiful Vale of Usk and into the Monmouthshire countryside. A road runs along the top of the hill, connecting Christchurch to Newport in the west and Caerleon and Catsash in the east.
The main church in the village is called Holy Trinity. Christchurch also has a modern village hall built for the community. The Christchurch Music Society is a lively group that performs musical shows. Because it's so high up, Christchurch Hill is also home to the Christchurch transmitter, which is a large tower that sends out TV and radio signals. It's located near the Celtic Manor Resort.
The Holy Trinity Church has a special doorway built in the Norman style with tall columns. Inside the churchyard, you can find the grave of Captain William Howe. He was the captain of a ship called the "Welsh Prince." His tombstone even has a carving of his ship!
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Christchurch Through Time
English Civil War Events
In 1648, during the English Civil War, soldiers led by Oliver Cromwell camped overnight on Christchurch Hill. They were preparing to attack Newport Castle the next day. A cannonball from this time was found in a nearby garden and is now on display at Newport Museum. The soldiers also damaged almost all the stained glass windows in the church, but one small piece still remains in the east window.
Old Traditions and Legends
In the church, there's a tombstone from 1712 with a carving of a woman's head. People call it "The Beauty of Christchurch." Long ago, on the night before the Feast of Corpus Christi, people used to bring their sick children to a special old gravestone in the church. They hoped this "Healing Stone of Christchurch" would help their children get better. This tradition continued until around 1810.
The Great Fire of 1949
On November 6, 1949, the Holy Trinity Church was almost completely destroyed by a big fire. Luckily, the church's old records and a valuable ancient cup (called a chalice) were saved. However, almost the entire building, except for its walls and tower, burned down. A week later, another church in Newport, St John's Church, also had a similar fire. The fire at Christchurch was one of the worst Newport had ever seen, causing a lot of damage. Sadly, "The Beauty of Christchurch" carving survived the fire but was accidentally broken during the church's rebuilding.
Local Landmarks
Christchurch is also home to one of Newport's large public cemeteries. It is located north of Christchurch Road and looks out over Caerleon. Near here, there used to be Christchurch Junior School. The village also has a War Memorial right in front of the church, which honors soldiers from World War I and World War II. Across from the church, you can find a local pub called The Greyhound Inn.
