Church of Our Lady and St Michael, Abergavenny facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Our Lady and St Michael, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire |
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Our Lady and St Michael
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| 51°49′32″N 3°01′13″W / 51.8256°N 3.0204°W | |
| Location | Abergavenny, Monmouthshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1858 |
| Founder(s) | John Baker Gabb |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 27 September 2001 |
| Architect(s) | Benjamin Bucknall |
| Style | Decorated Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1858 |
| Completed | 1860 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Abegavenny |
| Diocese | Cardiff |
The Church of Our Lady and St Michael is a Roman Catholic church located in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales. It is a very important building, listed as Grade II*. This means it is a particularly important building of more than special interest. This beautiful church was built between 1858 and 1860. It was designed by a talented architect named Benjamin Bucknall.
Contents
A Look Back: History and Design
Building a New Church
Even after the Reformation (a big change in religion in Europe), Abergavenny remained a strong Catholic town. The first Catholic church built here after the Reformation was on Frogmore Street. This church was later replaced by Our Lady and St Michael's in 1860.
The money for building this new church came from a local lawyer, John Baker Gabb. The architect chosen for the project was Benjamin Bucknall. He was only 25 years old at the time. Bucknall was also working on Woodchester Mansion in Gloucestershire for another Catholic client. People saw him as a rising star in church architecture.
Architectural Style and Influences
Benjamin Bucknall was greatly influenced by the ideas of Augustus Pugin. Pugin was a famous architect who helped bring back the Gothic Revival style. Bucknall even became Catholic in the same year Pugin passed away. He also regularly wrote to Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, a French Gothic Revival architect.
The church is built in the Decorated Gothic style. This style is known for its detailed decorations and large windows. Next to the church is the presbytery, which is the house for the priests. It is built in the Tudor Gothic style.
Materials and Structure
The church is made from Old Red Sandstone. It has special details made from Bath Stone, which is a lighter colored stone. The roofs are covered with slate. The church has a main open area called a nave. On either side of the nave are the North and South aisles. At the front, there is a chancel, which is where the altar is located.
Originally, a "grand tower and spire" were planned for the church. However, these parts were never actually built.
Inside the Church: Special Features
The writer Simon Jenkins described the church as "a bold composition of church and presbytery." This means the church and the priest's house together form a striking design.
The inside of the church looks much like it did when it was first built. All the original Victorian furniture and decorations are still there. The presbytery is also very well preserved. The church is also home to "an exceptionally fine collection of medieval and later vestments." These are special robes worn by priests during church services.
