Church of St Mary and St Michael, Llanarth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary and St Michael, Llanarth, Monmouthshire |
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| St Mary's and St Michael's Church | |
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| Location | Llanarth, Monmouthshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Roman Catholic church |
| Founded | c.1790 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 9 January 1956 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff |
The Church of St Mary and St Michael is in Llanarth, Monmouthshire. It was built as a private chapel for the family living at Llanarth Court. This church was very special because it was the first Roman Catholic church built in the county since the 1500s. Back then, many churches were closed or changed during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
The church was built around 1790. This was before a law in 1829 that gave Catholics more freedom. To avoid problems, the church was made to look like a barn or a greenhouse (called an orangery). This way, people who were against Catholics wouldn't notice it. It is thought to be one of the oldest Catholic churches in all of Wales.
Contents
History of St Mary and St Michael's Church
After a big change in religion in England, many people in Monmouthshire secretly kept their Catholic faith. The Jones family, who lived at Llanarth Court, were a very old Catholic family. They had supported a priest in Llanarth since 1781.
Why the Church Was Built Secretly
By the late 1700s, the family's small chapel at Llanarth Court wasn't big enough for all the people who wanted to worship there. So, the family decided to build a larger church on their land. People say the building was hidden to look like a tool-shed. However, experts now think it was built to look like a barn or an orangery because it was quite large. This helped it blend in and avoid drawing attention.
Changes After Catholic Emancipation
In 1829, a new law called the Catholic Emancipation Act was passed. This law gave Catholics more rights and freedoms. After this, the Herbert family, who then owned Llanarth Court, felt more comfortable showing their Catholic faith. They made the church bigger and decorated the inside in 1829.
The Church's Later Life
In 1947, the last Herbert family member to live at Llanarth Court, Fflorens Roch, gave the Court and the church to a religious group called the Dominican Order. The Dominicans used the buildings as a school. After the school closed in 1986, the church became the responsibility of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff. Today, St Mary and St Michael is still known as one of the oldest Catholic churches in Wales.
Architecture and Design
The Church of St Mary and St Michael is a long building with one main floor. It is covered in white render, which is a type of plaster. An expert on buildings, John Newman, said that its design made it look like an orangery, which was probably the plan.
Key Features of the Building
The church has six round windows on its west side. At the western end, there is a small curved part called an apse. There is also a room that sticks out, known as a vestry, which is often used by priests to prepare for services. Inside the church, you can still see many of the original decorations from the 1800s. It also has beautiful stained glass windows, with some pieces dating back to the 1500s and others from more recent times.
