Church of St Mary the Virgin, Llanfair Kilgeddin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary the Virgin |
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| Location | Monmouth, Monmouthshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | Inactive |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Designated | 9 January 1956 |
| Years built | late 13th/early 14th century |
| Closed | 1989 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Monmouth |
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a very special old church located near Usk in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is famous for its amazing interior decorations, which are in the Arts and Crafts style. This church is so important that it is a Grade I listed building. After being closed in the 1980s, it is now looked after by a group called the Friends of Friendless Churches.
Contents
A Look Inside: History and Art
The church building is found on farmland, about a mile north of the village, close to a river. It was first built a very long time ago, in the Middle Ages. However, most of what you see today was rebuilt between 1875 and 1876. This work was done by an architect named John Dando Sedding. He was hired by the local church leader, Reverend William John Coussmaker Lindsay.
The Amazing Wall Art
Even though the church has some old parts, like a font (a basin for baptisms), it is most famous for its unique wall decorations. These decorations are in the Arts and Crafts style and cover the inside walls. They are made using a special technique called sgraffito.
Reverend Lindsay asked an artist named Heywood Sumner to create these decorations. He wanted them as a memorial to his wife, Rosamund. Sumner's work was finished in 1888.
What is Sgraffito?
Sgraffito is a cool way to decorate walls. The artist puts thin layers of different colored plaster on the wall. Then, they carefully cut away parts of the top layer to show the color underneath. This creates a beautiful picture.
Heywood Sumner used a religious poem called the Benedicite as his inspiration. He also included local features in his designs. You can spot the River Usk, the Sugar Loaf mountain, and even the tower of a nearby church, Llanvihangel Gobion church.
Saving the Church
In the 1980s, the Church of St Mary the Virgin was no longer used for regular services. It was in danger of being torn down. But in 1989, a charity called the Friends of Friendless Churches stepped in to save it. They took over the care of the church.
Many groups helped to save the church, including the Victorian Society. They also received money from organizations like Cadw and the Pilgrim Trust.
Important People Connected to the Church
The churchyard has a special burial area for the family of Richard Crawshay and his nephew, Crawshay Bailey. These men were famous for running ironworks in Wales. They had a house nearby called Maindiff Court.
The beautiful wall paintings by Heywood Sumner were cleaned and repaired between 2006 and 2007. This restoration was done in memory of a person named Roy Jenkins. A historian named John Newman once said that Sumner's decorations should make this church a must-see place for anyone interested in the Arts and Crafts movement.
Images for kids
