Church of St Nicholas, Grosmont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Nicholas |
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"an exceptionally fine church of remarkable size"
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| OS grid reference | SO404243 |
| Location | Grosmont, Monmouthshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | parish church |
| Founded | c.13th century |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 9 January 1956 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Early English |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Grosmont |
| Deanery | Abergavenny |
| Archdeaconry | Monmouth |
| Diocese | Monmouth |
The Church of St Nicholas is a very old church in the village of Grosmont, Monmouthshire, Wales. It was built way back in the 1200s! This church is super big for a village church, which shows how important Grosmont was when it was first built. Some people even call it a "miniature cathedral" because of its size.
For a long time, the church looked pretty much the same as when it was first built. But by the 1800s, it was falling apart, and its tower was almost going to crash down. Luckily, a big repair project saved it. This work was done by John Pollard Seddon and paid for by John Etherington Welch Rolls.
Today, the Church of St Nicholas is still an active church for the local community. It is also considered a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historical building in the United Kingdom.
Contents
History of the Church
Why Grosmont Was Important
Back in the Middle Ages, Grosmont was a really important place. It had a stone castle built by Hubert de Burgh in the 1200s. Also, Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, a famous person from that time, was born there in the early 1300s. The huge size of the Church of St Nicholas shows just how important Grosmont was during those early medieval times.
Building the Church
The church was built in the early 1200s. The roof over the main part of the church, called the nave, was finished around 1232. This makes it the oldest church roof in Wales that we can accurately date using science! Scientists used a method called Tree-ring dating to study the wood. They found that the trees used for the roof were cut down between 1214 and 1244. This proves how incredibly old the roof is. It's actually the only church roof in Wales built before the 1400s that is still standing.
Saving the Church
By the late 1800s, the Church of St Nicholas was in really bad shape and almost collapsing. It was saved by a huge repair project that took place from 1869 to 1879. A famous architect named J. P. Seddon led this work. Most of the money for the repairs came from John Etherington Welch Rolls, who was a rich landowner and helped many local projects.
The Church Today
The Church of St Nicholas is still a busy church in the Grosmont area. People gather there for morning prayers every Tuesday. They also have Sunday services, continuing a long tradition of worship in this historic building.
Architecture and Design
What the Church Looks Like
The Church of St Nicholas is a beautiful and grand building. It was built in a style called "Early English," which was popular in the 1200s. It has a special eight-sided tower in the middle, topped with a tall, pointed spire. This tower and spire were added later, in a style called "Decorated."
The church has a unique shape, like a cross, which is called a "cruciform" plan. Some people think this design might have been inspired by French churches. There's a story that a French architect designed it for Eleanor of Provence, a queen from that time. However, there's no official proof for this story.
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The church is built from a type of stone called Old Red Sandstone. It has smooth, cut stones called ashlar for details, and its roofs are made of slate. The church has several main parts: the nave (the main area where people sit), the transepts (the arms of the cross shape), the central tower, the chancel (the area near the altar), a smaller chapel, and a porch.
Inside the Church
When you step inside the Church of St Nicholas, it's quite a surprise! It feels very old and open, without a lot of modern decorations. The tall arches and the ancient roof of the nave are the first things you notice. The nave still looks much like it did in the early 1200s, showing off its strong, old arches.
The font, where baptisms take place, is interesting. It's an eight-sided bowl on a thick, round base. The wooden seats for the choir and the pulpit (where sermons are given) were added in the 1800s during the big restoration. There's also a beautiful stained-glass window in the chancel that remembers John Etherington Welch Rolls, who helped save the church. In one of the transepts, you can see a very rare and unfinished stone memorial to a knight from the late 1200s or early 1300s. It's a fascinating piece that shows how sculptures were made back then.
