Church of St Nicholas, Trellech facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Nicholas, Trellech, Monmouthshire |
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| Church of St Nicholas | |
"One of the finest churches in the county"
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| Location | Trellech, Monmouthshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | c.14th century |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 19 November 1953 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Decorated |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Trellech and Penallt |
| Deanery | Monmouth |
| Archdeaconry | Monmouth |
| Diocese | Monmouth |
The Church of St Nicholas in Trellech, Monmouthshire, is a very old church. It was mostly built around the year 1300. This church is a great example of the Decorated Gothic style. Over the years, it has been repaired and rebuilt several times, especially in the 1700s, 1893, and 1992. Today, it's still an active church and is considered a very important historic building, known as a Grade I listed building.
Discovering the Church's Past
Most evidence suggests that the Church of St Nicholas was built all at once. This happened at the beginning of the 14th century. Some historians believe it was rebuilt after a big fire in 1296. That fire might have destroyed an earlier church.
The priest's door looks a bit older than 1300. However, experts say this doesn't mean it's from the Norman period. The church's tower might be from the same time, or a little later. Records show the tower collapsed in a storm once. It had to be rebuilt. The weathercock on top of the tower is from 1792.
The church has been carefully restored twice. Once in 1893 and again in 1992. It is still an active church today. It is dedicated to Saint Nicholas.
Exploring the Church's Design
The Church of St Nicholas is known as one of the best churches in its county. It is built from a type of stone called Old Red Sandstone. This stone is covered in lichen, which makes it look very old.
The church has two aisles, a nave (the main part of the church), a chancel (the area around the altar), a porch, and a tower. The tower has a spire on top. This spire rises from behind a battlemented parapet. A parapet is a low wall along the edge of a roof.
Inside, the church feels grand but a bit cool. It was plastered and painted during the 1992 restoration. A new floor was also put in. The way the altar rails are set up is quite special. It follows an old plan from the time of William Laud.
Unique Features Inside
The church holds a Royal Coat of Arms from King Charles II. It is dated 1683. There is also a sundial from the 1600s. This sundial used to be outside near the village school. It was moved inside the church in 1895.
Lady Probert donated the sundial in 1689. It shows three important sights of Trellech:
- Tump Terret: It has the words "MAGNA MOLE" (Great in its Mound) and "O QUOT HIC SEPULTI" (Oh! How many are buried here).
- Harold's Stones: These stones have the words "MAIOR SAXIS" (Greater in its Stones) and "HIC FUIT VICTOR HARALDUS" (Here Harold was victorious).
- The Virtuous Well: This well has the words "MAXIMA FONTE" (Greatest in its Well).
The Church of St Nicholas is a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historic building. A report from Cadw (the Welsh government's historic environment service) calls it an "exceptionally fine and well preserved medieval church."
