Church of St Thomas the Martyr, Monmouth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Thomas the Martyr |
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St Thomas' Church, Overmonnow, Monmouth
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| 51°48′30.54″N 2°43′13.47″W / 51.8084833°N 2.7204083°W | |
| Location | Monmouth, Monmouthshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| Website | monmouthparishes.org |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Monmouth |
The Church of St Thomas the Martyr is an old church in Monmouth, Wales. It sits right next to the famous Monnow Bridge over the River Monnow. Parts of the church are very old, dating back to around 1180! It has a beautiful arch from the 12th century, built in a style called Norman. Even though the outside was changed a lot in the 1800s, it's still a special building. It's even part of the Monmouth Heritage Trail and is a protected historic site.
History of the Church
The church is built from a type of rock called Old Red Sandstone. It is named after St Thomas à Becket. Long ago, it was a smaller church that belonged to St Mary's Priory Church. This means it didn't have its own separate area, or parish, to look after. The church was mentioned in an important paper by Pope Urban III in 1186. Some people think it might have been around even earlier, in 1170.
The church and the nearby Monnow Bridge were both damaged by fire in 1233. This happened during a fight called the Battle of Monmouth. The church needed repairs, and wood was sent from the Forest of Dean to help fix it. In 1256, special religious people called anchorites lived at St Thomas's.
Over the years, the church sometimes fell into disrepair. In 1397, a bishop found that the roof was leaking! By the early 1800s, the church was in very bad shape. A bishop in 1829 called it "dilapidated and forsaken," meaning it was falling apart and abandoned.
But things changed! In 1830, St Thomas's became its own separate parish. This meant it was no longer just a small chapel. A big project began to fix and expand the church. An architect named Thomas Henry Wyatt added special wooden seating areas called box pews and raised galleries. These wooden galleries, which are like balconies, can still be seen today above the main part of the church, called the nave. More rooms were added in 1887–8.
Inside the Church
Inside, you can still see some very old parts. The Norman chancel arch is still there, looking just as it did centuries ago. This arch is decorated with a "dog's tooth" pattern. There's also a special basin called a piscina in the south wall, and two doorways on the opposite wall that seem to be original.
The church has two fonts, which are bowls used for baptisms. One font is very interesting. It has a base with swirly designs and a bowl with carvings of faces, pelicans, and a snake. People used to think this font was from the 12th century, making it very old. However, experts now believe the wooden cover was added in the 1830s. They think the font itself might be a mix of old and new parts, possibly a 19th-century copy of an older style. The other font is simpler and might be from the 15th century.
More work was done on the church in 1875 by a Welsh architect named John Prichard. The small tower on the west side was replaced with a bell arch. The window at the east end of the church was added in 1957. The church was last fixed up in 1989–91.
Outside, on the east side, there's a peaceful garden with a calvary cross. The church is located between the road and the River Monnow. There's also a cool ceramic mosaic nearby. It's made of 40 tiles that show over 2,000 years of local history. It was created to celebrate the Millennium!
Images for kids
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engraving showing interior of church c. 1800
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the church in 1845
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engraving by C. Hough of 1845
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St Thomas Square & Cross 1904
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the church in 1937
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nave
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stained glass window
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chancel arch
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one of two church fonts
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the other font
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roof
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view of the church from across the River Monnow
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front entrance
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plaque
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Celtic cross stone sett detail in the garden designed by Cheryl Cummings MSGD (RHS Medal winner)
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cross and second entrance
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