Priory Church of St Mary, Chepstow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church |
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| The Parish and Priory Church of St Mary | |
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| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| Website | http://www.chepstowparish.co.uk |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Monmouth |
The Parish and Priory Church of St Mary is a very old church in Chepstow, a town in south east Wales. Some parts of the church, like its fancy west doorway, were built in the late 1000s. This was around the same time the famous Chepstow Castle was built by the Normans. The church is so important that it is a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very special historic place.
Contents
How St Mary's Church Began
The Priory's Early Days
St Mary's Church started as a Benedictine priory, which is a type of monastery. It was founded around the year 1072 by a powerful Norman lord named William FitzOsbern. He was a cousin of King William the Conqueror. FitzOsbern helped King William take over England, and in return, he was given land in Wales.
He decided to build a new castle overlooking the River Wye. At the same time, he set up a small monastery nearby. This monastery was meant to collect money from the lands he had been given. By the early 1100s, this monastery became a priory on its own. It probably had about 12 monks living there.
Changes Over Time
As Chepstow grew into a busy market town and port, the main part of the church, called the nave, started to be used by the local people as their parish church. In the 13th century, more buildings were added for the monks. The priory had a lot of land, probably including most of the area south of the church, protected by Chepstow's town wall.
During the Hundred Years' War in the 1300s, the priory became separate from its original monastery in France. Later, in 1536, during the English Reformation, King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries, including Chepstow Priory. At that time, only three monks were still living there. Most of the priory buildings, like the cloister (a covered walkway) and the monks' living areas, were torn down. Their foundations are now buried under a car park next to the church.
What the Church Looks Like Today
Even though it's been changed a lot, parts of the original Norman church are still there. The first Priory Church was built using local yellow sandstone. It had a long nave with strong pillars and a very decorated west entrance. This doorway has cool zigzag and diamond patterns from the early 1100s. These old parts are still visible today.
However, later additions and repairs used different types of stone and building styles. This means the church looks like a mix of different periods.
Repairs and Rebuilding
The church's main central tower fell down in a storm in 1701. This also destroyed other parts of the church. After that, a new wall was built at the eastern end of the nave. The western end was then built up to create a new tower. This new tower was finished in 1706.
In 1841, more work was done to rebuild parts of the church. Later, in 1890, people started trying to bring back more of the Norman style to the nave. However, this work was stopped in 1913 and was never fully finished.
Inside the Church
Inside St Mary's, you can find two fonts (bowls used for baptisms). One is from the Norman period, and the other is from the 1400s. There are also several interesting tombs and memorials. These include the tomb of Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester. You can also see the Jacobean tomb of Margaret Cleyton, a local person who gave money to the church. Her tomb shows her with her two husbands and 12 children!
Another important tomb belongs to Henry Marten. He was one of the people who signed the paper to execute King Charles I. Marten was held prisoner in Chepstow Castle until he died in 1680. His memorial has a special poem called an acrostic epitaph.
The Organ and Bells
The church's organ is very special. Some of its pipes are from the early 1600s, making it one of the oldest organs in the country. It was first made for Gloucester Cathedral. Later, it moved to Bristol Cathedral and then to Chepstow, possibly as early as 1685. It has been repaired and updated many times since then.
The church tower has ten bells. Eight of them were made in Chepstow in 1735. The two lightest bells were added in 1959. The original clock mechanism was also made locally in the 1700s. It kept time until it was replaced by an electric clock in 1965.
St Mary's Church was officially named a Grade I listed building on June 12, 1950, recognizing its great historical importance.
Notable People Connected to the Church
- John Davies, who later became a bishop and even the Archbishop of Wales, worked here early in his career.
External links
- Churches together in Chepstow, includes contact details for St Mary's
- Chepstow Town Council site – St. Mary's Church
- Artworks at St Mary's Church, Chepstow
St Mary's Priory Chepstow chepstowprioryfriends
