St Bride's Church, Llansantffraed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Church of St Bride (or St Bridget) |
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 The Church of St Bride (or St Bridget)
Location in Monmouthshire
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| 51°47′06″N 2°56′00″W / 51.785°N 2.9332°W | |
| Location | Llansantffraed, Monmouthshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | parish church |
| Founded | 14th century |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 9 January 1956 |
| Architect(s) | John Prichard & John Pollard Seddon |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Llanarth with Llansantffraed |
| Deanery | Abergavenny |
| Archdeaconry | Monmouth |
| Diocese | Monmouth |
The Church of St Bride (also known as St Bridget) is a very old church located in Llansantffraed, a small village near Raglan in Monmouthshire, Wales. This church was originally built by the Normans, who were people from Normandy in France who conquered England in 1066.
Even though it was fixed up in the 1800s by architects John Prichard and John Pollard Seddon, it still has many of its original old parts. It is an active church today and is considered a very important historical building, known as a Grade II* listed building.
Contents
History of St Bride's Church
Early Beginnings and Norman Roots
The Church of St Bride has its roots in the Norman period. This means parts of the church are very, very old, dating back many centuries. A lot of the original stone and structure from that time is still there today.
Changes Over Time
The exact date when the church's bell tower was built is not clear. However, we know it was added after the first Norman building but before the big repairs in the Victorian era. The Victorian era was a time in the 1800s when Queen Victoria ruled.
Victorian Restoration
In 1856 and 1857, architects John Pollard and John Seddon worked on the church. They added the porch, which is the covered entrance at the front. Since then, the church has not changed much, except for some roof repairs and general upkeep in the 1990s.
The Church Today
The Church of St Bride is still an active church. It serves the parish of Llansantffraed, which is the smallest parish in Monmouthshire. In the churchyard, there is also an old cross from the late Middle Ages. This cross is also a Grade II listed building, showing its historical importance.
Architecture and Design
Building Materials and Features
The Church of St Bride is built using a type of stone called Old Red Sandstone. It is a small church, but it has a bell tower that looks quite large compared to the rest of the building.
Special Monuments Inside
The architectural historian John Newman pointed out the "unforgettable monuments" inside the church. These are special gravestones fixed to the walls. They date back to the 1600s and list the family history of a person named William Jones, going all the way back to the year 1438. These monuments offer a fascinating look into the past.
