St Cadoc's Church, Llangattock Vibon Avel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Cadoc's Church, Llangattock Vibon Avel |
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| Church of St Cadoc | |
"a fine High Victorian rural church"
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| Location | Llangattock Vibon Avel, Monmouthshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | c.14th century |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 27 November 1953 |
| Architectural type | Church |
The Church of St Cadoc is in Llangattock Vibon Avel, Monmouthshire, Wales. It is a very old church, first built in the Middle Ages. It was later rebuilt and updated a lot in the 1800s.
This church was once the special church for the Rolls family, who lived at a big house called The Hendre. The famous car and airplane pioneer, Charles Stewart Rolls, is buried in the churchyard. The church is a special historic building, known as a Grade II* listed building. Today, a group called the Friends of Friendless Churches helps take care of it.
Contents
History of St Cadoc's Church
The church is named after Saint Cadoc, a Welsh saint. The first church here was built a very long time ago, in the Middle Ages. Old records say it was a "clas" church. This means it was a main church with a group of priests. They looked after several smaller churches in nearby villages.
The first church was probably made from wood and a mix of mud and sticks called wattle and daub. Later, it was rebuilt using stone. The porch tower, which is the entrance part, is the only piece left from that original stone church. Experts believe its door was built around the year 1300.
The Rolls Family and Church Updates
In the 1800s, the church became very important to the Rolls family. They owned a large estate nearby called The Hendre. The family spent a lot of money to restore and rebuild the church.
First, John Etherington Welch Rolls started the work. Later, his son, John Rolls, 1st Baron Llangattock, continued the project. Both times, a famous architect named Thomas Henry Wyatt designed the changes. Between these two big building projects, the inside of the church was also beautifully decorated.
Charles Rolls' Connection
The Rolls family had a big impact on the church. John Maclean, the oldest son of Lord Llangattock, died in 1916. His younger brother was Charles Stewart Rolls. Charles was famous for starting Rolls-Royce cars and for being an early airplane pilot. He died in a plane crash in 1910, before his brother. Charles Rolls is buried in the churchyard. His parents are also buried there.
The church remained connected to The Hendre estate until the 1980s. That is when the estate was sold. St Cadoc's Church was used for regular services until December 2020. Now, the Friends of Friendless Churches charity owns and looks after it.
Church Design and Features
Most of St Cadoc's Church was built in the 1800s. Only the porch tower, from the 1400s, remains from the older church. The main parts of the church, like the nave (where people sit) and the chancel (where the altar is), were built in 1852-53 and again in 1875.
The church is made from a type of stone called old red sandstone. Its roof is covered with red clay tiles. Inside, you can see beautiful stained glass windows. These windows were made by an artist named Charles Eamer Kempe.
The church is a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historic building. The listing describes it as a "fine High Victorian rural church." It is also special because of its strong connection to the Rolls family and their home, The Hendre.
