St Catwg's Church, Cwmcarvan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Catwg |
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" a fine early Tudor tower"
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 Church of St Catwg
Location in Monmouthshire
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| 51°45′50″N 2°45′31″W / 51.7638°N 2.7585°W | |
| Location | Cwmcarvan, Monmouthshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | parish church |
| Founded | 14th century |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 27 November 1953 |
| Architect(s) | John Prichard, |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Perpendicular |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Cwmcarvan |
| Deanery | Monmouth |
| Archdeaconry | Monmouth |
| Diocese | Monmouth |
The Church of St Catwg is an old church located in Cwmcarvan, a village in Monmouthshire, Wales. It's a special place of worship that has been around for a very long time. The church is dedicated to Saint Catwg or Cadoc, a Welsh saint who lived in the 400s or 500s. The building you see today was mostly built in the 1400s. Its tall tower was added in 1525 during the Tudor period.
The church was carefully repaired and updated by an architect named John Prichard. This work happened between 1872 and 1879. Today, it's still an active church for the community. It is also recognized as a very important historical building. This means it has a special status called a Grade II* listed building.
A Look Back at the Church's Story
The Church of St Catwg might have started even earlier. Some people think it could have Norman roots. We know for sure there was a building by the late 1200s or early 1300s. At that time, it was a smaller church, like a "chapel of ease." This meant it was a convenient place for people to worship if the main church, St Michael's Church in Mitchel Troy, was too far away.
A lot of rebuilding work happened in the 1500s. The church's tower, for example, was built in 1525. We know this from an old will that mentioned it. Later, in the late 1800s, the church got a big makeover. This was done by the architect John Prichard. The church is still an important part of the Cwmcarvan community today.
What the Church Looks Like
The Church of St Catwg is built in a style called Perpendicular. This is a type of Gothic architecture that was popular in England. The architectural historian John Newman described the tower as "austerely impressive." This means it looks strong and simple, but also very grand.
The tower is made of ashlar, which are carefully cut stones. It doesn't have buttresses, which are supports often found on old buildings. The main parts of the church, like the nave (the main area where people sit), the two porches, and the chancel (the area around the altar), are made from a type of stone called Old Red Sandstone. The church is a Grade II* listed building. This special listing highlights its "fine early Tudor tower," showing how important its history and design are.
