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 a historic church located in Cwmcarvan, a village in Monmouthshire, Wales. This church is very old, with parts of it dating back to the late 1200s or early 1300s. It is named after Saint Catwg or Cadoc, an important Welsh saint from the 5th or 6th century.
Most of the church you see today was built in the 1400s. Its impressive tower, for example, was finished in 1525. Later, in the late 1800s, a famous architect named John Prichard worked to restore and improve the church. Today, it is still an active church for the local community and is recognized as a special historic building, known as a Grade II* listed building.
A Look Back: The Church's History
The Church of St Catwg has a long and interesting past. It might have started as a Norman building, which means it could be even older than we think! We know for sure that a church stood here by the late 1200s or early 1300s. Back then, it was a smaller church, like a "chapel of ease," helping out the main St Michael's Church in Mitchel Troy.
A big rebuilding project happened in the 1500s. We know the tower was completed in 1525 because it was mentioned in an old will from that time. Then, in the late 1800s, the church got a major makeover by the architect John Prichard. He made sure the church was well-preserved for future generations. The Church of St Catwg is still an important part of the Cwmcarvan community today.
What Does the Church Look Like?
The Church of St Catwg is built in a style called Perpendicular. This style was popular in England during the late Middle Ages. The church's tower is particularly striking. An expert on old buildings, John Newman, described it as "austerely impressive." This means it looks strong and grand, but without too much fancy decoration.
The tower is made of smooth, cut stone called ashlar, and it doesn't have the usual support structures called buttresses. The main parts of the church, like the nave (where people sit), the two porches, and the chancel (the area near the altar), are built from a type of rock called Old Red Sandstone. The church is officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building because of its "fine early Tudor tower" and its overall historical importance.
