St David's Church, Llanddewi Skirrid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St David, Llanddewi Skirrid |
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Church of St David
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| 51°50′54″N 2°57′30″W / 51.8482°N 2.9582°W | |
| Location | Monmouthshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | Grade II listed |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | John Prichard |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Llanddewi Skirrid |
| Diocese | Monmouth |
The Church of St David is a special old church located in the village of Llanddewi Skirrid, in Monmouthshire, Wales. It's considered a very important building because of its history and its beautiful design. In 1956, it was given a special status called Grade II listed. This means it's a building that needs to be protected because it's historically important. The church is also linked to a famous local family, the Crawshay Baileys, and shows the work of a well-known architect named John Prichard.
History of the Church Building
A church has stood in this spot since the Middle Ages. However, most of the building you see today was built much later, in the 1800s. Only the tower from the original medieval church still stands.
Rebuilding in the 19th Century
The rest of the church was taken down and rebuilt in 1879. This work was done by John Prichard, who was the main architect for the local church area (the diocese). He worked for a rich local landowner named Crawshay Bailey, Junior.
Bailey was a very generous supporter of the church. He spent about £2000 to restore it, which was a lot of money back then! He even helped lay the foundation stone, which you can still see in the wall on the east side of the church.
New Features and Memorials
Crawshay Bailey also had four new bells put into the church. He also added a very valuable pipe organ, which many people thought was one of the best in the area.
Bailey passed away in another country in 1887. However, he was brought back to Llanddewi Skirrid to be buried. His grave is marked by a cross covered in ivy. His daughters later had the beautiful east window installed in the church to remember him.
