St Govan's Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Govan's Chapel |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Christianity |
| Patron | St Govan |
| Location | |
| Location | St Govan's Head, Pembrokeshire, Wales |
 Location in Pembrokeshire
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| Architecture | |
| Completed | 13th century |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: St. Govan's Chapel | |
| Designated | 8 February 1996 |
| Reference no. | 17980 |
St Govan's Chapel is a very old chapel found on St Govan's Head in Pembrokeshire, a beautiful area in south west Wales. This special building is tucked right into the side of a tall limestone cliff, almost like it's part of the rock itself!
The chapel is about 6 meters (20 feet) long and 3.6 meters (12 feet) wide. Its walls are made from strong limestone. Inside, it has two rooms, one at the front and one at the back. Most of the chapel was built in the 1200s (the thirteenth century). However, some parts might be even older, possibly from the 500s (the sixth century). This is when a monk named Saint Govan is believed to have lived in a cave right where the chapel now stands. Some people say that Saint Govan is buried under the chapel's altar, which is at the eastern end of the building.
You enter the chapel through a doorway on its north side. Inside, there are low stone benches along the north and south walls. At the western end, there's a space where a bell used to be. The roof, made of slate, is thought to be a newer addition compared to the rest of the ancient building.
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How to Visit St Govan's Chapel
To reach this amazing chapel, you need to walk down a set of 52 steps from the top of the cliff. It's a bit of a climb! There's a fun story that says if you count the steps on your way down, you'll get a different number than when you count them on your way back up. Why not try it yourself?
Chapel's Special Status
St Govan's Chapel is a very important historical building. On February 8, 1996, it was given a "Grade I" listing. This means it's considered a building of exceptional interest and importance in the United Kingdom.
When You Can Visit
The chapel is located inside the Castlemartin Training Area. This is a place used by the military for training. Because of this, sometimes the chapel might not be open to visitors due to military activities. It's always a good idea to check before you plan your trip!
St Govan's Chapel in TV Shows
This unique chapel has even been featured on television! It was used as a filming location in the first episode of the third season of the BBC drama His Dark Materials.
Discovering Ogof Gofan Cave
Right underneath the chapel, there's a huge system of caves called Ogof Gofan. It's so big that one part of it is described as looking like a "cathedral"! You can only get into these caves by abseiling, which means climbing down the cliff using ropes.
History of the Cave
The Ogof Gofan cave system was rediscovered in 1966. However, people have been using these caves for thousands of years! Back then, the sea was much further away from the cave's entrance, making it easier to access.
See also
In Spanish: Capilla de San Govan para niños
