St Mary's Church, Magor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's, Magor |
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St Mary's, Magor
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| 51°34′44″N 2°49′51″W / 51.5788°N 2.8307°W | |
| Location | Magor, Monmouthshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| Architecture | |
| Years built | late 13th century |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Monmouth |
The Church of St Mary is a historic building in the middle of Magor, a village in Monmouthshire, Wales. It was built a very long time ago, in the late 1200s.
This church is considered a very important building. In 1963, it was given a special status called a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most important historical buildings in the country. St Mary's is also the main church for a large area called the Netherwent Ministry Area.
History of St Mary's Church
The church might have first been named after Cadwaladr. He was a Welsh ruler who lived in the 600s. He was known as a "King of Britain."
Later, the church was named after Saint Leonard. Then, in the mid-1800s, the church was repaired and updated. At that time, it was renamed and dedicated to St Mary.
What the Church Looks Like
An expert on old buildings, John Newman, described St Mary's as a very grand church. He said it was "one of the most ambitious churches" in the area.
The church is built in a style called "Decorated." This style was popular in England between 1290 and 1350. It often features fancy carvings and large windows. St Mary's has a tall tower that is part of the main building.
The entrance porch was added later, between the 1300s and 1400s. It has strong supports called buttresses. These buttresses are decorated with scary-looking stone carvings called gargoyles. They also have pointed tops called pinnacles.
Inside the church, you can see beautiful stained glass windows from the 1800s. One famous window is called The Good Shepherd. It was made by a well-known company called Kempe & Co. in the early 1930s.
The churchyard, which is the area around the church, is a burial place. A famous Welsh music composer named Mansel Thomas (who lived from 1909 to 1986) is buried there.
Right next to the church, you can see the ruins of an old house. This house is called The Procurator's House. It was built in the 1500s and used to belong to the vicar (priest) of Magor.
