St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Monmouth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Roman Catholic Church |
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St Mary's Catholic Church
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| 51°48′44.3″N 2°42′47.1″W / 51.812306°N 2.713083°W | |
| Location | Monmouth, Monmouthshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | including Benjamin Bucknall |
| Years built | 1778 |
St Mary's Roman Catholic Church is a special church located on St Mary's Street in Monmouth, Wales. It was the very first public Catholic church allowed to open in Wales after the Reformation. This was a time when the official religion changed, and Catholics faced many challenges.
The church building itself is quite old, with parts built in the late 1700s in a style called Georgian architecture. Later, in the 1800s, a famous architect named Benjamin Bucknall added more parts to it. He was a Catholic convert. St Mary's Church is recognized as a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical site. It's also one of 24 buildings you can see on the Monmouth Heritage Trail.
Contents
A Look at the Church's Past
For a long time after the 1500s, many people in Monmouth secretly kept their Catholic faith. This was called "recusancy." In fact, by 1773, Monmouth had one of the highest numbers of Catholics in all of England and Wales.
Laws Against Catholics
There were strict "Penal Laws" that made it hard for Catholics to practice their religion openly. But in 1778, a new law called the Papists Act 1778 made things a bit easier. People in Monmouth asked the local leaders if they could build a "Public Catholick Chapel."
One of the people who asked was Michael Watkins. He owned the Robin Hood Inn, where Catholic Mass (their main church service) was secretly held in an upstairs room. After a lot of effort, they got permission to build the church. This happened three years before a similar church was allowed in Chepstow.
Building in Secret
However, there was a local rule that said Catholic and other non-official church buildings had to be hidden. This meant St Mary's Church couldn't look like a church from the outside. Its entrance couldn't face the main road, and people had to arrive one by one. The church was originally set back from the street, hidden behind a row of small houses.
Later, when rules against Catholics became even more relaxed, Benjamin Bucknall rebuilt the church. He tore down the houses in front, making the church much more visible.
How the Church Grew
The oldest part of the church, built in 1793, is now the area where the sanctuary (the most sacred part) and sacristy (where priests prepare) are. You can still see a beautiful stained glass window there from the Georgian period.
In 1829, Catholics gained even more freedom with "Catholic Emancipation." Because of this, the church was made bigger in 1837. They added the chancel and half of what is now the main part of the church, called the nave.
Then, in 1871, Benjamin Bucknall did a big redesign. He added the tall tower and a fancy front made of Old Red Sandstone. One writer described its "double bellcote crowned by a precipitously steep slate roof." Inside, the font (a basin for baptisms) has a cool design of a serpent from the Garden of Eden wrapped around its base.
From 1835 to 1851, a priest named Thomas Burgess served at St Mary's. He later became a very important leader, the Bishop of Clifton.
Special Things Inside the Church
St Mary's Church has many interesting things to see, especially its connection to Saint John Kemble. He was a Catholic missionary who worked in Monmouthshire and Herefordshire. He was killed for his faith in 1679 and is buried nearby in Welsh Newton.
A Place of Refuge
The area around Monmouth, known as the Welsh Marches, was a place where the old Catholic faith stayed strong even after the Reformation. Many large houses in the area secretly held Catholic services. Priests who were caught could face very serious punishments.
The church still honors Saint John Kemble. Every year, around the time he died, the church organizes a special trip (a pilgrimage) to his tomb.
Historic Items
Inside the church, there's an altar dedicated to Saint John Kemble. This altar was used for Mass during the times when Catholics had to worship in secret, sometimes at places like Pembridge Castle. It's made of two benches that could be separated to hide its real purpose. These historic items were restored in 2009 and 2010.
The church also has other old and valuable items. These include a processional cross from the 1300s, a beautiful red embroidered chasuble (a priest's outer garment) from around 1502, and a hinged cross, possibly from Spain, dating back to the 1600s.
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