St Mary's Church, Tregare facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary, Tregare, Monmouthshire |
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"a medieval country church of simple architectural character"
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| Location | Tregare, Monmouthshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 27 September 2001 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Decorated Gothic |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Rockfield with St Maughans and Llangattock-vibon-Avel with Llanfihangel-ystern-Llewern with Dingestow with Llangovan and Penyclawdd with Tregaer with Cwmcarvan |
| Diocese | Monmouth |
The Church of St Mary is a historic church located in the small village of Tregare, in Monmouthshire, south east Wales. It is the main church for the local community. The oldest parts of the church were built in the 1300s. The church's tall tower was added later, likely in the 1400s. In the early 1900s, the church was carefully repaired and updated. It is built in a style called Decorated Gothic, which means it has fancy decorations. Today, it is recognized as a Grade II* listed building, which means it is a very important historical building.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
The Church of St Mary has a long and interesting past. Records show that in 1285, a nobleman named John de Hastings gave the right to appoint the church's priest to the Bishop of Llandaff. This shows how old the church's connection to the local area is.
Building Styles and Materials
The church we see today was mostly built in the 1300s. It shows a mix of two old building styles:
- Decorated Gothic: This style was popular in the 13th and 14th centuries. It features beautiful, detailed stone carvings and large windows.
- Perpendicular Gothic: This style came after Decorated Gothic, from the late 14th to 16th centuries. It is known for its tall, slender pillars and large windows with vertical stone bars.
The church is made from rough sandstone pieces, which gives it a strong, natural look. Its roof is covered with slate tiles.
Parts of the Church
The Church of St Mary has several main parts:
- Nave: This is the main part of the church where people sit during services.
- South Porch: An unusual entrance on the south side.
- Chancel: The area around the altar, usually at the east end of the church.
- West Tower: A tall tower at the western end of the church. This tower was built a bit later than the rest of the church. It has a unique pyramid-shaped roof and a weathervane shaped like a cockerel (a rooster).
Restoration and Special Features
In 1900, the church underwent a restoration, which means it was repaired and updated. This work was done by an architect named G.E. Halliday from Cardiff.
Inside the church, you can find an original font. A font is a large basin used for baptisms. This font is very special because it is decorated with hearts that have "IHS" symbols inside them. "IHS" is a short way of writing the name of Jesus. An expert on old buildings, John Newman, called this font "a most remarkable 15th century conceit," meaning it was a very clever and unusual design for its time.
The Church of St Mary is described as a "small medieval country church of simple architectural character." This means it's a charming old church that shows the building styles of the Middle Ages in a straightforward way.
