St Mary's Church, Welshpool facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Welshpool |
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| 52°39′40″N 3°08′47″W / 52.661097°N 3.146442°W | |
| Location | Welshpool, Powys |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Dedication | Saint Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Architect(s) | George Edmund Street |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | c. 1250; rebuilt in 1870 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | St Asaph |
| Province | Wales |
St Mary's Church in Welshpool is an old and important church located in Powys, Wales. It is a special building that has been around for a very long time. It serves the local community as an Anglican church. The church is so important that it is listed as a Grade I building, which means it has a lot of historical and architectural value. It is part of the Diocese of St Asaph.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
Early Beginnings
The church's story goes way back to the 5th and 6th centuries. A saint named St Cynfelin, also known as St Matu, is believed to have founded the church during this early period. This was a time when many saints were establishing churches across Wales.
Building and Rebuilding
The first church building was constructed around the year 1250. However, not much of that original structure remains today. Only the lower parts of the church tower are from that very old time.
Most of the church you see now was rebuilt or restored in 1871. A famous architect named George Edmund Street was in charge of this big project. The main part of the church, called the nave, was rebuilt in the 16th century before the major 1871 restoration.
Interesting Features and People
Special Ceilings and Stones
The ceiling in the chancel, which is the area around the altar, is very old. It dates back to the 15th century. People believe this beautiful ceiling might have come from Strata Marcella Abbey. This abbey was a large religious house located about five miles away from Welshpool. There is even a stone in the churchyard that is said to have been part of the abbot's throne from the abbey.
Important Figures
St Mary's Church has been connected to some very important people throughout history.
One notable person was Bishop William Morgan. He was the vicar, or priest, at St Mary's from 1575 to 1579. Bishop Morgan is famous for being the first person to translate the entire Bible into the Welsh language. This was a huge achievement that helped many Welsh-speaking people read the Bible in their own language.
Another historical figure, Adam of Usk, was a priest at St Mary's in 1411. He was a medieval chronicler, meaning he wrote down historical events of his time.
Churchyard and War Graves
The churchyard around St Mary's is a peaceful place. It contains seven special graves known as Commonwealth war graves. These graves belong to soldiers and airmen who died serving their country. Five of these graves are for British soldiers from World War I. The other two are for a soldier and an airman from World War II. These graves remind us of the sacrifices made during these major global conflicts.
See also
