St Mellons Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mellons Church |
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| St Mellons Parish Church | |
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| 51°31′34″N 3°06′49″W / 51.52624°N 3.11372°W | |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | active |
| Dedication | St Mellonius |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 1963 |
| Years built | 13th century |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Old St Mellons |
| Diocese | Diocese of Monmouth |
St Mellons Parish Church, also known as St Melan's church, is a historic building in Old St Mellons, Cardiff, Wales. It is a Church in Wales parish church within the Diocese of Monmouth. The church was built around the 13th century and is recognized as a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical site.
Contents
Discovering the Church's Past
The exact date when St Mellons Church was first built is not known. However, it first appears in official records in the year 1254.
How the Normans Influenced the Church
Some historians believe that the Normans built this church. The Normans were people from France who conquered parts of Wales. They might have built it as their new church during their conquest of Wales. They probably named it after St Mellonius, who was a bishop in the early 300s. He was thought to have been born in the same area of Wales.
What Remains from the Original Building?
Even though the church has been around since the 1200s, most of its original parts are gone. Only a few pieces remain from its first construction. These include the base of a high cross in the churchyard. A high cross is a tall, decorated stone cross. Also, the base of the Baptismal font is original. A baptismal font is a basin used for baptisms. This font base was made from parts of an old Norman pillar.
It seems the church was rebuilt in the 1300s. This is suggested by the style of the tower and the designs of the stained glass windows. Most of the church's current structure was built before the English Reformation. The English Reformation was a major change in the church in England during the 1500s.
Victorian Era Changes
In the 1800s, the church went through several updates. These were called Victorian restorations. The goal was to fix up the church while keeping its old medieval look.
- In 1858–1859, the main part of the church was restored by George Gilbert Scott. A person named Edward Augustus Freeman helped pay for this work.
- Around 1869, more work was done by Charles Buckeridge.
- The chancel, which is the area around the altar, was restored in 1875 by Ewan Christian.
- The church tower was updated in 1910.
Some doors in the church are said to be made from wood from old warships. These ships were taken apart in Dover after World War I. One of these ships might have been HMS Temeraire.
Why St Mellons Church is a Listed Building
St Mellons Parish Church was given Grade I listed status in 1963. This is because it still has most of its original medieval parts. A Grade I listing means it is a building of exceptional interest.
The base of the cross in the churchyard also has a special status. It was given Grade II status in 1977. This groups it with other important monuments on the church site. It is considered a "vestigial medieval churchyard cross." This means it is a remaining part of an old medieval churchyard cross. It is valued because it is part of the church and other listed items in the churchyard.
