St Michael's Church, Llanvihangel Gobion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael's Church, Llanvihangel Gobion, Monmouthshire |
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| Church of St Michael and All Angels | |
"a medieval church, largely unrestored"
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| Coordinates: 51°46′40″N 2°56′57″W / 51.7779°N 2.9492°W | |
| Location | Llanvihangel Gobion, Monmouthshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | C15th century |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 9 January 1956 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Perpendicular |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Llanvihangel Gobion |
| Deanery | Raglan/Usk |
| Archdeaconry | Monmouth |
| Diocese | Monmouth |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar(s) | The Reverend Canon Tim Clement |
The Church of St Michael, Llanvihangel Gobion, Monmouthshire is a parish church with datable origins to the 15th century. There is no record of a Victorian restoration, although one must have occurred (the weathervane bears the date 1846), but there is documented evidence of a "light" reconstruction in 1925. Since the date, the church has barely been altered. It remains an active parish church and a Grade II* listed building.
History
The datable elements of the church are from the 15th century, although its origins may be earlier, it sits in a circular churchyard and an earlier sculpture has been incorporated into its South wall near the tower. The similarities of the roof-line and tower with those at St Cadoc's Church, Llangattock-juxta-Usk may suggest the involvement of the Gloucestershire engineer John Upton in a Victorian rebuilding, although there is no documented evidence of this. Upton also undertook work at the nearby Pant-y-Goitre Bridge. The architectural historian John Newman writes that the church was "lightly restored in 1925". It remains an active parish church and a Grade II* listed building.
Architecture and description
The church is constructed of Old Red Sandstone rubble. The most notable interior features are the "timber aisle-posts, polyganol and moulded", Cadw recording the "good internal carpentry including unusual timber arcade". Of particular interest is a crudely carved stone depicting two angels holding what appears to be a shroud possibly below that of another figure (sadly headless)which could represent a figure of the resurrected Christ. This is possibly from a chapel or other religious establishment which originally stood here. Also of note is the impressively large base of a 14th century preaching cross opposite the South porch.
