St Michael and All Angels Church, Llanfihangel Rogiet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Michael and All Angels Church, Llanfihangel Rogiet
St Michael and All Angels Church, Llanfihangel Rogiet, from the south
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OS grid reference	ST 456 876
Location	Llanfihangel Rogiet, Monmouthshire
Country	Wales
Denomination	Church in Wales
Website	Friends of Friendless Churches
Architecture
Functional status	Redundant
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	19 August 1955
Architectural type	Church
Groundbreaking	13th century
Specifications
Materials	Stone rubble, some lias, Tiled roofs

St Michael and All Angels Church is a historic church located in Llanfihangel Rogiet, a small area near the village of Rogiet in Monmouthshire, Wales. It's a "redundant church," which means it's no longer used for regular church services. This special building is protected as a Grade II* listed building by Cadw, a Welsh government body that looks after historic sites. The church is now cared for by the Friends of Friendless Churches, a charity that saves old churches. You can find it in a quiet countryside spot, close to a railway line and major motorways. To reach it, you need to go through a private farmyard.

History of St Michael's Church

Most of the church building was first built in the 13th century, which is over 700 years ago! The chancel, the part of the church where the altar is, was made longer in the 14th century. In 1904, the church was repaired and updated by an architect named Henry Prothero. A wealthy person called Lord Tredegar paid for this work.

Discoveries During Restoration

During the 1904 restoration, the north aisle (a side part of the church) was rebuilt. Workers found two old stone statues, called effigies, from the Middle Ages. One statue was of a woman named Anne Martel. The other was probably of her husband, John. They also uncovered a "squint," which is a small opening that allowed people in the aisle to see the altar.

A Baker's Connection

A famous baker named Henry Jones was married in this church in 1826. Later, in 1845, he invented and patented self-raising flour at his bakery in Bristol. This invention made baking much easier for everyone!

Church Closure and Reopening

The church stopped holding regular services in 1973. In 2008, the Friends of Friendless Churches charity took over its care. They spent about £50,000 to fix up the church. It reopened to visitors in July 2010 with a special harp concert. Now, the Caldicot and District Local History Society helps manage the building. They open the church during the summer and plan to hold events and exhibitions there. The church has a single bell that was made in the late 15th century. It is thought to have been made by Robert Hendley from Gloucester.

Architecture and Design

The church is mostly built from rough stone, called rubble, with smoother stone pieces, called ashlar, used for details. The north aisle is made of a type of stone called lias. All the roofs are covered with tiles.

Church Layout

The church has a main area called the nave, with a north aisle next to it. There's also a porch on the south side. The chancel is longer than the nave and has a lower roof. At the west end of the church, there's a tower.

The West Tower

The tower has three levels. It has strong supports called buttresses at the corners. The top of the tower has a decorative wall, called an embattled parapet, with pointed decorations called crocketted pinnacles. In the top level, there are double openings with wooden slats, called louvred bell openings, where the bell is. Below these are tall, narrow windows called lancet windows.

Inside the Church

Inside, the walls are covered with a white coating called limewash. The floor is made of stone slabs. You can still see stone benches along the walls. On the north wall, there are remains of steps that once led to a platform for the rood screen, which was a decorative screen that separated the nave from the chancel. The square font, used for baptisms, is very old, dating back to the 12th century.

Ancient Effigies

The two stone statues found during the restoration are still in the church. They are carved in shallow relief. In the chancel, you can see the statue of John Martel. He is shown wearing chain mail (a type of armor) and holding a sword and shield. In the north aisle, there is the statue of Anne Martel, dated to 1270. She is shown with her arms crossed in prayer and her feet resting on a small dog. The church is recognized as a Grade II* listed building because of its special historical and architectural importance.

Other Buildings Nearby

In the churchyard, there is an old cross. This cross is protected as a scheduled monument, which means it's a very important historical site. The church is part of a group of buildings that includes a farmhouse and other farm buildings. The farmhouse, called Old Court Farm, along with other farm buildings and the stables, are also protected as Grade II listed buildings by Cadw.