St Peter's Church, Dixton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter's Church, Dixton |
|
|---|---|
The church beside the River Wye
|
|
| 51°49′7.20″N 2°41′59.32″W / 51.8186667°N 2.6998111°W | |
| Location | Dixton, Monmouthshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | http://www.achurchnearyou.com/dixton-newton-st-peter/ |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Hereford |
St Peter's Church is a special Church of England church located in Dixton, Wales. It sits right next to the River Wye. You can find it about one mile north-east of Monmouth, Wales. This church is a very important historical building. It is called a Grade II* listed building. Also, the old cross in its churchyard is a listed building and a scheduled monument. This means it is protected by law.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Long History
The church at Dixton has a very long and interesting past.
Early Beginnings and Ancient Roots
Records from a book called the Book of Llandaff mention a church here around the year 735. Even back then, it was called an "old church." This shows how ancient the site is. Old documents also talk about the church having rights to fish in the River Wye.
At first, the church was named after a Welsh saint called Tydiwg, or Tadeocus. The Welsh name for this area, Llandydiwg, comes from his name. Eventually, this name changed to Dixton.
Building Through the Centuries
The church you see today has a main hall called a nave. It also has a separate area for the altar, known as a chancel. There is a small room called a vestry, a tower at the west end, and two entrance porches. The outside of the church is mostly covered in plaster and whitewash.
The oldest parts of the building might be from the Anglo-Saxon period. This was a very long time ago. Some walls have a special pattern called herring-bone masonry. This pattern looks like fish bones. These parts could also be from the 12th century.
During the 13th century, the nave seems to have been made longer. This might have happened when the tower and chancel were built. A small window in the southwest corner is from the early 14th century. However, in 1397, people said the church was "intolerably dark." The Old Red Sandstone walls in the chancel are from the 14th century. The chancel has special windows on each side and an old stone bench outside. Inside, you can see a royal coat of arms from 1711.
Changes and Renovations
The north porch and vestry were added in 1824. The whole church was later restored in 1861–62. This means it was repaired and updated.
Inside the church, there are five beautiful stained glass windows. One window from 1862 shows Christ Raising the Daughter of Jairus and Healing the Son of the Widow of Nain. It was designed by John Pollard Seddon. He helped restore the church with John Prichard. Another window from 1871 shows The Sermon on the Mount. The largest window is on the east wall of the chancel. It is called Agnus Dei Adored by St Mary Magdalene and St Tadioc and was made in 1954.
Important Status and Flood Protection
St Peter's Church became a Grade II* listed building on June 27, 1952. This protects its special historical value. In 2005, the cross in the churchyard also became a listed building. It is also a scheduled monument, which means it is very important historically.
The church is built in a low area. Because of this, winter floods sometimes enter the building. Metal plates inside the church show how high the water has risen during big floods. A new balcony was built at the back of the church. This helps keep important items safe and dry above the floodwaters. This balcony has a lovely oak screen. The church used to have a rectory, which was a house for the priest. It was later known as Dixton Cottage.
Some notable people are buried here. These include Admiral Thomas Griffin (who died in 1771) and cricketer Trevor Arnott (1902 – 1975).
Church Connections: The Diocese of Hereford
Even though St Peter's Church is in Monmouthshire, Wales, it is still part of the Diocese of Hereford. This diocese belongs to the Church of England.
For a short time, in 1844, the church was moved to the Diocese of Llandaff. This diocese is in Wales. However, in 1915, the people of the parish voted. They decided they did not want to join the Church in Wales when it became separate from the Church of England. So, in 1920, St Peter's Church returned to the Diocese of Hereford. The vicar at the time, John Witherston Rickards, had been serving the church since 1886. He passed away the following year.
