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Chepstow Parish Church Chepstow Parish Church Chepstow Parish and Priory Church of St. Mary was founded by 1071. The Marcher Lord, William Fitzosbern, brought Benedictine monks across from the Abbey in Cormeilles, in Normandy, to supervise building works. The church prospered until the Act for Dissolution of Smaller Monasteries in 1536 meant that much of the stonework of the Priory and the eastern portion of the church was quarried for local building purposes. The central Norman tower partially collapsed about 1656 and completely collapsed during a severe gale in 1703. Then only the present excellent example of an early Norman Nave was left. The present embattled tower was erected on the Norman West Front in 1705. In the 19th century the church was a victim of architectural fashion with a major restoration at the turn of the century seeking to replace what had been removed in the 1840's. The present chancel and transepts in early English style date from the later rebuilding. The west door is an architectural masterpiece with five concentric arches resting on receding columns, all richly decorated in a style peculiar to the early Norman period. Two early tombs are in the church; the 16th century monument to Henry, second Earl of Worcester, and his wife; and the Jacobean tomb of Margaret Cleydon, upon which are also depicted her two husbands and twelve children. A floorstone with an acrostic* epitaph marks the burial place of the regicide MP, Henry Marten (who died in 1680 at Chepstow Castle) is in the west porch. The tower has a peel of 10 bells, some cast in Wm. Evans' Bell Foundry in Welsh Street, Chepstow, between 1735/49. The church registers had their first entries in 1595. All the ancient documents of this church are now in the county archives at Cwmbran. Recent additions to the church interior are the carved Triptych Reredos** (originally a First World War Memorial in a Newport Church) at the High Altar; a modern tapestry, "God the Holy Spirit over Chepstow", which hangs over the Norman font, and a colourful collection of hand-stitched hassocks. Other items of interest are Victorian floor tiles in the chancel and sanctuary; the workings of the old Tower clock; a memorial picture for Chepstow's Victoria Cross holder. and an ancient gas lamp. The church is open each day between 9am and 5pm, and visitors are always welcome. *A poem in which the first letters of the line form a word or words. |
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If you have any comments about The Striguil Zone, please contact webadmin@striguil.co.uk ©Russell Higgins 2003 Some of the information about Chepstow is extracted from the
Town Guide. |