The name or dedication of the church.
This identifies the church type. Most churches are parish churches which means they serve a specific parish or area. Other types such as chapel, daughter and mission are mostly historic designations as many are now also parish churches. Please note that former churches are no longer used for worhsip and may be in private ownership.
A unique identification number given to every church.
The name of the diocese in which the church is located.
The name of the archdeaconry in which the church is located.
This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.
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There are 3 levels of listing: Grade I, II* & II. The majority of buildings which are of special interest are Grade II. A much smaller number of particularly important buildings are listed as Grade II*. Buildings of exceptional interest (approx 2% of the total number of listed buildings) are Grade I.
Ancient monuments and archaeological remains of national importance are protected by law. Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service is responsible for compiling a schedule (list) of these ancient monuments, some of which can be found in churches and churchyards. Examples can include churchyard crosses and the archaeological remains of previous churches or buildings on the site.
There are three National Parks in Wales: Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons. These protect 20 percent of the land in Wales, including precious landscapes, habitats, villages and heritage sites.
There are over 500 conservation areas in Wales. They are designated by local planning authorities for their special architectural and historic interest.
The Buildings at Risk register is managed by Cadw (the Welsh Government’s historic environment service) in order to identify the number and type of listed buildings at risk in Wales.
It is often extremely difficult to determine a precise date of construction for a church as many have been extensively altered over time. Church Heritage Cymru therefore shows a date range within which a church is believed to have been constructed. The dates are as follows: Early Medieval (pre 1066), Medieval (post 1066 to 1540), Post Medieval (1540 to 1837), Victorian/Pre WWI (1837 to 1914) and Modern (post 1914).
The name/dedication of the church and its location.
A brief description of the image
The date the image was created.
Details of any copyright are displayed here.
The name of the person who uploaded the image.
This is a very brief summary of the church's main features. More detailed nformation can be found in the other fields and pages (tabs) in this database.
Useful information is displayed here for people wishing to visit the church. This may include things like opening hours, catering & toilet facilities, parking, etc.
If the church has its own website the details will be displayed here.
Any further sources of information for the church will be listed here (eg. links to other historic databases).
This is the Ordnance Survey (OS) reference for the location of the church. Some locations will be approximate as this data is continuously being refined and updated.
This is the name of the Local Authoirity within which the church is located.
This describes how the church relates to its immediate and wider environment, sometimes called its setting. It describes how the church contributes to its landscape or townscape and how these things collectively contribute to the character of the area.
Newport is Wales' third largest urban centre rising from sea level to over 100m. The original borough c1140 was constituted about one third of the parish of St Woolos (now the cathedral. The quays in the town developed rapidly following the opening of the in 1799 of the Monmouthshire canals and by 1830 was Wales' largest coal port -its boom year was 1913. Since then the town has moved to become an engineering centre giving the world 'the Mole Grip'. in 2002 the town was granted city status
Reference AA Route Planner OS Map 171
This is a description of the ground plan of the church.
If known, the dimensions (measurements) of the church ground plan will be displayed here.
If the footrprint (area) of the church is known, it will be displayed here.
A description of the history and archaeology of the church and its site.
Traditionally founded around the year 500 by Gwynllyw, Lord of Gwynllwg, (whose name has corrupted to Woolos). The present St Mary?s Chapel is said to be on the site of the original church, and retains some pre-Conquest masonry. Around 1080, a Norman nave of 5 bays was added. Around 1200, St Mary's chapel was raised in height. In the C15, following damage when Newport was razed by Owain Glyndwr, aisles were added, as well as a 2-storey S porch, and the W tower, known as the Jasper Tower, after Jasper Tudor, who was responsible for some of the work. The church was restored 1818/19. In 1853, R G Thomas, architect, demolished the medieval porch and built a new one; and the chancel was rebuilt. In 1913, William Davies, architect, built vestry, and uncovered archaeological features. In 1960-62, the chancel was demolished and rebuilt, on a large scale by A D R Caroe, architect. The E window and mural were designed by John Piper, the mural being painted by scenery painters of Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. In the early 1990s, a hall was added on the N side. The Diocese of Monmouth was created only in 1921; St Woolos achieved full cathedral status in 1949.
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
Unusual plan consisting of W tower, connected to nave by Chapel of St Mary; S porch; large chancel, with vestries at right angles to N, and recent hall beyond. Red-brown stone with pale ashlar dressings; generally tiled roofs. Crenellated tower with stepped diagonal buttresses; 2-light square-headed windows to bell stage; to W, damaged statue in niche, single-light window below statue, and further 2-light square-headed window; below this, 3-light Perpendicular window; Gothic doorway. St Mary?s Chapel of 3 windows. Nave windows broad Perpendicular style dating from C19. Large chancel in free C20 Gothic style. At right angles to Chancel, on N side, Vestry with square-headed mullioned windows. Stepped down from this, Hall with lancet windows.
Information about any noteable architects, artists, people, or events associated with the church.
Information about any important features and building fabric.
If known, a list of the church's major building material/s will be displayed here.
Any renewable energy systems the church is using will be listed here.
A brief description of the image.
Copyright details.
The name of the person who inputted the image.
This section gives a general description of the interior of the church. Further details of any important internal fixtures and fittings will be listed below.
Tower has part glazed Gothic doors to St Mary?s Chapel, which has 3 windows to each side (plus square window on S side with tracery from room above former porch). Arch-braced roof. Font incorporating Norman fragments. Niche on N side has mutilated mon to John Morgan of Tredegar, died 1491. C20 Stained glass in lancets from St Luke?s, Bridge Street, Newport. Norman Archway through to nave incorporates Roman columns from Caerleon, with re-cut Corinthian capitals; Norman window above. Norman nave of 5 bays, scallop capitals, clerestorey windows now give onto aisles. E bay of nave has to N, Gothic arch to organ chamber; to S, segmental arch to chapel (tall Gothic arch to aisle). Rood doorway above. At W end of S aisle, tomb of Sir Walter Herbert, died 1568; early C20 stained glass of Welsh Saints; C15 piscina. Arch-braced roofs to Nave and aisles. Mid C20 chancel in free Gothic style; on N side so-called "Leper?s window", a small re-set Perpendicular window.
Information about the church's important internal fixtures and fittings.
Information about the church's important moveable items and artworks.
A description of the ecology of the churchyard.
Information about the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.
Records whether the church has been consecrated.
Records whether there have been burials in the churchyard.
Records whether the churchyard is still being used for burials.
Records whether there are any war graves in the churchyard.
Any important churchyard structures will be listed here.
Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship of the church to its surrounding area and helps place it within its wider landscape context.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the significance of the historic building fabric of the church.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the historic significance of the interior of the church.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship between the church and its community.