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).
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.
St Arvans is a little over 3km north of Chepstow along the A46. Approached from the Devaudin road by both Church Lone and Grange Road.
Reference AA Route Planner OS Map 162 Cadw Listing Notice 24762
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.
A medieval church of which only the chancel is fully medieval, the nave having been very heavily rebuilt in 1883 by J P Seddon, while the tower dates from 1820 and was paid for by Nathaniel Wells of Piercefield Park. The earliest feature is the Norman priest's door which could be C12, but it too has been restored. The parish of St Arvans was combined with those of Devauden, Itton, Penterry and Kilgwrrwg in 1981.
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
The church is constructed of local sandstone apart from the openings of the 1883 structure and the tower windows which are of Bath limestone; it has Welsh slate roofs, those on the tower roof are thicker. It has a nave with north and south aisles, separate chancel, octagonal west tower, south porch, vestry on the chancel north wall and a sexton's store in the angle between the tower and the south aisle. The nave walls are almost entirely covered by the aisles, the chancel and the tower, only a small section of the east and west gables can be seen. Steeply pitched roofs with coped gables, east gable cross. The north and south aisles are identical except for the projecting south porch which takes the place of the left hand window. This has a 3-centred arch and a steeply pitched gable with a cross. Low wall with 2-light windows with trefoil heads, two on the south and three on the north. Three gabled dormers on each side, with timber fronts each with two trefoil headed lights and trefoil light over. Steeply pitched gable with bargeboards. The end walls of the aisles have unusual stepped triple light windows with trefoil heads. The chancel south wall has the priest's door and another 2-light window as before, this is a genuine one of c1300. The east gable wall has a 3-light window with uncusped lights and three trefoils in the head above. Coped gable with cross. The north wall is blind, but is partly covered by a projecting gabled vestry of 1883. This has a paired lancet on the east wall and one with trefoil light over on the north wall, also an arched doorway. The west tower is square with the corners chamfered and a pyramid roof. Three stages separated by plat bands. The low first stage has a doorway with a cranked head and impost blocks. The second stage has a Victorian window of two tall lancets with quatrefoil over. The bell stage has a pointed opening with louvre on each floor and a slit to each chamfer. The churchyard has a range of C19 memorials, the most significant of which is the chest tomb of Zouch Turton who died in 1814 in the south west corner. The churchyard is surrounded by a stone wall with wrought iron gates on the west side.
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.
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.
The interior is plastered and painted throughout except for the stone dressings. The three bay nave arcades and the chancel arch are of C14 character. The tower arch is filled by an oak screeen of 1931 with a later glazed interlace head. The nave roof is of three bays of arch braced collar beams with kingposts. The chancel roof is a two bay unceiled waggon with carved and painted ribs, and with a further bay, which is ceiled and painted, over the altar. All the fittings are Victorian or later. Victorian benches. East window of 1932. Priest's desk of 1942. Reredos and panelling of 1946. Oak choir stalls and communion rail of c1960. There is said to be a single bell dated 1752. The electric lighting was installed in 1924 as a memorial to Henry Clay of Piercefield, died 1921.
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.