Priory Church of St Mary, Chepstow
51°38′33.60″N 2°40′20.02″W / 51.6426667°N 2.6722278°W
St Mary's Church | |
---|---|
The Parish and Priory Church of St Mary | |
Country | Wales |
Denomination | Church in Wales |
Website | http://www.chepstowparish.co.uk |
Administration | |
Diocese | Monmouth |
Clergy | |
Vicar(s) | Revd Philip Averay |
The Parish and Priory Church of St Mary is located in
Foundation and history of the priory
It was founded around 1072 as a
As Chepstow developed as a market town and port around the castle and priory during the
The present building
Part of the Norman church remains, but it has been greatly modified over later centuries. The original Priory Church was built in local yellow Triassic sandstone, with a long vaulted nave, massive piers, and a notably ornamented west entrance doorway with zigzag and lozenge patterns, dating from the early 12th century.[3] These parts remain. However, later extensions and modifications have used other varieties of stone in other architectural styles, with the result that the whole church has been described as "an extraordinarily disjointed building."[3]
The main central tower of the original church collapsed in a storm in 1701, destroying the
The church contains two fonts, one of Norman origin and the other from the 15th century. There are several notable tombs and memorials, including that of Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester, and the Jacobean tomb of local benefactor Margaret Cleyton with her two husbands and 12 children. It also contains the tomb of Henry Marten, signatory to King Charles I's death warrant, who was imprisoned in Chepstow Castle until his death in 1680.[7] His memorial includes an acrostic epitaph.[6]
The organ, one of the few in the country with pipework dating from the early 17th century,
The church was designated a
Notable clergy
- John Davies, former Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, and Archbishop of Walesserved his curacy here.
References
- ^ ISBN 0-947846-02-6, pp.3–12
- ^ ISBN 1-904396-52-6
- ^ ISBN 0-14-071053-1
- ISBN 0-7083-1826-6
- ^ Chepstow Society, Chepstow Town Trail, 1990
- ^ a b c d Ivor Waters, The Town of Chepstow, 1972
- ^ "Henry Marten (Martin)". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ISBN 0-903434-36-9
- ^ National Pipe Organ Register, the British Insititue of Organ Studies, 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2008
- ^ John P. Harris, The Priory and Parish Church of St. Mary, Chepstow, 1997
- ^ Details for Chepstow S Mary, Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
- National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
External links
- Churches together in Chepstow, includes contact details for St Mary's
- Chepstow Town Council site – St. Mary's Church
- Artworks at St Mary's Church, Chepstow