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The Great Britain Guide

Historic churches · South Wales

Church of St Mary and St Michael, Llanarth

Free admission

Church of St Mary and St Michael, Llanarth — Grade II* listed building-listed church in wales-south, United Kingdom.

Church of St Mary and St Michael, at Llanarth Court - geograph.org.uk - 1671512

andy dolman — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
30 min–1 h
  • Free entry

About

Church of St Mary and St Michael, Llanarth is a Grade II* listed building-listed church in wales-south, United Kingdom, registered on the Cadw register of listed buildings (Wales) (entry 1971). Listed status protects buildings and structures of special architectural or historic interest. See the linked Wikipedia article for further details.

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Heritage listing

The Church of St Mary and St Michael, Llanarth, Monmouthshire, was built as the family chapel for Llanarth Court. It was the first Roman Catholic church constructed in the county since the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the mid-16th century. Built circa 1790, some decades before the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829, it was designed to look like an orangery, or barn, in order not to attract anti-Catholic hostility.

From Cadw under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

The Church of St Mary and St Michael, Llanarth, Monmouthshire, was built as the family chapel for Llanarth Court. It was the first Roman Catholic church constructed in the county since the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the mid-16th century. Built circa 1790, some decades before the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829, it was designed to look like an orangery, or barn, in order not to attract anti-Catholic hostility. It is considered one of the oldest, if not the oldest, Catholic churches in Wales.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

Following the Reformation, Monmouthshire, and particularly the north of the county, became an area of significant recusancy. The Joneses of Llanarth Court were an old Catholic family, and had supported a priest at Llanarth since 1781. In the late 18th century, the family chapel at the Court became insufficient to accommodate the numbers of worshippers and the family constructed a larger church in the grounds. Tradition suggests the building was disguised as a tool-shed, although later authorities suggest the scale of the church indicates it is more likely to have been constructed to look like a barn After closure in 1986, the church came under the responsibility of the Roman Catholic…

Architecture

The building is a long, single-storeyed, structure covered in white render. The architectural historian John Newman suggests its design ensured the building; "could be mistaken for an orangery, as was doubtless intended." It has six, rounded, windows on its west façade. There is a small apse at the western end, and a projecting vestry. The interior has much, original, 19th century work and stained glass dating from the 16th to the 20th centuries.

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
51.7899, -2.8994
Parish
Llanarth
Postcode
NP15 2YD
Parliamentary constituency
Monmouthshire
Established
1790

Sources

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Church of St Mary and St Michael, Llanarth?
Church of St Mary and St Michael, Llanarth is in South Wales, United Kingdom (postcode NP15 2YD), in the parish of Llanarth.
When was Church of St Mary and St Michael, Llanarth built?
Built or established in 1790.
Is Church of St Mary and St Michael, Llanarth a listed building?
Church of St Mary and St Michael, Llanarth is officially recognised as Grade II* listed building listed.
Is Church of St Mary and St Michael, Llanarth free to visit?
Yes, Church of St Mary and St Michael, Llanarth is free to enter.
How do I get to Church of St Mary and St Michael, Llanarth?
Drivers can navigate to postcode NP15 2YD. It sits within the Monmouthshire parliamentary constituency.