St Peter’s Church Citra St Peter’s Church has been the Welcome to St Peter’s Church, centre of this widespread rural Early history for over 600 years and Llanwenarth Citra continues to hold services every The early origins of the site of the Church are generally considered to be Celtic from around Sunday. Situated on the eastern Croeso i Eglwys Sant Pedr, the 7th century. The Llan prefix denotes an enclosure containing the cell of a Celtic saint. JA edge of the Beacons Bradney in his History of , suggested that the name Llanwenarth was derived National Park on the old road from Llanwenarth from Llan Gwen Garth – the Blessed Enclosure.1 London to West and close to 2 the market town of , The earliest record of its existence dates to 1254 in a document known as the Norwich Valuation. this church has been the focus for At this time, the church was dedicated to “Waynardo” – possibly the name of a Celtic saint. generations of local people, but This, together with the nearly circular outline of the churchyard and the ancient yew tree, 3 above all it is a sacred place where which is older than the present church, supports the legend of a 7th century church or cell. people come to find peace. There is also some evidence from an 18th century account that the church was dedicated to Gwen the daughter of Arth, son of Brychan – the legendary founder and king of Brycheiniog. This is a brief guide to its history and its place in the heritage of this Although perhaps not entirely historically reliable, this is an interesting piece of local folklore! area. The church at Talgarth in Brecknock was also dedicated to Gwen. The Normans often used existing Celtic religious sites for building churches. At Llanwenarth, they were probably responsible for the dedication of St. Peter. Mae Eglwys Sant Pedr wedi bod wrth wraidd y gymuned wasgaredig In the Middle Ages parishes were very large in size, and the upland area of Aberystruth [which wledig hon ers dros 600 mlynedd includes the modern communities of , and ] was included in the a chynhelir gwasanaethau yma parish of Llanwenarth. The earliest record of St Peter’s Aberystruth, which was in Blaina, bob dydd Sul hyd heddiw. Wedi’i dates to 1535, when it is recorded that it was formerly a chapelry of Llanwenarth, ministered lleoli ar ymyl dwyreiniol Parc by curates who were in the gift of Llanwenarth. In 1827, when St Peter’s Aberystruth was re- Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog built, Aberystruth became a separate parish. ar yr hen ffordd o Lundain i Orllewin Cymru, nid nepell o dref farchnad y Fenni, mae’r eglwys hon wedi bod yn ganolbwynt i genedlaethau o bobl leol, ond yn anad dim mae’n lle sanctaidd ac mae pobl yn dod yma i ddarganfod heddwch.

Dyma ganllaw cryno i hanes yr eglwys a’i lle yn nhreftadaeth yr ardal hon.

2 3 35 18 e ir h s h t u o

m

n

o The parish of Llanwenarth then became the area covered by the present parish of Llanwenarth

M

f Ultra [the other side of the river] or and Llanwenarth Citra with the river

o

p running between them. They were linked by a bridge. The will of Dan Morgan in 1620 left

a 1,12 M 10 shillings for its repair. However, it was washed away and replaced by a chain ferry. In 2003, the stone base of this bridge became uncovered by undercutting of the river following winter floods. It can still be seen, at the time of writing, in a similar position to the old ferry. A chapel of ease was built at Govilon in 1848. This was enlarged into the present parish church in 1865 when the two parishes separated. Today the parish of Llanwenarth Citra covers an area of 2,800 acres, encompassing the rich farmland of the river meadows, the mixed woodland and pasture of the lower slopes of the Sugar Loaf Mountain, and its moorland summit. The southern border is the . The early church was in the benefice of the Priory Church in Abergavenny. Part of the tithes were paid to the Priory, and these were transferred to the King Henry VIII school on the Dissolution. The lane on which the church stands was once the main Current Parish road to west Wales as shown Boundary The chain ferry was a wooden boat on this map of 1787, which carrying six passengers. Pulled across is the first toll road map. Tolls by rope from the Govilon side, the were introduced not only to church paid an annual fee of £3.00 pay for the building of the roads, but also to give George for its upkeep. This ferry formed an III an income after his heavy important link, not just for the church losses in America. but also as a short cut for people to reach Abergavenny. By 1955 the ferry By 1835, the main road had been moved to its present had closed. position, north of the church. It is likely that shortly after this the nearby pub, the Three Cranes, closed. There are the remains of the walls on the left of the lane a few fields to the west of the church.

Map of Monmouthshire 1787

4 5 The Tower At the west end of the nave is a square tower in three stages. At the base is the vestry, above this is the ringing chamber and at the top the bells. There are two bells dated 1495 and 1661. 5

In the outer wall at the top of the tower a date of 1631 is carved into the cement. This suggests that some major alteration to the tower took place at this time. The wall at the top of the wide stone steps leading from the vestry is made of lath and plaster, and at the base of it can be seen the remains of a wooden step. This was the most likely entrance to the gallery, which was extant in1879.4 It is not known when it was removed.

There is a blocked window of 12th century type in the west wall of the nave, confirming that the upper part of the tower is later than the nave. 6 This leaves the lower part of the tower which together with the extreme west end of the north wall of the nave probably represents Gates at St Peter’s the earliest part of the church.

The pointed lancet in the ground floor west wall of the tower dates to the 13th century but the rest probably dates to the 14th or 15th century. 6

Restoration work was carried out to the tower in 1909, and again in 1939 - 40.7

Note the unusual stonework of the arch into the vestry/belltower. This provides us The church is a Grade II* listed building, built of stone with a stone tiled with good evidence of the much earlier roof. It consists of a nave, a separate chancel, square tower and south porch. construction that somehow escaped the It lies in the flood plain of the Usk, and the approaches are often flooded ‘improvements’ carried out in the 19th in the winter months. Occasionally the water reaches the church itself, the century. The stonework at the base of this last time being in 1979 when extensive damage was done. arch is considered to be even older.

The building is a mixture of styles, and although the oldest part is 13th century, there have been several phases of development over the centuries. The most recent was in 1877.

6 7 Hoodmould Heads The Victorian restoration of 1877 was also responsible for the rebuilding of the chancel arch and the south wall of the nave with two large windows. The stops to the hoodmoulds are of a different sandstone and mostly more weathered than the rest of the work. But they do not appear to be particularly medieval, having handlebar Small window in the moustaches and no beards. More in the wall of the porch. fashion of the late 19th century.

Dole Cupboard Also in the church is a dole cupboard of considerable age and rarity. After the Dissolution in the 1540’s, the monasteries were no longer available to feed the poor. Consequently benefactors provided a dole of bread for the needy, provided that they In the early 14th century, there seem to have been two phases of restoration attended the church service, and a dole – one dating to about 1300 and the other to a little later, perhaps around cupboard was provided in which to store 1330. The chancel and north wall of the nave were rebuilt around 1300. The the bread. ogival-headed priest’s doorway, three chancel windows with reticulated “net- like” tracery and one nave window are of about 1330. A dole cupboard is distinguished from an aumbry, or ambury, which was used to The gabled porch on the south wall has a 14th century 2-order arch of dressed keep the sacraments, by having ventilation sandstone with 19th century iron gates with a tiny splayed window opening to holes in the door. The cupboard in St the east side. There is bench seating within and a wagon roof, panelled with Peter’s does have perforations in the door, roll moulded timber. There is no west door to the church.8 but they are very small and provide little ventilation. The wood is of a wainscot There are also narrow blocks of red sandstone used in the construction of form and the strengthening bars at the the upper stages of the tower and the insertion of a new window in the north back seem to have come from some other side of its ground floor. The architect A. D. R. Caroe, writing in 1939, dated piece. It would probably have been hung this rebuild to 1631, which would certainly accord with the form of the belfry from its chain to deter vermin. lights.7b It seems likely that Anthony Bonner [see page 24] was responsible for the restoration work, working with ecclesiastical architect John Prichard.9

8 9 The Church Plans Note that on the old plan there is only one window on the north wall, so the Two plans of the church illustrate PISCINA alterations included an extra window here the major changes that were made and replaced other windows in the nave, in 1877. The chancel arch was PISCINA since they are all the same. widened considerably and this altered the alignment of the main In his description of the church in The Buildings of Wales: /Monmouthshire, aisle in the church. The aisle now ORGAN became equidistant from the south J.Newman states that most of the wooden and north walls, but off centre to the ORGAN furnishings were designed by John CHANCEL Pritchard, the architect responsible for the tower doorway. remodelling of the church. This includes CHANCEL the reredos, with cusped panels and According to the nineteenth century heavy pinnacles, dated 1878 in memory list, the pews were allocated to the PULPIT of Captain Frances Whiting who fell at parishioners by name and two of Cawnpore in 1857 given by his sister MW, the box pews in the church were for PULPIT altar rails, pulpit and standing desk. 9 the rector’s family. There are four extra pews on the list that are not on the plan and these are possibly those NAVE that were in the gallery. NAVE The Font The font is a plain bowl, probably pre- Part of the 19th century list norman, with lightly incised chevron patterns, mounted on two plinths; the upper one is probably Norman, and the PORCH lower one was probably added when it PORCH was moved to its present position during FONT FONT the restoration of 1877.

VESTRY VESTRY

Two plans of St Peter’s Church. The plan on the left shows the layout of the church before 1887.

10 11 John Prichard, born in 1817, was a vicar’s son, originally The Pulpit The Organ from Glamorgan. He trained The early pulpit was said to have been of Built in 1871 by W G Vowles of Bristol, the organ is an excellent example of a simple as an architect and was greatly three tiers. There is no record of where parish church organ designed and built for a cold damp building sited on a flood plain. As influenced by Augustus Pugin, it went. The current pulpit was given in originally built the organ would have included a pedal board of one octave, quite sufficient for which led to much of his work memory of Eva Alice Maud Vigors who accompanying hymns and chants. It was blown manually for a fee, which was £5.00 a year in being in the neo-Gothic style. died in 1894, by her brothers and sisters. 1945. In the late 1950’s electricity arrived in the church and an electric blower was installed Their father Richard Vigors was rector of to supply air to the bellows. The original hand pump, sited to the right of the keyboard, is still He established a practice in position and still works! At about the same time as electrification a new two octave pedal the church for 19 years. in , , becoming board was added. No additional pipe work was required as the additional octave was created the official diocesan architect by “borrowing” the lower octave of the open diapason. The new pedal board did not fit well in 1847. Between 1852 and into the space available and the pedals are uncomfortably close together. They are also offset, 1863 he worked in partnership Piscina which organists find takes some getting used to. The fact that the organ still sounds as well with John Pollard Seddon. Many This recess next to the altar in the south wall as it does reflects the high level of workmanship that went into the original design and build. of his major commissions were is probably a piscina where the communion vessels would have been washed. It would restoration works, most famously Advertisement from 1859 have had a shallow dished base, but the for [1843–69]; floor to the sanctuary has been raised, so Prichard and Seddon worked on that it is now at floor level. In the base of the cathedral from the 1840s until this bowl would have been a drainage hole 1869, when the south-western so that any sacramental remains would tower was completed [to Prichard’s have been returned directly to the earth. own design].7 Much of their work was destroyed by enemy bombing during the Second World War. Holy Water Stoup As Diocesan Architect at the time, This small bowl would have been placed it is probable that the restoration near to the door to the church, probably work at St Peter’s was overseen by mounted on a pillar, and would have him. contained holy water for those entering the church to dip their index finger in and make the sign of the cross on themselves. It is probably a relic from before the reformation when the church would have been Catholic. It has a drainage hole which would have allowed the holy water to drain There is a small bible box in poor back into the earth. condition by the organ.

12 13 There was a coke heating stove in the north-west corner of the nave Memorial Tablets Altar Frontals until 1957 when this was replaced by calor gas heating. Electric St Peter’s is lucky enough to have a fine set of altar frontals. heating was installed in 1971. The colour changes according to the season: Purple Lent Lighting was by means of oil Blue Advent lamps suspended from the ceiling Red* Palm Sunday, Pentecost and for the Feast of Martyrs White Christmastide, Eastertide, certain Saints days, Baptism, Marriage. down the centre of the church. Green All the rest of the year These could be lowered to enable them to be lit. Electric lighting was installed in 1957.

The Baker Gabb family were well known in the area, descended from the union of two prominent catholic families who lived at the Chain. The firm of Gabb and Co. solicitors in Abergavenny is There is a tablet in the chancel to R.W. one of the oldest firms of lawyers Vigors who was rector for nineteen in Wales, founded in 1760 by years. Thomas Gabb. Gabb and Co are In the centre of the north wall of the As a project to mark the millennium, a set of still based in the same building nave is a tablet to William Herbert, four kneelers for the communion rail were in Monk Street, Abergavenny. his wife Rachel and his daughter made by parishioners, some in memory of interred ‘near this place’ in 1787. Also Several places around the area loved ones. The dedications can be seen by on the north wall is a tablet to Harold benefitted from their generosity, turning the kneelers over. John Woodward who died in 1915 at Revd. Don Rossiter for example the stone lychgate Gallipoli. erected in memory of R.B. Gabb On the south wall of the nave is a *The red Altar Cloth was commissioned In 2017, St Peter’s was broken into and all [d.1919] at Patricio Church in tablet to Thomas Stead Baker Gabb, by Revd. Don Rossiter in memory of his the silver communion plate was stolen from the Grwyne valley. The Catholic Midshipman, who died at sea aged 17 wife Mary, who was churchwarden here for the church. We were very lucky to be offered Church in Abergavenny, Our Lady in 1855. Also to Captain David Baker many years. He was part of the ministry replacements from St James’ Church , and St , was paid for by Gabb, aged 27, who died in 1864 at team serving this church until mid 2018. which was having to close. local solicitor John Baker Gabb in Satah, West Africa, on his return from the mid-nineteenth century. the Ashantee frontier.

14 15 Stained Glass The stained glass window on the south wall of the chancel is of an or possibly St Cecilia designed in the Pre-Raphaelite style of Sir Edward Burne Jones, manufactured by James Powell and Sons, also known as Whitefriars Glass.

It is in memory of Rosa Baker Gabb and dated 1911.

“ In loving memory of our mother, Rosa Mary Baker Gabb AD Modern copy of 1911” a portative organ With words from the Benedicite: ‘O ye of the Lord, bless ye the Lord. Praise him and magnify him for ever’.

The angel is carrying a portative organ - a small pipe organ that consists of one rank of flue pipes, sometimes arranged in two rows, to be played while strapped to the performer at The east window is of the Decorated style and was erected in memory of George Window by a right angle. his widow in 1872. It depicts Christ flanked by St Peter and St John. This window was probably made by Wailes, a north-east of England firm of stained glass window manufacturers.

On the south side of the sanctuary is a stained glass window, made by glass manufacturers Clayton and Bell, erected by his widow in memory of Charles Augustus Parkinson of Sunny Bank, Brecon in1867.

16 17 The Headstones The headstones in St Peter’s are varied and Churchyard interesting. Letter-cutting in stone was at its best in the Georgian period [about 1715 to 1840] when it was done by hand, and was well formed and incisive, far superior to the mechanised lettering of the Victorians. In the 18th century the influence of classical art became apparent and gravestones became more decorated. An example is this gravestone, to be found just before the porch, on the right as you The Preaching Cross enter from the road, to Mary, wife of Morgan Watkis who died in 1796 aged 26. To the south of the porch stands It is decorated with an angel/cherub. Angels the 14th century churchyard are messengers of Heaven, cherubs represent cross. It has a socket with a the soul. They are often used to illustrate an square base and octagonal top untimely death. with deep incised keeled stops The angel motif is possibly by one of the [decorated chamfers]. The The grave of Private W. James Brute family of stonemasons. bottom of the cross shaft has of the pyramid-shaped stops. The upper During the 18th Century a local family of Monmouthshire stonemasons named Brute became very part of the shaft and all of the Regiment. steps have been restored. It is a popular for the distinctive figures of angels grade 11 listed monument. they carved on ornate funeral monuments. There are several examples of ‘Brute Angels’ The churchyard has been a burial place since the church was built but the both inside and outside the church in Llanbedr sites of the early graves have been lost. There is one war grave to the south and in Patricio Church and throughout west of the porch commemorating Private W James of the Monmouthshire , Brecon and Radnor. Regiment who died on 26th May 1917 age 30. At least 4 generations of the Brute family The churchyard is a beautiful, peaceful place, particularly in the springtime trained as stonemasons, from John in 1665 to when primroses, snowdrops, daffodils and celandine can be seen. Sit on the the last John Brute who died in 1834. preaching cross and listen to the birdsong.

18 19 The difference between a Rector and Yew Trees Rectors and Rectories a Vicar ? The Rectory The location of the rectory has changed several In Medieval times the lord of times over the years and its early history is a the Manor appointed a rector little obscure. 4 The previous guide to St Peter’s 11 [from the Latin regere, ‘to rule’] places the rectory in the house to the north east to administer the parish and of the church prior to 1860. Certainly a tithe be in receipt of tithes for the map of the time shows the rector, George Gabb maintenance of the church. as the owner of the building but does not specify [traditionally of 10% levied on it as the rectory. By 1860, when Charles Piggot personal as well as agricultural was rector it had become very dilapidated and output of the parish] the outbuildings and stables were demolished, and the house was altered to be used by the A vicar [Latin: vicarius = church caretaker. This house was known as the substitute]. In Catholic canon law, Old Rectory Cottage in 1933, and is now called Church House. A school was also built nearer a vicar of any ecclesiastic entity - is the road in 1863. Dean Jeremy Winston a representative, such as St Mary’s Priory - who had to be responsible A new rectory was built in 1864 north of the for the spiritual care of the parish. church on the other side of the A40. This house The religious house would pay for is now called Abbey House and is recorded someone to act on their behalf on the Ordnance Survey map of 1878 as the [vicariously]. rectory. This house was eventually sold in 1936 and thereafter Cherry Orchard was used as a Today, the roles of a rector and a rectory until 1946. Then St. Arvan’s in Albany vicar are essentially the same, and Road was bought and subsequently sold in 1957 which of the two titles is held by when St Peter’s was merged with St Mary’s. the parish priest is historical. J Daryll Evans 10 mentions two old yew trees in the churchyard. In 1986, he The living of St Peter’s was estimated that the oldest one to the west of the church could be up to 1,750 in the gift of the Marquess of years old based on a calculation of its girth. Although it is difficult to make an Abergavenny, as lord of the manor exact calculation of a tree’s age without counting the number of growth rings, and principal land owner, so we it is safe to say that both trees are of a great age, and could well have predated have a rector for St Peter’s. the building of the first Norman church. Canon Mark Soady

20 21 1  John de Malmesbury, 1334. Mentioned in the Close Rolls. The Close Rolls The living of St Peter’s was in the gift of the Marquess of Abergavenny, as 2 Rectors of Llanwenarth  Anthony Bonner. It seems likely that Anthony Bonner was responsible for the restoration work of In early medieval times, the king lord of the manor and principle land owner, so we have a rector for St Peter’s. 1631* 3 would receive messages as he John Bonner. Nephew of Anthony Bonner, left a similar amount to the poor on his death [Approximate dates] 4 travelled about the country and RECTORSCitra OF LLANWENARTH CITRA William Morgan. In 1827 Aberystruth became a separate parish. From the 16th century there were curates at Aberystruth who were in the gift of Llanwenarth. (Approximate dates] 5 would answer them on the spot George Willam Gabb. Following the 1836 Act for the Commutation of Tithes, the Revd. George by writing a letter containing 1334 William de Garderoba 1780 William Morgan [with the Chapel of William Gabb was the tithe owner for Llanwenarth Citra. 4 instructions, rolling it up and 1334 Roger Gydohn Aberystruth] On the 1861 Tithe map George William Gabb is recorded as owner of the building on the east 1 5 side of the church, which had been used as a rectory. In 1851 George William Gabb is recorded as 1334 John de Malmesbury 1822 George William Gabb sealing it as a ‘close roll’. No rector, Priory House, Monk Street. 6 copies were made of these 1375 Henry de Fynyngley 1865  George Faithfull. George Faithfull. First rector of Llanwenarth Citra only, after the parish was divided in 1865 into 6 Llanwenarth Citra and [Govilon]. letters; instead they were sent to 1425 Thomas Hulot [First rector of Llanwenarth Citra] Today the parish of Govilon is in the benefice of Govilon, and , which is in the the recipient with the assumption 7 1446 Robert Thomas 1871 John Scott Whiting deanery of Abergavenny. that the instructions would be 7 1460 Medric ap Evan 1879 Richard William Vigors John Scott Whiting. During his tenure as rector, the interior of the church was extensively obeyed and the letter, or roll, restored, with replacement of the box pews for the present pews [The 1877 restoration]. 8 would be returned to the king. ap Phillip 1898 Frederick Hopper Aldrich-Blake Llewellyn M Williams. In 1936, the Old Rectory Cottage was sold and renamed Church House, 8 1503 William Phillip 1921 Llewellyn M Williams the New Rectory was sold and now called Abbey House, and Cherry Orchard was purchased for use as rectory. 9 These letters often contained 1522 Hugh ap Rhys 1938 Austin Hedley Birch Ronald Walters. In 1946, the rectory at Cherry Orchard was sold as a private house and St instructions on mundane matters Arvan’s, Albany Road Abergavenny bought for use as rectory. 1535 Sir Morgan Lloyd 1944 Ronald Walters [last rector of 10 that seem rather trivial for a king Morgan E Davies. He was also Vicar of St Mary’s Abergavenny as the parishes of St Peter and 1552 Hugh Rawlyns Llanwenarth Citra as an independent St Mary were merged in 1957. to be concerned with. Upon 9 1553 Thomas Johns parish] The rectory at St Arvan’s was sold as a private house. receiving the roll from the king, 10 1957 Morgan E Davies recipients would often destroy 1582 William Powell the roll rather than obeying the 1595 Nathaniel Dodd 1962 Henry Sprule Jones *Revd. Anthony Bonner 2 directions contained within, so 1616 Anthony Bonner 1978 Morgan Clement Revd. Anthony Bonner was rector from 1616 to 1662. In his will dated March 17th, 1661, 3 surviving documents are rare. On 1662 John Bonner 1987 Colin Sykes he charged 30 shillings on a parcel of land called Cae’r Fynwent [“Churchyard Field”] and September 18th, 1334, Edward Waun Hir [“Long Meadow”] to be distributed annually among the poor of the parish. He 1666 George Rumsey 1993 Jeremy Winston 15 also left 10 shillings to be distributed among the poor of Aberystruth [Edmund Jones] . II wrote ‘John de Malmesbury, 1670 William Powell 2012 Mark Soady parson of Lanwaynarth church, diocese ‘It is also likely that he was responsible for the rebuilding of the upper floors of the tower and 1734 John Day 4 of Llandaff acknowledges that he owes the original porch around 1631- the date cut in the stones on the west side . 1751 Charles Everard to Nicholas de Stratton, citizen and 1752 Thomas Winstanley In 1652, during the Commonwealth, Anthony Bonner came to attention in religious disputes rope-maker of London, 200 marks; raging in Abergavenny between Baptists and Anglicans. On September 4th, John Tombes, a 1758 Adam Langley to be levied, in default of payment, of puritan minister from Leominster, preached at St. Mary’s on the subject of infant baptism, his lands and chattels and ecclesiastical to which he was opposed. After his sermon, Anthony Bonner followed John Tombes to his goods’.13 lodgings. They agreed to debate the issue publicly and returned to St. Mary’s. The debate lasted from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. This was regarded as one of the great religious debates of the period and was widely reported and transcripts published [Knight 2005]14.

22 23 The School **Recollections by Pam Walters who was the eldest daughter of Ronald Walters, rector of St Peter’s from 1944 until the parish merged with St Mary’s Bedd y Gŵr Hir In 1863 a school and house in 1957: for the schoolteacher was built next to the church. Most of the Pam, who was born in 1933, was very ill as a child, [“The Long Man’s Grave”] local children came to it on foot, spending a lot of time in hospital, so she attended Standing in a field at Twyn Allwys near are two upright stones. The story goes clutching their lunch. There was the Llanwenarth school for only a short time. Her that a group of men were carrying a corpse down from Blaina, Gwent, to be buried in the a single schoolteacher. Katherine younger sister Mary, and brother Peter were there until it closed in 1951. churchyard at St Peter’s, as it was the parish church at that time, when the parish was called Goddard Jones in 1933 relates Aberystruth. The weather was atrocious and night was drawing on. They still had about 2 a story of ‘a schoolmaster’ in the Pam Walters The family moved from Cherry Orchard to St miles to go and the river to cross by ferry. The body became heavier and heavier. Eventually 1870’s called Mr Jones who was Arvans in Albany road in 1946. It was felt that the the men decided that they would never get to the church and so buried the body there lying nicknamed by the scholars ‘Cock rectory should be closer to the parishioners. east to west. They marked the grave with two stones, one at each end. Robin’- he was very alert and quick in his movements. He mysteriously Mr Cull of Llwyndu Court, who was a church This story passed down through the years. When the distance between the stones was disappeared one night and has never been warden, used to give her father a lift to St Peter’s measured, it was 13 and a half feet [around 4 metres]. Supposing that the stones were set heard of since.’ 4 on Sundays – but the rest of the family had to walk. about a foot away from the body, the height of the man was 11 feet.

There were three services held every Sunday, all The giant continued to haunt the area until the early years of the 19th century. He was There were 44 pupils in 1901. The 15 school closed in 1951 when only were very well attended, with up to 60 in each reputed to be particularly fond of peering through bedroom windows on Hallowe’en!  congregation. Holy Communion was at 8 am, 8 pupils remained. The school Matins at 11 am. and Evensong at 6 pm. room was demolished but the Revd. Ronald Walters school house remains, somewhat There was a full choir with men and boys sitting on altered. the left, and the women and girls on the right.

There was Sunday School in the village hall every Sunday afternoon led by her father and her mother Alice, and others helping. Weekly whist drives in the hall and dances every month were popular, with people walking from Abergavenny to take part. Her mother also organised jumble sales and sales of work for church funds. She effectively acted as unpaid curate.

When St Peters merged with St Mary’s in 1957 the Walters family moved to a living in Beaufort.

24 25 Restoration of 2018 References and Bibliography The fabric of the church had been 1 Bradney, J.A. 1907. A History of Monmouthshire: The Hundred of Abergavenny, Part II [repr. 1992, deteriorating over the years to such an extent London: Academy Books]. that the tower was deemed unsafe in 2014. 2 Brook, D. 1988. The early Christian Church in Gwent: a survey, Monmouthshire Antiquarian, Vol. 5, It was stabilised with internal scaffolding to hold up the floor which holds the bells, which part 3 [1985-88, 67-84]. was in danger of failing. The roofs of the nave 3 Frank Olding 2013 Unpublished Notes on the History of Lanwenarth Citra Working in the churchyard! and chancel were also shedding stone tiles at 4 Katherine Goddard Jones 1933. History of Llanwenarth Citra [Dover & Co, Abergavenny] an increasingly alarming rate and water was 5 Wright, A. 1939. The Church Bells of Monmouthshire iv, [Archaeologia Cambrensis 94, damaging the interior. 80-90]. A report from Stefan Horowskyj of Morgan and Horowskyj, Conservation Architects, 6 Salter, M. 1991. The Old Parish Churches of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower [Malvern: Folly was commissioned, together with costings for the repairs, which were eye-wateringly Publications]. beyond our means. A decision was made to split the restoration into more manageable 7 Gwent Archives portions. As the tower was stable, it was decided that getting the nave and chancel a GRO D/Pa 57.27, 1840-61, Churchwardens’ accounts and vestry minutes, with watertight was the most urgent. The PCC was also concerned that there was a real danger of falling stone tiles injuring a passing member of the public. undated plan pasted in. b GRO D/Pa 57.38, 1939-40, Correspondence re restoration of roof With the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund, the National Churches Trust, the Headley 8 Unpublished report Cadw, 1996. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, The , The Welsh Churches Trust and the , together with much local fundraising, we raised Interest - The Borough of Monmouth, List no. 140, Resurvey C - The Community of sufficient funds to start the work in May 2018. . The Conservation Builders, Taliesin Conservation, carried out the work and as the 9 John Newman 2002 The Buildings of Wales Gwent/Monmouthshire Pevsner Architectural Guides [Yale summer was exceptionally hot and dry, the work to replace the roof was completed University press]. quickly. 10 J Daryll Evans 1988 The Churchyard Yews of Gwent [Archangel Press] Once the tiles had been stripped, an open morning was held so that anyone who was 11 Paul Rogers and Pip Hassall 2004 St Peter’s Church Llanwenarth Citra, A History interested could come up on the scaffolding to have a look. It was very interesting to 12 https://history.govilon.com/trails/places-of-interest/winched-ferry see how the roof had been constructed and how the builders had kept most of the 13 Gwent local History From The Abergavenny Local History Society old timbers and put new alongside the old where necessary so that the history has Newsletter no 5 August 1989 been retained. We were intrigued to see that the timbers in the part of the roof which abuts the tower have come from somewhere else, as they have grooves and mouldings 14 Knight, J. 2005. Civil War and Restoration in Monmouthshire [Woonton Almely: Logaston]. from a previous life as part of an older building. We speculated that they may have 15 Jones, E. 1779. A Geographical, Historical and Religious Account of the Perish of come from the Three Cranes, an Inn which used to stand on the left of the lane a few Aberystruth [Trefeca]. hundred yards from the church. A time capsule was put up in the roof in a tin box. In it were: a Sunday paper, a local paper with the story and picture of the open roof day in it, a pound coin with a leek on it, some photographs of the church, its congregation and events, a copy of the diocesan magazine, a pew leaflet, the Green Book of Common Prayer and a note of explanation about the parish and the roof repairs. Pip Hassall 2019 26 27 Written by Pip Hassall

Acknowledgements The Heritage Lottery Fund, National Churches Trust, The Headley Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation. Thanks to: Revd. Dr. Jean Prosser, Paddy Beynon, Peter Beynon, Frank Olding, Olivia Hassall, Dr Jennifer Needs.

Photographs Aerial Photos by Martin Phillips of Sky Shutter Media. Other pictures are by Paddy Beynon and Pip Hassall. c Copyright reserved to St Peter’s, Llanwenarth Citra Parochial Church Council.

Design and map by artmattersstudio.co.uk and printed by Gomer Press.