Church of St Nicholas Trellech

st nicholas church

the anglican parish church has been designated grade listed building since 19 november 1953, , described joseph bradney 1 of largest , handsome of country churches in county of monmouthshire. elegant pointed , prominent steeple, font , 17th-century sundial, focal point of village. main part of church building of local old red sandstone, three-stage tower. spire can seen several miles around , described architectural writer john newman town s pride , joy .

a church on site, wooden structure, endowed ffernwael ap ithel , meurig ap tewdrig rulers of gwent in 7th , 8th centuries. preaching cross in churchyard may date time, may font. present building dates 13th or 14th century. english gothic stonework has been dated between 1225 , 1272, , of decorated gothic 1350. church has large clerestoried nave, smaller chancel. impressive interior has spendidly high tower arch, , five-bay nave has arcades on octagonal piers. altar rails , pulpit, dated 1640, survivals of 17th century church interior design. @ west end of church, directly below window, royal coat of arms king charles ii dated 1683. records held church dating 1692. complete lists of vicars, 1359, , churchwardens, 1763, can found in entrance south aisle. rear of main church door inscribed ihs 1595 .

when weathercock removed spire in 1972 found have been made in ross-on-wye in 1792. original spire fell, damaging roof of nave, , contemporary reference attributes lightning , storms . in belfry cage housing 3 bells of type similar found in others constructed year 1700. @ end of last century church in neglected state , extensively renovated , re-roofed. belgian slates in place replaced welsh slates in 1961. chancel replastered in 1972 , painted white. during 1974 considerable repairs undertaken north , south aisles, , in 2001 majority of churchyard dry-stone wall removed , rebuilt.

sundial

the church contains stone sundial, dated 1689, set lady magdalen probert of argoed, penallt. 3 of 4 faces of sundial show village s historic features: tump terret, inscriptions magna mole ( great in mound ) , o quot hic sepulti ( oh! how many buried here ); harold s stones inscriptions maior saxis ( greater in stones ) , hic fuit victor haraldus ( here harold victorious ); , virtuous well, inscriptions maxima fonte ( greatest in ) , dom. magd. probert ostendit ( lady magdalen probert gives proof of ). sundial stood in garden belonging former village school, on top of inverted ancient font, until both moved inside church in 20th century. carved wooden replica of sundial placed in field south of village in recent years.