Priory Church of St Mary, Abergavenny
Encyclopedia
The Priory Church of St Mary, Abergavenny is a church in the centre of Abergavenny
in Monmouthshire
, Wales
.
St. Marys has been called 'the Westminster Abbey
of Wales' because of its large size http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/710315 and the number of high status church monument
tombs and the rare medieval effigies surviving within it http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/710352.
Priory
established under Hamelin de Balun
the first Norman
holder of the title Lord Abergavenny or later Baron Bergavenny in the 1090s. At this time it was a cell of the Abbey of Saint Vincent at Le Mans
in France
. Recent archaeological surveys have revealed significant finds of Roman
Samian ware pottery, suggesting that the Church may have been on the site of a previous site of Romano-British
and possibly Celtic worship.
Henry de Abergavenny
was a Prior
here and later at Llandaff
in the late 12th century and was chosen to assist at the Coronation of King John I of England in 1199.
Successive Lords of Abergavenny were by necessity also benefactors, including the pious and ruthless
William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber
.
In 1320 John Hastings, 2nd Baron Hastings
, called on the Pope to set up an investigation into the Priory, in which the monk
s were accused of failing to maintain the Benedictine Rule and the Prior
, Fulk Gaston, absconded to the mother Abbey with the church silver!
the Priory had only the Prior and four monks. Due to the close connections between the Lords of Abergavenny and the Tudor dynasty the priory was spared and became the parish church
.
in layout and impressively large with a chancel
and nave
172 feet long or 52 metres in length.
The central tower has Ten bells.
The church is mainly in the Decorated
and Perpendicular Period architectural style
s and was like many churches subjected to Victorian period
refurbishment in the 19th century with sadly little trace of the original Norman architecture
surviving. The Norman
Baptismal font
was rediscovered in the churchyard
in the 19th century; it had been removed from the church in the 17th century by a local Baptist
minister, John Abbot, on the grounds that he did not believe in infant baptism
.
However the oaken
choir stalls with carved misericord
s and carved lattice work backs are 15th century survivals. They bear the name of the Prior at that time named 'Wynchestre' and his own stall remains, slightly raised and surmounted by a mitre
.
and marble
and range in date from the 13th century to the 17th century. One effigy
is that of John de Hastings, Lord of Abergavenny (died 1324) and shows him as a young knight
, wearing a long surcoat
over a hauberk
and hood of fine chainmail
.
within the priory church are two female effigies, one holding a heart
in her palm, a device used to signify a possible 'heart only' burial and dates from the end of the 13th century. Her identity is unsure but she is certainly a high status individual as she bears a shield
bearing a coat of arms, which is rare for a female effigy. Her neighbour, a second female effigy, dated from the 14th century, is likely to be Eva de Braose who died while pursuing her pet Red squirrel
when its escaped and ran along the castle walls at Abergavenny Castle
, causing Eva to fall to her death while attempting to recapture it. The effigy has a light chain around her waist and was documented once as having been attached to a small squirrel which formed part of the effigy. It has since been knocked off or defaced. This act of vandalism most likely dates from the Commonwealth of England
period (1649 - 1660) under Oliver Cromwell
.
monuments and effigies in both alabaster
and marble
associated with the ap Thomas and Herbert families. Sir Richard Herbert was brought up with the young Henry Tudor
, the future Henry VII, at Raglan Castle
. In 1485 Herbert supported Henry's claim to the throne, fighting with him as he defeated Richard III
at the Battle of Bosworth. It is this support that ultimately saw St Mary's spared the worst of the despoliation of monasteries in the dissolution.
Within the chapel are also brasses dating from the 16th century and 17th century.
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/710335 is an elaborate, very large 15th century wooden carving which would have once been part of an even larger carving forming a Jesse Tree telling the lineage of Jesus Christ based on that in the Bible
. It is unique in Britain and described by Tate Britain
as one of the finest medieval sculpture
s in the world.
depicting the history of Abergavenny and embroidered by volunteers to mark the 2000 Millennium
. The Tithe Barn, within the precincts of the Priory, has recently been restored as the Priory's Heritage Centre and offers interpretative information and a cafeteria / restaurant open to the public and visitors.
After 18 Years as vicar Canon Jeremy Winston was appointed Dean of Monmouth. Fr Mark Soady, Chaplain at the University of Wales, Newport will be Collated as vicar on the Feast of the Epiphany 2012.
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
in Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
St. Marys has been called 'the Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
of Wales' because of its large size http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/710315 and the number of high status church monument
Church monument
A church monument is an architectural or sculptural memorial to a dead person or persons, located within a Christian church. It can take various forms, from a simple wall tablet to a large and elaborate structure which may include an effigy of the deceased person and other figures of familial or...
tombs and the rare medieval effigies surviving within it http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/710352.
History
It was originally the church of the BenedictineBenedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
Priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
established under Hamelin de Balun
Hamelin de Balun
Hamelin de Ballon was an early Norman Baron and the first Baron Abergavenny and Lord of Over Gwent and Abergavenny, titles granted shortly after the Norman Conquest of England and Wales by William the Conqueror; he also served William Rufus.- Origin :He was from France, from the ancient manor of...
the first Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
holder of the title Lord Abergavenny or later Baron Bergavenny in the 1090s. At this time it was a cell of the Abbey of Saint Vincent at Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Recent archaeological surveys have revealed significant finds of Roman
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
Samian ware pottery, suggesting that the Church may have been on the site of a previous site of Romano-British
Romano-British
Romano-British culture describes the culture that arose in Britain under the Roman Empire following the Roman conquest of AD 43 and the creation of the province of Britannia. It arose as a fusion of the imported Roman culture with that of the indigenous Britons, a people of Celtic language and...
and possibly Celtic worship.
Henry de Abergavenny
Henry de Abergavenny
Henry de Abergavenny was Prior of Abergavenny and Bishop of Llandaff, both in South Wales.Henry was a Benedictine monk who became Prior of Abergavenny, before succeeding to the diocese of Llandaff which had been vacant for two years. He was consecrated on 12 December 1193...
was a Prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
here and later at Llandaff
Llandaff
Llandaff is a district in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales, having been incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Church in Wales Bishop of Llandaff, whose diocese covers the most populous area of South Wales. Much of the district is covered by parkland known as Llandaff...
in the late 12th century and was chosen to assist at the Coronation of King John I of England in 1199.
Successive Lords of Abergavenny were by necessity also benefactors, including the pious and ruthless
Ruthless
Ruthless can refer to:* Ruthless * Ruthless * Ruthless , a 1948 film starring Zachary Scot* Ruthless , a race horse* Ruthless!, a 1992 musical-See also:...
William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber
William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber
William de Braose, , 4th Lord of Bramber , court favourite of King John of England, at the peak of his power, was also Lord of Gower, Abergavenny, Brecknock, Builth, Radnor, Kington, Limerick, Glamorgan, Skenfrith, Briouze in Normandy, Grosmont, and White Castle.-Lineage:William was the most...
.
In 1320 John Hastings, 2nd Baron Hastings
John Hastings, 2nd Baron Hastings
John Hastings, 2nd Baron Hastings was a medieval English Baron.- Descent :Hastings was the son of John Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings, also inheriting the title Baron Abergavenny from his father, and the grandson of Henry de Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings...
, called on the Pope to set up an investigation into the Priory, in which the monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s were accused of failing to maintain the Benedictine Rule and the Prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
, Fulk Gaston, absconded to the mother Abbey with the church silver!
Later History
By the Dissolution of the MonasteriesDissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
the Priory had only the Prior and four monks. Due to the close connections between the Lords of Abergavenny and the Tudor dynasty the priory was spared and became the parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
.
Description
The church is cruciformCruciform
Cruciform means having the shape of a cross or Christian cross.- Cruciform architectural plan :This is a common description of Christian churches. In Early Christian, Byzantine and other Eastern Orthodox forms of church architecture this is more likely to mean a tetraconch plan, a Greek cross,...
in layout and impressively large with a chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
and nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
172 feet long or 52 metres in length.
The central tower has Ten bells.
The church is mainly in the Decorated
Decorated
Decorated can have several meanings:*In architecture, the Decorated Period refers to a period and style of mediaeval Gothic architecture....
and Perpendicular Period architectural style
Architectural style
Architectural styles classify architecture in terms of the use of form, techniques, materials, time period, region and other stylistic influences. It overlaps with, and emerges from the study of the evolution and history of architecture...
s and was like many churches subjected to Victorian period
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
refurbishment in the 19th century with sadly little trace of the original Norman architecture
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
surviving. The Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
Baptismal font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
was rediscovered in the churchyard
Churchyard
A churchyard is a patch of land adjoining or surrounding a church which is usually owned by the relevant church or local parish itself. In the Scots language or Northern English language this can also be known as a kirkyard or kirkyaird....
in the 19th century; it had been removed from the church in the 17th century by a local Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister, John Abbot, on the grounds that he did not believe in infant baptism
Infant baptism
Infant baptism is the practice of baptising infants or young children. In theological discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believer's baptism", or...
.
However the oaken
Oaken
Oaken is a small village in Staffordshire, England. The first mention of the Oaken place-name, was in 1086 when it was listed in the Domesday book as Ache. Its origin appears to be from the Old English, ācum - the oaks....
choir stalls with carved misericord
Misericord
A misericord is a small wooden shelf on the underside of a folding seat in a church, installed to provide a degree of comfort for a person who has to stand during long periods of prayer.-Origins:...
s and carved lattice work backs are 15th century survivals. They bear the name of the Prior at that time named 'Wynchestre' and his own stall remains, slightly raised and surmounted by a mitre
Mitre
The mitre , also spelled miter, is a type of headwear now known as the traditional, ceremonial head-dress of bishops and certain abbots in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in the Anglican Communion, some Lutheran churches, and also bishops and certain other clergy in the Eastern Orthodox...
.
Effigies
The chief claims to fame for the church today lie in its collection of effigies. The effigies are in wood, alabasterAlabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
and marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
and range in date from the 13th century to the 17th century. One effigy
Effigy
An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,...
is that of John de Hastings, Lord of Abergavenny (died 1324) and shows him as a young knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
, wearing a long surcoat
Surcoat
A surcoat was an outer garment commonly worn in the Middle Ages by both men and women. It can either refer to a coat worn over other garments or the outer garment of a person...
over a hauberk
Hauberk
A hauberk is a shirt of chainmail. The term is usually used to describe a shirt reaching at least to mid-thigh and including sleeves. Haubergeon generally refers to a shorter variant with partial sleeves, but the terms are often used interchangeably.- History :The word hauberk is derived from the...
and hood of fine chainmail
Chainmail
Mail is a type of armour consisting of small metal rings linked together in a pattern to form a mesh.-History:Mail was a highly successful type of armour and was used by nearly every metalworking culture....
.
The Lewis Chapel
In the Lewis ChapelChapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
within the priory church are two female effigies, one holding a heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
in her palm, a device used to signify a possible 'heart only' burial and dates from the end of the 13th century. Her identity is unsure but she is certainly a high status individual as she bears a shield
Shield
A shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....
bearing a coat of arms, which is rare for a female effigy. Her neighbour, a second female effigy, dated from the 14th century, is likely to be Eva de Braose who died while pursuing her pet Red squirrel
Red Squirrel
The red squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Eurasia...
when its escaped and ran along the castle walls at Abergavenny Castle
Abergavenny Castle
Abergavenny Castle is a castle in the market town of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire in south east Wales.- A naturally fortified site :The castle was sited above the River Usk overlooking the river valley and the confluence of the rivers Gavenny and Usk. The site would have been naturally defensible in...
, causing Eva to fall to her death while attempting to recapture it. The effigy has a light chain around her waist and was documented once as having been attached to a small squirrel which formed part of the effigy. It has since been knocked off or defaced. This act of vandalism most likely dates from the Commonwealth of England
Commonwealth of England
The Commonwealth of England was the republic which ruled first England, and then Ireland and Scotland from 1649 to 1660. Between 1653–1659 it was known as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland...
period (1649 - 1660) under Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
.
The Herbert Chapel
The Herbert Chapel contains recumbentRecumbent
Recumbent may refer to:* Recumbence, the act or state of lying down or leaning.* Recumbent bicycle, a bicycle which places the rider in a seated or supine position...
monuments and effigies in both alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
and marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
associated with the ap Thomas and Herbert families. Sir Richard Herbert was brought up with the young Henry Tudor
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
, the future Henry VII, at Raglan Castle
Raglan Castle
Raglan Castle is a late medieval castle located just north of the village of Raglan in the county of Monmouthshire in south east Wales. The modern castle dates from between the 15th and early 17th-centuries, when the successive ruling families of the Herberts and the Somersets created a luxurious,...
. In 1485 Herbert supported Henry's claim to the throne, fighting with him as he defeated Richard III
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
at the Battle of Bosworth. It is this support that ultimately saw St Mary's spared the worst of the despoliation of monasteries in the dissolution.
Within the chapel are also brasses dating from the 16th century and 17th century.
The Jesse
The JesseJesse
Jesse, Eshai or Yishai, is the father of the David, who became the king of the Israelites. His son David is sometimes called simply "Son of Jesse" ....
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/710335 is an elaborate, very large 15th century wooden carving which would have once been part of an even larger carving forming a Jesse Tree telling the lineage of Jesus Christ based on that in the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. It is unique in Britain and described by Tate Britain
Tate Britain
Tate Britain is an art gallery situated on Millbank in London, and part of the Tate gallery network in Britain, with Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives. It is the oldest gallery in the network, opening in 1897. It houses a substantial collection of the works of J. M. W. Turner.-History:It...
as one of the finest medieval sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
s in the world.
The Priory Church of St Mary Today
The newly restored Tithe Barn, opened by HRH The Prince of Wales on 23 October 2008, houses the large 24 foot tapestryTapestry
Tapestry is a form of textile art, traditionally woven on a vertical loom, however it can also be woven on a floor loom as well. It is composed of two sets of interlaced threads, those running parallel to the length and those parallel to the width ; the warp threads are set up under tension on a...
depicting the history of Abergavenny and embroidered by volunteers to mark the 2000 Millennium
Millennium
A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
. The Tithe Barn, within the precincts of the Priory, has recently been restored as the Priory's Heritage Centre and offers interpretative information and a cafeteria / restaurant open to the public and visitors.
After 18 Years as vicar Canon Jeremy Winston was appointed Dean of Monmouth. Fr Mark Soady, Chaplain at the University of Wales, Newport will be Collated as vicar on the Feast of the Epiphany 2012.