Church of St Nicholas, Grosmont
| St Nicholas, Grosmont | |
|---|---|
 St Nicholas, Grosmont | |
 | |
| 51°54′50″N 2°52′00″W / 51.9140°N 2.8668°W | |
| Location | Monmouthshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Monmouth |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar(s) | Rev. Dr. Jean Prosser |
The Church of St Nicholas in the village of Grosmont, Monmouthshire, Wales, is a 13th-century parish church rescued from dereliction in the nineteenth century.[1] It is a Grade I listed building as of 1 September 1956.[2]
History and architecture
The church is a "noble Early English building crowned by an octagonal Decorated tower and spire".[1] It is built of Old Red Sandstone with ashlar dressings and slate roofs.[3] In the late 19th century the church was close to collapse and was saved through an extensive reconstruction in 1869–79 by J. P. Seddon.[1] The work was largely funded by John Etherington Welch Rolls of The Hendre, a local landowner and benefactor.[4]
The church has an "ambitious cruciform plan"[5] indicative of its status as the church for Grosmont Castle, with which it is broadly contemporaneous, and for the new borough of Grosmont.[5]
The interior is "a shock to the modern visitor who encounters an uncluttered medieval interior dominated by the arcades and roof".[5] The unfurnished nave demonstrates the "strong early thirteenth century arcades to the full".[6] Tree-ring dating of the timbers which form the roof show that they were felled in the period 1214–1244, which confirms the exceptionally early date of the roof's construction.[5] It is considered "the only surviving pre-1400 church roof in Wales".[5]
A stained-glass window in the chancel commemorates John Etherington Welch Rolls.[7] In the transept is an unfinished memorial to a knight, dating from the late 13th or early 14th century – "a rare survival of great technical interest".[7]
Morning prayers at held at the church each Tuesday, as are Sunday services.[8]
References
- ^ a b c The Buildings of Wales:Gwent/Monmouthshire, page 236
- ^ Good Stuff IT Services (1956-09-01). "Church of St Nicholas – Grosmont – Monmouthshire – Wales". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ "St Nicholas' Church, Grosmont | Site Details". Coflein. 2003-09-17. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ "Works at Church of St Nicholas, Grosmont, Monmouthshire in Stained Glass in Wales". Stainedglass.llgc.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ a b c d e "Episode 2, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales". Rcahmw.gov.uk. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ The Buildings of Wales:Gwent/Monmouthshire, page 237
- ^ a b The Buildings of Wales:Gwent/Monmouthshire, page 238
- ^ "St Nicholas Church » Grosmont Village". Grosmont.org. Retrieved 2012-02-12.