St Mary's Church, Nash

Church of St Mary, Nash
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Nash
The church from the east
Location Nash
Country Wales
Denomination Church in Wales
History
Status Active
Dedication St Mary
Architecture
Functional status Parish church
Heritage designation Grade I
Designated 3 January 1963
Specifications
Number of spires 1
Administration
Parish Rectorial Benefice of Magor
Diocese Monmouth

The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Nash is the parish church of the village of Nash, situated about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of the city of Newport, South Wales. Described as "the cathedral of the moors" by Monmouthshire historian Fred Hando, the large church is medieval in origin, with additions and restorations dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Since 3 January 1963 it has been designated a Grade I listed building [1] primarily due to its "medieval tower with fine spire."[1] Newman describes the 15th-century steeple as "unique in South East Wales".[2]

Description

The church consists of three parts. It has a three-story fifteenth-century steeple with an octagonal spire, but provides no access to the body of the church.[2] The nave is of the 18th century and the chancel of the 19th.[1] The interior has "a complete Georgian ensemble of gallery, box pews and three-decker pulpit."[2]

History

The church belonged to Goldcliff Priory in 1349 when Robert Arney was instituted to the benefice. The Arney family, in the time of Charles II, left a cottage and six acres of land, called "The Poor's Six Acres", for the support of the poor of the parish.[3] The church was largely rebuilt during the 16th century.[4]

The only remains of the Norman church is the North Wall of the chancel and the Squint. An unusual feature, the Squint or Hagioscope was used to enable those with leprosy, smallpox or other such diseases, to see or participate in the service without endangering the rest of the congregation with infection. The tower is unusually located on the north side of the chancel. The church is thought to originally have been much larger, incorporating a North aisle.[3]

In the early years of the 20th century the floor of the bellringer's room was used as a temporary mortuary for the bodies of five sailors who had been drowned at sea, in a violent storm, near the East Usk Lighthouse. Four of the sailors had been found lashed to the mast. During World War II the church saw congregations of 400.[3] In the fields to the south of the neighbouring Church Farm are ancient tumuli, the vestiges of some ancient, possibly mediæval, dwelling or chapel.

The church interior was restored in 2004–2005. Sunday services are held weekly at 9.30am and the church is also open daily from 10am to 4pm during July and August.[5]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 "Church of St Mary, Nash". British Listed Buildings. 1963-01-03. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
  2. 1 2 3 Newman, page 417
  3. 1 2 3 Hando, page 29
  4. ↑ "900-year-old Newport church to tell its story", South Wales Argus, 6 August 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "St Mary's, Nash - Magor Ministry Area". magorministryarea.org.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2018.

References

  • Newman, John (2002), The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire, New Haven; London: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-09630-9.
  • Hando, F.J. (1958), Out and About in Monmouthshire, Newport: R. H. Johns.

Coordinates: 51°32′53″N 2°56′56″W / 51.5480°N 2.9488°W / 51.5480; -2.9488

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