Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Llanfair Kilgeddin
Encyclopedia
The Church of St. Mary the Virgin is the parish church for Llanfair Kilgeddin
, near Usk
in Monmouthshire
, south east Wales
.
The church is located on farmland close to the river, about 1 mile north of the village. It was originally mediaeval but was rebuilt in 1875-76 by the architect John Dando Sedding, commissioned by the local rector
, Rev. William John Coussmaker Lindsay (1832-1912). The church now contains some mediaeval features including a font
, but is best known for its Arts and Crafts
style sgraffito
decorations which cover the interior walls. These were commissioned by Lindsay at a cost of £500 in memory of his wife Rosamund, and designed by Heywood Sumner
. Taking the Benedicite
as his theme, Sumner used thin layers of different coloured plaster cut back to reveal colour underneath. His designs included local features, including the River Usk
, the Sugar Loaf and nearby Llanvihangel Gobion
church tower. Sumner's work was completed in 1888.
In the 1980s, the church was declared redundant
and threatened with demolition. It was vested
in the charity
the Friends of Friendless Churches
in 1989, and the charity has held the freehold since 22 November 1989. The charity was supported by the Victorian Society and received financial support from Cadw
and the Pilgrim Trust
. As from 2006 the church has been designated by Cadw as a Grade I listed building. It has been said of Sumner's decoration that it "should make Llanfair Kilgeddin a place of pilgrimage for disciples of the Arts and Crafts movement".
Llanfair Kilgeddin
Llanfair Kilgeddin is a small village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales. It is located four miles north west of Usk and six miles south east of Abergavenny on the B4598 road. The River Usk passes close by.- History and amenities :...
, near Usk
Usk
Usk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. A castle above the town overlooks the ancient Anglo-Welsh border crossing - the river can...
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:...
, south east 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...
.
The church is located on farmland close to the river, about 1 mile north of the village. It was originally mediaeval but was rebuilt in 1875-76 by the architect John Dando Sedding, commissioned by the local rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
, Rev. William John Coussmaker Lindsay (1832-1912). The church now contains some mediaeval features including a 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:...
, but is best known for its Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
style sgraffito
Sgraffito
Sgraffito is a technique either of wall decor, produced by applying layers of plaster tinted in contrasting colors to a moistened surface, or in ceramics, by applying to an unfired ceramic body two successive layers of contrasting slip, and then in either case scratching so as to produce an...
decorations which cover the interior walls. These were commissioned by Lindsay at a cost of £500 in memory of his wife Rosamund, and designed by Heywood Sumner
Heywood Sumner
George Heywood Maunoir Sumner was originally an English painter, illustrator and craftsman, closely involved with the Arts and Crafts movement and the late-Victorian London art world...
. Taking the Benedicite
Benedicite
The Benedicite is a canticle that is used in the Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Hours, and is also used in Anglican and Lutheran worship. The text is either verses 35–65 or verses 35–66 of The Song of the Three Children...
as his theme, Sumner used thin layers of different coloured plaster cut back to reveal colour underneath. His designs included local features, including the River Usk
River Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
, the Sugar Loaf and nearby Llanvihangel Gobion
Llanvihangel Gobion
- Location :Llanvihangel Gobion is located approx. 5 miles east of Abergavenny not far from the A40 road and situated on the B4598 Abergavenny to Usk road.- Amenities :...
church tower. Sumner's work was completed in 1888.
In the 1980s, the church was declared redundant
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
and threatened with demolition. It was vested
Vesting
In law, vesting is to give an immediately secured right of present or future enjoyment. One has a vested right to an asset that cannot be taken away by any third party, even though one may not yet possess the asset. When the right, interest or title to the present or future possession of a legal...
in the charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
the Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches is a registered charity active in England and Wales. It campaigns for and rescues redundant historic churches threatened by demolition, decay, or inappropriate conversion. To that end, as of August 2010, it owns 43 former churches or chapels, 23 of which...
in 1989, and the charity has held the freehold since 22 November 1989. The charity was supported by the Victorian Society and received financial support from Cadw
Cadw
-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
and the Pilgrim Trust
Pilgrim Trust
The Pilgrim Trust is a London-based charitable trust. It was founded in 1930 by a two million pound grant by Edward Harkness, an American philanthropist. The trust's first secretary was former civil servant, Thomas Jones....
. As from 2006 the church has been designated by Cadw as a Grade I listed building. It has been said of Sumner's decoration that it "should make Llanfair Kilgeddin a place of pilgrimage for disciples of the Arts and Crafts movement".