Visit-a-Church
Key Image St Woolos Cathedral
Stow Hill
NP20 4EA Newport/Casnewydd
United Kingdom
Denomination: Anglican
Congregation: Newport Cathedral (Diocese of Monmouth, Archdeaconry of Newport, Newport)
Geogr. Coordinates: 51.58302° N, 2.99866° W
Geo Location
Reference year: 800
Architectural style: Romanesque
Building type: Hall Church
Description: Predominantly romanesque hall church with West tower
Name derivation: After St Gwynllyw (corrupted to “Woolos”)
Font
  • Font with Norman shaft and a fragment of the Norman basin, remainder Victorian (19th century)
Organ
  • Organ built in 1878 by Vowles of Bristol, refurbished 1966, enlarged 1997 by Nicholsons of Great Malvern; four manuals
Windows
  • So-called “Leper Window” (through which people with infectuous diseases might follow the service), probably intended for ventilation. Originally located in the chancel of the medieval church, now relocated to the east.
  • Stained glass window and mural painting on the east wall of the chancel (John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens, 1962)
Noteworthy
  • Norman archway between Lady Chapel and nave; Roman pillars (probably from Caerleon), capitels sculpted in the Norman period, symbolising either Noah’s flood or the Baptism of Jesus, and so Baptism generally
  • Bishop’s chair, used by the Archbishop of Wales at the election of the first Bishop of Monmouth
  • Canons’ stalls by Thompsons of Kilburn, Yorkshire, “signed” by a carved mouse
History:
About 500:   Gwynllyw builds his original wattle and daub church as a Clas (Celtic mother church)
About 800:   Original church replaced by a stone building (layout and remains of the walls preserved in the Lady Chapel)
About 1050:   Ruined during a pirate attack
About 1080:   Rebuilding and extension to the East through an archway in the former eastern wall
About 1200:   Restauration of the Lady Chapel; church belongs to Gloucester Abbey
Early 15th cent.:   Building of tower and north aisle, heightening of south aisle
About 1650:   Monuments damaged by Puritans
1819:   Restauration of the Lady Chapel completed
1853:   Full restoration; chancel almost completely rebuilt (architects W. G. & E. Habershon)
1913:   Second restoration including re-roofing (architect William Davies)
1921:   Creation of the Diocese of Monmouth, St Woolos Church becomes Pro-Cathedral
1949:   Grant of full Cathedral status (Church in Wales)
1962:   Completion of the extended, modern chancel (architect A. D. R. Caroe)
1987:   Refurbishing of the Choir Chapel and dedication to St Luke
1997:   Complete renovation of organ
2015:   Removal of pews and restoration of the floor
2017:   Restoration of the roofs in the north and south aisles
Important persons:
Architect:  Habershon, William Gilbee (1818–1891, Architect in London)
Caroe, Alban Douglas Rendall (1904–1991, Welsh architect)
Artist:  Reyntiens, Patrick (1925–, English stained glass artist)
Piper, John (1903–1992, English painter, printmaker and designer of stained-glass windows and both opera and theatre sets)
Organ builder:  Nicholsons (Organ builders in Great Malvern)
Patron:  Gwynllyw (Engl. Woolos, Lat. Gundleus) (D. c. 500, king of Gwynllywg in South Wales, hermit)
Sources
St Woolos Cathedral: Informationsblatt St Woolos Cathedral, Newport
St Woolos Cathedral: Web-Site Kirchengemeinde, Newport, http://www.newportcathedral.org.uk/index.php?id=64, retrieved 19/08/2017
Willie, Andrew: Illustrated guide book to St Woolos Cathedral, Newport 2002
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