The churchyard site was an ancient burial ground going back to Anglo Saxon times, a buried Celtic cross, dating back to approximately 750AD, now sits proudly in the entrance porch.
Newent, Gloucestershire
By 1080 Benedictine monks from St Mary’s Abbey, at Cormeilles, in Normandy, had arrived, establishing the first Norman church on site, part of the building we see today, and Newent was recorded in the Domesday Book.
The church was enlarged in 1260 and 1361 with a tower and steeple being added soon after. 300 years later a severe storm blew the spire over and it crashed to the ground.
Because of continued weather erosion the spire has had to be rebuilt several times since. In 1674 a heavy fall of snow resulted in the church roof also collapsing. Newent carpenter Edward Taylor, an understudy of Sir Christopher Wren, rebuilt it without the original centre pillars allowing Canon Wood to add the large wooden ceiling that you see today. The craftsmanship shouldn’t be underestimated as it still holds the record for being the largest unsupported wooden ceiling in the country!
The church also lays claim to having a church organ which is truly unique. Built by local craftsman Thomas Warne in 1737 it was credited as being ‘sweet and compleat, and thought to be as good as any of that kind’. Quite an achievement considering he had no training, instruction or direction and it was the first one he’d ever built.
Petrisw, Powys
Cyrhaeddir yr eglwys hon trwy deithio naill ai ar hyd lonydd troellog sy’n gyforiog o flodau, neu ar hyd llwybr troed. Wrth gyrraedd, fe welwch yr eglwys ganoloesol hon yn sefyll ar lethrau’r Grwyne Fawr, yn edrych heibio cwm bychan at lethrau Mynydd Pen-y-Fâl yr ochr draw.
Capel y Ffin, Powys
Lleolir eglwys Sant Mair, Capel y Ffin yn nyffryn cudd yr afon Honddu, gyda’r Mynyddoedd Du i’r gorllewin iddi a Chlawdd Offa i’r dwyrain. Mae’n fan lle mae celfyddyd a thirwedd yn ymdoddi i’w gilydd – ac nid yw’n syndod felly iddi ddenu arlunwyr a beirdd am ganrifoedd.
Llaneleu, Powys
Mae’r eglwys anghysbell hon yn sefyll yng nghanol mynwent helaeth, hynafol yn nyfnderoedd y Mynyddoedd Du, ym Mharc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog.
