Cwmbran Church in Wales Ministry Area

History
Anglican parish church, 14th century and 15th century , first mentioned in 13th century as belonging to the priory of Bassaleg, remaining a chapelry of Bassaleg until 1754 when the parish was established, though served by a curate from Bassaleg until the first rector was appointed in 1877, non-resident before 1898. Grants from Queen Anne's Bounty for repairs recorded 1735, 1756, 1787, 1810 and 1828. Restoration work in 1871-2 by E A Lansdown, including the boarded nave roof, cost £160. Repaired 1951 when the stone tiles were replaced with slate, walls scraped of plaster in 1970s with loss of wall paintings and furnishings reordered. Repairs 1990-1 including new tower W window and left window on nave South side. Another layer of floor slabs is said to have been found under nave floor.
The nave is probably 14th century , the chancel 15th century, the South porch and tower possibly also 15th century.

Interior
Interior whitewashed plastered nave, chancel scraped of plaster in later 20th century. Low 19th century shallow-curved boarded nave roof with moulded ribs to 6 x 4 panels. Nave floor is paved with incised slabs. S door with stone voussoirs. Plastered low chancel arch with plastered beam above, possibly former rood beam, the walling stepped forward above the beam. Nave South windows, 19th century insertions, have attractive clear leaded glazing. Deeply splayed reveals to North pulpit window and South font window. Tower arch plastered with Tudor arch over pointed chamfered arch dying into side piers. Tower has no ceiling, put-log holes to walls and pointed chamfered stair door with broach stops. Renewed West window has glazing of 1991 with keys of St Peter on shield.
Chancel has 15th century panelled barrel roof of 4 x 4 panels with moulded ribs and 9 carved bosses with leaf motifs. East window and South window have stone voussoirs, low blocked South door with stone voussoirs, infilled with shelf. The base of this door is said to be some 50mm (2 inches) lower than present floor level. On jambs of East window are scant remnants of wall painting.

Fittings: Unusual tooled octagonal red granite font on circular stem, said to be 13th century. Plain panelled later 19th century pulpit on octagonal base. Matching reading desk and pews. Benefaction board of 1809.

Memorials: E wall eroding plaque to David Williams with oval and plant sprays, dated 1809. Chancel North similar plaque with rustic floral drop and circle, to Edward Williams dated 1808. South painted stone oval plaque with fans in spandrels to Mary Morgans dated 1782 and Mary Harries dated 1811. Eroding plaque to Mary Abraham 1815. Nave floor has incised grave slabs with dates from 1681 to 1753. Nave North eroding plaque to Mary John, plain shaped plaque to Mary Williams dated 1800 and plaque to Adam Thomas dated 1729.
Bells: three, of 1350 Bristol-made, 1711 by E. Evans of Chepstow, and 1656 by John Palmer II of Gloucester.

Exterior
Parish church, purple rubble stone with traces of lime render and slate roofs, West tower, nave, chancel and South porch.
Tower of 2 stages with battered base, North East polygonal stair turret, corbelled flat parapet, embattled only to stair turret. Large corner stones, moulded string course below parapet with 6 carved gargoyles and string course between stages. 19th century renewed ashlar 2-light pointed bell-lights with hoodmoulds. 19th century blocked moulded pointed West door with 2-colour voussoirs and big 19th century 3-light Perp. Style West window with hoodmould and bicolour voussoirs, tracery renewed 1991. Small medieval rectangular chamfered opening on South side, 3 small loops to stair tower.
Nave South has 2-light to left renewed 1991 possibly 17th century with segment-headed lights, porch, and then 2 earlier 19th century 3-light ashlar windows, segmental-pointed with pointed heads to the 2 outer lights, leaving an untraceried broad centre light. Large South porch with coped gable and 19th century  cross finial, low chamfered Tudor arched entry with purple stone dressings and broach stops. Interior has flagstones, benches and flat ceiling. Plain chamfered pointed South door with 19th century boarded door. Rendered nave East wall and nave North wall. North wall has eroded red stone 2-light pulpit window possibly 17th century with segment-headed lights. Break in North wall midway.
Chancel has battered base to walls. South side has ashlar blocked door, hollow-moulded with curved stop and fillet, stone voussoirs over, and ashlar 19th century 3-light South window, flat-headed with cusped lights. East end has traces of whitewash, large 19th century ashlar 3-light window, perpendicular Gothic style with hoodmould and stone voussoirs. Chancel North is windowless.

Reason for Listing
Graded II* as a largely medieval church with fine surviving chancel roof.

References
J. Newman, Buildings of Wales: Gwent, 2000, p 256;
Rev. S. Ll. Guest, St Peter's Church, Henllys, 1990;
Sir J. Bradney, A History of Monmouthshire, 1906.

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