Benedictine monasticism was part of the landscape of medieval Britain, but the Dissolution of the Monasteries brought an end to monastic life in England and Wales.
Belmont, Herefordshire
The church at Belmont was built to the designs of Edward Welby Pugin, son of the great Augustus Welby Pugin. Built in the decorated, early English, or Gothic style, it demonstrated the resurgent optimism of the restored Catholic faith.
The exterior is in local pink sandstone, simple and unadorned, especially the west front which is reminiscent of many classical monastic facades of the 14th century. The interior is faced with warm Bath stone. Light from the rich aisle windows frequently suffuses the whole space. It is a beautiful place to sit on a sunny summer's afternoon.
The church is dominated by four elegant, steeply pointed, arches which support the central tower, leading the eye heavenwards. Originally this was the crossing, but now the altar stands here at the centre of the church, well suited to the revised liturgy.
On the modern stone altar is carved the figure of the Lamb of God. Symbols of the four evangelists, (Matthew the man, Mark the lion, Luke the (Hereford!) bull, and John the eagle) stand around on the corbels of the central pillars, calling to mind the heavenly liturgy of the Book of Revelation and the worship of the Lamb.
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.
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.
Llaneleu, Powys
Mae’r eglwys anghysbell hon yn sefyll yng nghanol mynwent helaeth, hynafol yn nyfnderoedd y Mynyddoedd Du, ym Mharc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog.
