St Mary
Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
Abergavenny parish church was founded in the late 11th century as the church of a Benedictine priory. It is the only part to survive, apart from the later tithe barn.
Our picturesque Grade II chapel nestles in the south Wales countryside, about 4 miles from Abergavenny, and commands stunning views of the Usk Valley and the Blorenge Mountain. The charming interior has a delightful calming atmosphere and boasts the original pews, pulpit and gallery.
It was opened on May 16th, 1827. The handwritten notes of the time record the preachers and the Bible verses used on that occasion. For the first 23 years the services were conducted in Welsh.
The chapel was extended in the 1880’s to accommodate the 200 or so weekly worshippers and it has remained the same since that time. There are plaques in the chapel commemorating chapel members who were lost in the First World War and also a Roll of Honour for all those who served in that conflict.
We have a plaque listing the ministers from 1840 to 1926.
There is a wealth of local history over the 200 years of the chapel’s existence and this is recorded in the Local History Display which is housed in the chapel. It was put together by members of the chapel and includes the history of the parish, the chapel, the local Anglican church, the two village schools (church and chapel) and the village hall. We have also recorded details of two village residents who won the Military Cross together with a villager with the MBE for work with cycling and one of the founders of plastic surgery who opened the first specialised hospital in Chepstow. We can also boast one of the Welsh Poet Laureates and also the creator of Wordle (an online word game that has swept the nation) and Parseword.
The chapel is open every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday from 10am to 3pm for anyone to go in to enjoy the ambience, to pray if you wish and to peruse the Local History Display. Please sign the Visitors Book and we welcome your comments. Parking and accessible toilets are available at Chapel Cottage Studio next door.