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Brief
history
of the old "town" and the church
In the 13th century Trellech "Town" was
larger than Newport or Chepstow. The main route between
Monmouth and Chepstow ran via Trellech, and the present valley
road, the A466, was not completed until the 1820s.
Trelech was largely destroyed in 1291 as the
result of a raid following a dispute over alleged deer
poaching. The Black Death of 1340, and again in 1350, and
the subsequent ravages of Owain Glyndwr and his men early in the
1400s further reduced the prosperity of the Town, and consequently
its importance in the area.
A church on this site, probably wooden, was
endowed by King Ffernwael and King Meuig, rulers of Gwent in the
7th and 8th centuries. The preaching cross and curious stone
altar in the churchyard may date back to these times, as also the
"Saxon" font.
The present building is well over 600 years old.
The date of the Early English Gothic stonework is between 1225 qnd
1272, and that of the decorated Gothic up to 1350. When the
weather-cock was removed from the top of the spire for regilding,
in 1972 it was found to have been made in Ross-on-Wye in 1792,
from which it can be assumed that the spire was rebuilt about that
time. At some date prior to 1792 the original tower fell,
damaging the roof of the nave. A contemporary reference
attributes this to lightning and storms.
Following it being in a very neglected state in
1961 the church was renovated and re-roofed with Welsh slates
DETAILS REQUIRED PLEASE
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