Former Church of St Mary

Cadw's description

Location

High on the hillside about 400m west of Tintern Abbbey and reached by a paved footpath from Chapel Lane.

History

A church which is medieval in origin and part of the walling survives, particularly in the battered east end, but there seem to be no datable features. The church was very thoroughly restored in 1866 by John Prichard, the Llandaff diocesan architect, although the tower looks more like the work of his partner J P Seddon. The Decorated details, especially the east window, may reflect a C14 or early C15 original. The parish of Chapel Hill was amalgamated with Tintern Parva in 1902 and this church was made redundant in 1972. It was burnt in 1977 and has been a roofless ruin ever since.

Exterior

The church is built of random limestone rubble with Bath stone quoins and dressings, only the tower is still roofed, and this has stone slates. Nave and chancel in line with a south tower also acting as the porch, small north vestry. The walls are complete as is the Decorated tracery in the east and west windows. The north wall has three single light windows with cusped heads and the south wall has two. The tower is complete with a flat entrance arch on the outside and a cranked one on the inside, the plank door and holy water stoup survive. Three stage square tower with quoins, the second stage has a single light opening with cusped head. The bell stage has paired louvred openings with cusped heads, small single light opening in the gable above, and another in the rear gable. Coped gables with apex cross to front. The churchyard contains a good selection of C19 monuments of which three are listed.

Interior

Two small aumbries, one by the door and one by the altar. The first has a cusped head, the second has an arched head with decorated tracery infill.

Reason for designation

Included mainly for the restoration by John Prichard, the Diocesan architect of Llandaff, as a part of his work of restoring the medieval churches in the diocese. Despite the fire damage the church retains considerable architectural interest.