The Church of St Madoc, Llanbadoc,

Monmouthshire Monmouthshire ( cy, Sir Fynwy) is a county in the south-east of Wales. The name derives from the historic county of the same name; the modern county covers the eastern three-fifths of the historic county. The largest town is Abergavenny, with ...

is a parish church with its origins in the 14th century. A Grade II* listed building, the church remains an active parish church.

History

The church is thought to have belonged to Usk Priory in the 12th century, but no part of the church can be dated to before 1300. The earliest datable element is the

reredos A reredos ( , , ) is a large altarpiece, a screen, or decoration placed behind the altar in a church. It often includes religious images. The term ''reredos'' may also be used for similar structures, if elaborate, in secular architecture, for ex ...

, although the nave and chancel may be contemporary with it. The tower and the main window in the nave are 15th century. The roof of the nave appears to have been rebuilt in the early 18th century, probably as a result of damage suffered in the Great Storm of 1703. In the 19th century, the church was extensively restored by

John Prichard John Prichard (6 May 1817 – 13 October 1886) was a Welsh architect in the neo-Gothic style. As diocesan architect of Llandaff, he was involved in the building or restoration of many churches in south Wales. Personal history John Prichard wa ...

who was responsible for the almost complete rebuilding of the interior. The Monmouthshire author and artist Fred Hando recorded that the two bells in the tower dated from 1635 and 1677. The naturalist

Alfred Russel Wallace Alfred Russel Wallace (8 January 1823 – 7 November 1913) was a British naturalist, explorer, geographer, anthropologist, biologist and illustrator. He is best known for independently conceiving the theory of evolution through natural se ...

was baptized at the church in 1823.

Architecture and description

The architectural historian John Newman records the style of the church as Decorated.

Notes

References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Llanbadoc, Saint Madoc Grade II* listed churches in Monmouthshire History of Monmouthshire Church in Wales church buildings in Monmouthshire 14th-century church buildings in Wales