St Woolos Rescue

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Collage of Images

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Lady Chapel
The Crindau Chapel

Exterior from North

images © John Briggs 2006

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The whole church was restored in the 1850s by the Haberschons of Bloomsbury - but very carefully, and very well.

Then, in 1929, St Woolos (the Normans couldn’t pronounce Gwynllyw) became the Pro-Cathedral of the new Diocese of Monmouth - which had been created after the disestablishment of 1920. It was given full cathedral status in 1949. After disestablishment there had been plans to use other great churches such as the priory churches at Monmouth and Abergavenny. There was even one plan - far too costly - to restore Tintern Abbey.

So they simply used the ancient and massive old pilgrimage church up on Stow Hill in Newport. After all, it stood just above the Great Western Railway station – and at the confluence of all the valley systems of south-east Wales.

Cathedral status was all very well, but when it had to serve as the metropolitical cathedral in the 1950s it was simply far too small. So from 1959 to 1962 the east end was extended by Alban Caroe to form a new Canons’ Quire and Chancel (fairly conservative in style and surprisingly successful). The mural at the east end and the wheel window above it are to the design of John Piper.

With the Enthronement of Dr Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Wales in February 2000, the Cathedral became the Metropolitan Cathedral for the third time in its life.

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Page 4

Chartist Memorial in the churchyard