Newport Cathedral

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Newport Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Woolos, King & Confessor
Newport Cathedral.jpg
St Woolos Cathedral south face
LocationNewport
CountryWales
DenominationChurch in Wales
WebsiteNewport Cathedral website
History
StatusCathedral (1949)
Founded5th century
Founder(s)Gwynllyw
DedicationGwynllyw
EventsExtended 12th, 15th and 20th centuries
Past bishop(s)Charles Green
Gilbert Joyce
Alfred Monahan
Edwin Morris
Eryl Thomas
Derrick Childs
Clifford Wright
Rowan Williams
Dominic Walker
Richard Pain
Architecture
Heritage designationClass I listed
Administration
DioceseDiocese of Monmouth
ArchdeaconryNewport
ParishSt Woolos
Clergy
Bishop(s)Cherry Vann
DeanIan Black
PrecentorJonathan Williams, Archdeacon of Newport

Newport Cathedral (Welsh; Eglwys Gaderiol Casnewydd), also known as St Gwynllyw's or St Woolos' Cathedral, is the cathedral of the Diocese of Monmouth within the Church in Wales, and the seat of the Bishop of Monmouth.[1] In spite of the name of the diocese and the bishopric, the cathedral is located not in the town of Monmouth but in the city of Newport in South-East Wales. Its official title is Newport Cathedral of St Woolos, King and Confessor.[2] The name of the saint, Woolos, is an anglicisation of the Welsh name Gwynllyw.[3]

It became a cathedral in 1949 and while it is the size of a large parish church rather than a typical cathedral, its history and development from the sixth to the twentieth century make it arguably one of the most interesting religious buildings in Wales.[4]

St Gwynllyw

The church was founded by St Gwynllyw, who lived in the later fifth-century, after the Roman occupation, at a time when Wales was beginning to develop a national identity. Gwynllyw was the King of Gwynllwg, an area which lay between later Glamorgan and Gwent. He was undoubtedly a real person, although miraculous events have been associated with his life and his burial place. He was alleged to have been originally a merciless warrior against adjoining kingdoms, a robber and a pirate. Later in life, he converted to Christianity, having been told in a dream to follow a white ox to the prominent hill, where he built a church, probably of wood. The shape and footprint of this original church is reflected over 1500 years later in St Mary's chapel at the west end of the cathedral. The church became his burial place (Welsh: eglwys y bedd) and in succeeding centuries was a significant place of pilgrimage. It was subject to plundering and attack including, it is said, by Irish pirates and Danes, and in 1060 by followers of Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon king.[5]

Gwynllyw is venerated in Wales and in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. He was the husband of St Gwladys and their son was one of the greatest of all Welsh saints and scholars, Cadoc (Cattwg in Welsh)[6].

Medieval period

After their conquest of South Wales, the Anglo-Normans built the first castle in Newport in the late eleventh century or early twelfth century, close to Gwynllyw's church, which would itself have been rebuilt by then, probably in stone.[7]

A much greater transformation took place at the site in the later twelfth century when a large new church was built in the Romanesque style with round-headed arches, favoured by the Normans.[8] Instead of building this new church directly on the original site of Gwynllyw's church, it was built to the east, but attached to it, respecting the sanctity of the original site and indicating of the strength of the cult of Gwynllyw.

In the 14th century, the castle was replaced by a new castle on the bank of the River Usk. The town of Newport (Casnewydd in Welsh, meaning 'new castle') grew near the castle and river.[7] St Gwynllyw's church remained prominent on its hill-top in a rural location, well outside the town boundaries and its defensive gates. It retained its status as the parish church of Newport due to its prestige. In the late nineteenth century the church become surrounded by the western suburbs of Newport.

Recent history

The cathedral has been partially rebuilt or extended in every period up to the 1960s, and is currently[when?] undergoing much-needed repairs. An appeal fund was started in 2006 to raise the £1.5m needed to rescue and repair the building, and is still ongoing.[when?] Repairs to the roof started in February 2011 by Newport-based contractor Instaat Projects Ltd, although further fundraising is necessary and other restoration is required to prevent serious dilapidation.

In 1929 St Woolos became the pro-cathedral of the new Diocese of Monmouth, attaining full cathedral status in 1949.[note 1]

With the enthronement of Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Wales in February 2000, the cathedral became the Metropolitan Cathedral for Wales for the third time in its life. The cathedral continues to serve Wales, the diocese and the City of Newport; it also serves a large parish.

It is also of interest to political and industrial historians – a plaque in the churchyard commemorates the bloody suppression of the Chartist rebellion in Newport in 1839.

The Dean of Monmouth between March 1997 and May 2011 was Richard Fenwick. In May 2011 he was consecrated as Bishop of St Helena. The Diocese covers the islands of Saint Helena and Ascension in the South Atlantic Ocean.[9]

The Reverend Canon Jeremy Winston was installed as Dean of Monmouth on 10 September 2011, but died from a brain tumour on 22 November 2011.[10] On 13 January 2012 it was announced that his successor was to be the Reverend Lister Tonge. He was installed on 31 March 2012.[11]

Situated in the cathedral is the cathedra or seat of the Bishop of Monmouth. The current bishop is the Right Reverend Cherry Vann, enthroned on 1 February 2020.[12]

Chapter

The membership of the cathedral's governing chapter is set by the current constitution adopted in 2020. As of 2 February 2022, the everyday clergy of the church are:[13]

Organ and choir

See also: List of musicians at Welsh cathedrals

A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[16] The current Organist and Choirmaster is Dr. Emma Gibbins, who has been in post since 2015. The current assistant organist is Jeremy Blasby, appointed in 2010. The choir is made up of 16 boys and 12 men, with supernumerary men and boys participating in services at various times.

Timeline

  • c. 500: original church built
  • c. 800: church replaced with a stone structure
  • c. 1050: attacked by pirates and left in ruins
  • c. 1080: nave and archway built by Normans
  • 15th century: tower and aisles built
  • c. 1650: monuments damaged by Puritans
  • 1819: entrance chapel restored
  • 1853: church fully restored
  • 1854: St Woolos Cemetery opens 1 mi (1.6 km) to the west of the cathedral
  • 1869: last burials in the old graveyard at the cathedral
  • 1913: church fully restored and re-roofed; current pews and parquet floor installed
  • 1922: designated pro-Cathedral of the Diocese of Monmouth
  • 1949: full Cathedral status awarded
  • 1962: Victorian chancel replaced to designs by Alban Caroe
  • 1987: Choir Chapel refurbished as the Presentation Chapel
  • 1997: organ renovated[17]
  • 2011: roof renovated

Deans of Monmouth

Deans of Newport

In 2018, the title of the post was changed to Dean of Newport.[27]

Notes

  1. ^ From 1907, city status in the UK was formalised such that it was no longer a simple matter for it to be conveyed by possession of a cathedral. Newport did not become a city until 2002

References

  1. ^ There is potential for confusion over the name of the cathedral. Known locally as 'St Woolos', corrupted from the Welsh name 'Gwynllyw', the Latin version 'Gundleus' was often used in official documents. Historians sometimes favour the original 'Gwynllyw', up to the present day. More recently, attempts for it to be known as Newport Cathedral have only been partially successful. There is also a mismatch between the name of the diocese as 'Monmouth' and the cathedral located in Newport.
  2. ^ "Welcome To Newport Cathedral". 3 June 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  3. ^ Morgan, C.O.S. 1885. St Woollos Church’ Newport, Monmouthshire in Archaeologia Cambrensis, ser. 5,2, p 280
  4. ^ Thurlby, Malcolm. 2006. Romanesque Architecture and Sculpture in Wales. Woonton Almeley. p 159.
  5. ^ Vita Gundleii in Wade-Evans. 1944. A.W, Vitae Sanctorum Britannae et Genealogie. Cardiff. pps 172-93.
  6. ^ Vita Cadoci in Wade-Evans. 1944. A.W, Vitae Sanctorum Britannae et Genealogie. Cardiff. pps 90-1
  7. ^ a b Knight, J.K.1991.Newport Castle in Monmouthshire Antiquary Vol VII, pps 17-42.
  8. ^ Freeman E.A. 1851. On architectural antiquities in Monmouthshire in Archaeologia Cambrensis, NS vii 192-4.
  9. ^ "Dean of Monmouth becomes South Atlantic bishop". South Wales Argus. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  10. ^ Death of the Very Revd Jeremy Winston, Dean of Newport Cathedral
  11. ^ "Diocese of Monmouth – Cathedral Dean". Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  12. ^ Barnes, Dan. "New Bishop of Monmouth Cherry Vann enthroned in Newport". South Wales Argus. No. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Constitution and Governance". Newport Cathedral. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  14. ^ "New Dean installed at Newport Cathedral". Diocese of Monmouth. 26 May 2021. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  15. ^ "New Canon Residentiary at Newport Cathedral". Diocese of Monmouth. 14 November 2021. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  16. ^ "The National Pipe Organ Register - NPOR".
  17. ^ "St Woolas Cathedral Newport visitor leaflet". Diocese of Monmouth. October 2000 [March 1998]. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. ^ "Phillips, Very Rev. John Leoline". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com. Vol. 1920–2007 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 23 March 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  19. ^ "Davies, Very Rev. Joseph Gwyn". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com. Vol. 1920–2007 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 19 February 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  20. ^ "Thomas, Rev. John Roland Lloyd". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com. Vol. 1920–2007 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 19 February 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) (nb: Who's Who is in error; John's surname was Lloyd Thomas, not Thomas.)
  21. ^ "Evans, Very Rev. Raymond Ellis". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com. Vol. 1920–2007 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 19 February 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  22. ^ "Jenkins, Very Rev. Frank Graham". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com. Vol. 1920–2007 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 19 February 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  23. ^ "Lewis, Very Rev. (David) Gareth". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com. Vol. 1920–2007 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 19 February 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  24. ^ "St Helena, Bishop of, (Rt Rev. Dr Richard David Fenwick)". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com. Vol. 2014 (December 2013 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 19 February 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  25. ^ "Winston, Very Rev. Jeremy Hugh". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com. Vol. 1920–2007 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 19 February 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  26. ^ "Tonge, Very Rev. Lister". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com. Vol. 2014 (December 2013 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 19 February 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  27. ^ "Crockford's Clerical Directory: Dean of Newport Cathedral". Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  28. ^ "Crockford's Clerical Directory: The Very Revd Lister Tonge". Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  29. ^ "New Dean installed at Newport Cathedral".

External links

Coordinates: 51°34′59″N 2°59′55″W / 51.58306°N 2.99861°W / 51.58306; -2.99861

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