Church of St Thomas à Becket, Wolvesnewton

About

The Church of Saint Thomas à Becket in Wolvesnewton, Monmouthshire, Wales has its origins in the 13th century. Restored in the 19th century, it remains an active parish church. St Thomas's is a Grade II* listed building. The medieval churchyard cross was restored as a First World War memorial in 1920 and has its own Grade II* listing.

History: The earliest record of the church dates from 1254. The west window of the tower dates from this time. Reconstruction was undertaken by John Norton in 1855–1857. The church remains an active parish church in the deanery of Raglan-Usk.

The church is constructed of Old red sandstone blocks. The roof is of Welsh slate. The whole is listed Grade II*. The interior is plain and whitewashed, with decoration mainly from the Victorian era. Opinions differ as to John Norton's Victorian reconstruction, the architectural historian John Newman describing it as "drastic", while Cadw considers it a "sensitive restoration". The church has some notable stained glass from the 20th century which John Newman suggests formed a memorial to the dead of World War II. Cadw also records this, although the University of Wales Centre...