St Paul's Church
St Paul's Church, 2015
51°34′59″N 2°59′35″W / 51.583°N 2.993°W / 51.583; -2.993
DenominationChurch in Wales
WebsiteSt Paul's Church website (archived)
History
DedicationPaul the Apostle
Architecture
Functional statusClosed
Heritage designationGrade II listed building
Designated2 May 1980 (modified 31 March 2000)
Architect(s)Thomas Henry Wyatt or Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt
StyleGeorgian Early English Gothic
Years built1835–36
Construction cost£5,000
Closed2016
Administration
ParishSt Paul, St Stephen & Holy Trinity (former)

St Paul's Church is a Grade II listed building in Commercial Street in the city centre of Newport, South Wales, built in Victorian gothic style in 1835–36. It was a parish church of the Church in Wales in the Diocese of Monmouth[1] until 2016, when the congregation moved leaving the building vacant. It was sold in 2018.

History

The church was built in 1835–36 at a cost of £5,000,[2] with fittings bringing the total to more than £7,000.[3] The land was donated by Sir Charles Morgan, 2nd Baronet, whose family continued as pew-holders and benefactors of the church and parish.[4] Built to seat 1000 people,[3] it was the first church in the town,[2] and became a parish church in the Diocese of Llandaff in 1839. A vicarage hall was added on the grounds of the vicarage in 1879;[3] the church closed in 1991, but after reopening and modern renovations,[5] the hall was combinable with the worship area to make a hall with a capacity of 300.[6]

St Paul's was designated a Grade II listed building on 2 May 1980.[2] In 2016, the congregation moved to a leased building on Bridge Street;[7] it later merged with St Stephen's in Pillgwenlly, in the latter's building.[8] St Paul's church was left vacant and was sold in 2018. In December 2021, an application was submitted to divide the interior into 20 flats;[9] this was rejected in February 2022 after objections from the Georgian Group and the Victorian Society.[10]

Building

The church is attributed to Thomas Henry Wyatt,[2] but the newspaper account of the consecration refers only to "Mr Wyatt" being present, and Pryce's history of the church states that the architect was Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt.[4]

Constructed of rock-faced coursed stone with ashlar dressings, the church is in Georgian Early English Gothic style, a rare example in Wales of the "Gothick" period that pre-dated the Victorian Gothic revival.[4] At the East end facing Commercial Street is an octagonal clock tower with spire.[2] The ceiling was added in 1842 and the church was refurbished in 1859 by G. Clarke of Newport, then redecorated with new porches by Habershon and Fawckner in 1888.[2]

Stained glass

  • Christ the Good Shepherd, the Good Samaritan and Christ Blessing Children (lancets, East end)[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Church Heritage Record: St Paul, Newport (Former church)". Church in Wales. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cadw. "St Paul's Church, including forecourt walls and railings (Grade II) (3013)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "Kelly's Directory for Monmouthshire". 1901. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012 – via ancestry.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "St Paul, Newport". Stained Glass in Wales. Retrieved 31 March 2022. Also at Imaging the Bible in Wales Database.
  5. ↑ "St Paul's Church, Commercial Street, Newport (13098)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "Churches: St Paul's Church". Newport City Council. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012.
  7. ↑ "New Venue". St Paul's, Newport. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016.
  8. ↑ "About". St Paul's and St Stephens, Newport. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  9. ↑ Elis Sandford (23 December 2021). "Flats plan for former church in Newport city centre". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  10. ↑ Elis Sandford (21 February 2022). "Flats plan for empty Newport city centre church thrown out". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
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