St Mary's Church, Nash

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St Mary's Church, 47 St Mary's Rd, Newport NP18 2DD

The church of St Mary the Virgin in Nash is the parish church of the village of Nash, situated about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of the city of Newport, Wales. Described as "the cathedral of the moors". The large church is medieval in origin, with additions and restorations dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Newman describes the 15th-century steeple as "unique in South East Wales". Since 3 January 1963 it has been designated a Grade I listed building primarily due to its medieval tower with fine spire.

The church belonged to Goldcliff Priory in 1349 when Robert Arney was instituted to the benefice. The Arney family, in the time of Charles II, left a cottage and 6 acres (2.4 ha) of land, called "The Poor's Six Acres", for the support of the poor of the parish.[3] The church was largely rebuilt during the 16th century.

The only remains of the Norman church is the North Wall of the chancel and the squint or hagioscope. An unusual feature, the squint was used to enable those with leprosy, smallpox or other such diseases, to see or participate in the service without endangering the rest of the congregation with infection. The tower is unusually located on the north side of the chancel. The church is thought to originally have been much larger, incorporating a North aisle.^[1]

The land, part of the extensive Gwent Levels, was marshy and flooded by each high tide until Roman legionaries from Caerleon created a sea wall and drainage ditches. A freak tidal surge in January 1607 flooded c.520sq km (200 square miles) of land on both sides of the Bristol Channel. Soon afterwards, a plaque was installed inside St Mary the Virgin Church to record the level the water reached. The plaque remains in situ. Some historians and scientists believe the flood was caused by a large storm surge – when a hurricane coincided with an unusually high tide – or by a tsunami resulting from an undersea earthquake.^[2]

The church interior was restored in 2004–2005.

Sunday services are held weekly at 9.30am and the church is also open daily from 10am to 4pm during July and August.

Burials:

Ashfield, Annie 1859 - ?
Ashfield, Emily 1860 - 1885
Ashfield, William ? - 1853
Ashfield, William Job 1893 - ?
Barton, Mary 1794 - 1842
Bowen, Ivan 1648 - 1712
Gouch, William ? - 1829
Hale, Annis 1832 - 1893
Hale, Audrey Kathleen 1909 - 1911
Hale, Elizabeth 1821 - 1912
Hale, John 1831 - 1901
Hale, John Henry 1860 - 1939
Hale, Mary Ann 1855 - 1931
Hale, Matthew 1823 - 1891
Hale, Thomas 1852 - 1931
John, Ann 1815 - 1880
John, Jehoiada 1818 - 1903
James, John Taylor 1865 - 1891
John, Caroline 1821 - 1899
John, Henry 1819 - 1888
John, Thomas 1803 - 1875
Jones, Alfred 1853 - 1898
Jones, John 1843 - 1894
Jones, Mary 1814 - 1860
Jones, Mary Susannah 1875 - 1900
Jones, Mildred 1885 - 1886
Jones, Minnie 1854 - 1895
Jones, William ? - ?
Knorz, Alice Violet May 1906 - 1987
Knorz, William Alexander 1905 - 1987
Lewis, Margaret May 1933 - 2003
Price, Henry 1854 - 1928
Price, Mary Ann 1858 - 1912
Sayce, Eric Christopher George 1912 - 1966
Sayce, Dulcie Olive 1919 - 1969
Taylor, Elizabeth 1839 - 1863
Taylor, Minnie 1863 - 1863
Uarrett, Michael Grierson 1934 - 1994
Waters, Amey 1845 - 1884
Waters, Arnold 1720 - 1813
Waters, Bessie 1866 - 1891
Waters, Cecelia 1884 - 1884
Waters, Elizabeth 1776 - 1861
Waters, Elizabeth 1811 - 1888
Waters, Joseph 1804 - 1877
Waters, Lucy Jane 1854 - 1881
Waters, Lucy Jane 1882 - 1971
Waters, May 1878 - 1967
Waters, Margaret - 1778
Waters, Minnie 1868 - 1889
Waters, Thomas 1840 - 1910
Waters, Tom Reginald 1875 - 1875
Waters, Tom Reginald 1876 - 1920

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mary%27s_Church,_Nash
2. ↑ https://historypoints.org/index.php?page=st-mary-the-virgin-church-nash-newport