St Wonnow's Church

St Wonnow’s Church stands in the quiet Monmouthshire village of Wonastow, two miles south-west of Monmouth. It is a Grade II* listed building, built mainly of Old Red Sandstone. The church takes its name from Saint Wonnow, a sixth-century Breton saint whose cult reached Wales with Saint Gwenhael. A wooden church once stood here in the seventh century, given by Cynfwr ap Iago to the Diocese of Llandaff. Parts of the present stone building date from the twelfth century, including the Perpendicular-style chancel with its square-headed windows. The church is famous for its medieval roof, carried on four pairs of hammer beams. Inside, a monument marks George Milborne, who died in 1637. In the 1860s the whole building was restored, and the tower bears the date 1865. Later gifts from Sir John and Lady Adela Searle paid for a new porch in 1909, a rood screen and reredos in 1913, and stained glass and an altar. The Searles lived at nearby Wonastow Court and left a lasting mark on the church. Today the church remains locked but visitors can borrow the key from the Vicar. Though weekday services draw small congregations, the wider community values the building highly. Recent years have seen successful restoration work, keeping St Wonnow’s a living part of Wonastow’s life.