St Aeddan's Church

St Aeddan’s Church stands in Bettws Newydd, Monmouthshire, a small village in the Welsh Marches. The present building dates from the 15th century but began as a 12th-century structure. It is a Grade I listed building and remains an active parish church today. The churchyard holds three ancient yew trees, one of which is thought to be more than 1,000 years old. In 2020 Storm Dennis damaged the roof, forcing a temporary closure until repairs were completed in 2024. A joint grant from the National Churches Trust and the Wolfson Foundation paid for the restoration work. The church is recognised for its remarkable rood arrangement, one of the most complete in England and Wales. The rood screen, loft and tympanum survive in place, a rare survival of medieval church furnishings. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales calls the screen ‘most remarkable’ and ‘probably unique in the British Isles’. The 1872 restoration repaired earlier alterations and returned the interior to a closer medieval appearance. The Grade I listing confirms the building’s national importance. Inside, the rood screen divides the nave from the chancel and is richly carved with intricate tracery. The loft above the screen once supported a rood cross and figures, now lost. The tympanum beneath the screen shows traces of medieval painting. The church’s medieval font survives, though the pews date from the 19th century. Outside, the churchyard offers quiet views across the Monmouthshire countryside.