St James's Church

St James’s Church stands in the hamlet of Llangua, near Grosmont in Monmouthshire, on the Welsh side of the border with Herefordshire. It is a small medieval church built of Old Red Sandstone, its earliest parts dating from the 12th century. The tower has a distinctive wooden pyramid cap, and the nave and chancel are covered by two wagon roofs from the 14th and 15th centuries. The church was originally dedicated to St Kew, a Cornish saint said to have been born locally, suggesting an even older foundation. The church is Grade II* listed and is owned by the Friends of Friendless Churches. In the 20th century it was restored twice, first in 1889 by Thomas Nicholson of Hereford, and again in 1954–55 under the direction of Ivor Bulmer-Thomas. Bulmer-Thomas funded the work in memory of his wife Dilys and later founded the Friends of Friendless Churches in 1957 to preserve such buildings. A recent major repair completed in 2025 stabilised the wagon roof and reinstated the stone-tiled covering using traditional lime mortar and timber techniques. Inside, the church retains a painted partition with four panels from a demolished chapel in Devon. The interior walls are kept an off-white, while the exterior has been limewashed in a pale pink to match the local clay soil. The stone mullions and windows have been repaired, and the entire structure now stands secure. Visitors find a quiet place of simple beauty, where medieval craftsmanship meets careful conservation.