Newport Cathedral

Newport Cathedral stands on a hill in the city of Newport, Wales. It began as a wooden church founded in the sixth century by St Gwynllyw, a warrior who later became a Christian. The cathedral’s full name is Newport Cathedral Church of St Woolos, King and Confessor. It became a cathedral in 1949, though it remains the size of a large parish church. Its history spans fifteen centuries, from a small wooden chapel to a medieval Romanesque church. The site has witnessed plundering by pirates, Danes and followers of Harold Godwinson. The cathedral is worth visiting for its layered history and unique features. The tower contains the largest ring of bells in Wales, with thirteen bells dating from the fifteenth century. St Mary’s chapel preserves the original site of Gwynllyw’s church and his tomb. The twelfth-century Romanesque portal shows zig-zag chevron motifs and incorporates Roman columns from nearby Caerleon. The capitals may depict scenes from the Bible or the lives of Gwynllyw and his son Cadoc. Jasper Tudor is traditionally linked to the tower’s construction. A visitor walks from the west door through the tower and St Mary’s chapel. The tower’s Perpendicular arches lead into the nave, where five Romanesque round arches rise from massive piers. The Romanesque portal frames the view of the main body of the cathedral. St Mary’s chapel contains a Victorian reconstruction of a Romanesque font and a medieval octagonal window. The nave and aisles reflect the grand twelfth-century scheme under the patronage of Gloucester Abbey. The cathedral offers a quiet place to experience centuries of Welsh Christian tradition.