HistoryPoints News

Jan 5, 2023

People power in Abergavenny


The survival of Abergavenny's large parish church is down to people power - in the 16th century. It belonged to a Benedictine priory but townspeople were already worshipping in part of it before King Henry VIII ordered the ...

dissolution of monasteries. Their own church, St John's, was too small for the congregation. The townspeople petitioned the king, who allowed them to keep the former priory building as their parish church and decreed that St John's become a grammar school. The church is famed for its unique wooden Jesse carving. For more about the history of the church and priory - including its misbehaving monks of 1320 - use your smartphone to scan the HistoryPoints QR codes on the metal bollards near the entrance to St Mary's Church. Or click here