Welcome to ST MARY'S PARISH CHURCH at St Mary's Priory, Abergavenny
St Mary's Priory
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St Mary's Priory is the parish church for the town and community of Abergavenny and is one of the largest and finest parish churches in Wales. The parish stretches from the ancient Llanellen bridge to the top of the Sugar Loaf mountain – reputedly one of the ‘purple-headed mountains’ in the hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful.
St Mary’s Priory is in the Diocese of Monmouth, one of six dioceses in the Church in Wales, and is one of several ancient Benedictine foundations in the area. The Cathedral Church is Newport Cathedral, although, in 1921 when the diocese was founded, there was some thought given to making St Mary’s the Cathedral.
The Church in Wales
At the beginning of the 20th century, churches in Wales were part of the Church of England. But, partly to assert national identity, in 1919 the Church of England was disestablished in Wales, and then replaced the following year by the Church in Wales, which is both independent of the state and an independent member of the Anglican Communion.
For more information please visit the Church in Wales Website
Visiting the church
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There are currently three services each Sunday: Said Eucharist at 8.00am, sung Priory Eucharist at 11.00am and Choral Evensong at 5.00 pm (Evensong takes place at Christchurch North Street on the 1st Sunday of the month). The list of services can be found on the weekly Pew Leaflet or on the noticeboard in the church porch.
The church is open for visitors who wish to see the fine monuments or sit in quiet contemplation Monday to Friday from 10.00am until 2.00pm and Saturday from 10.00am until 3.00pm; sometimes we will open longer depending on availiability of staff.
A contactless payment system is now available for donations in the church.
We are tremendously grateful to all who are enabling the opening of the church by stewarding.
The Garden of Remembrance at St Mary’s will open at the same times as the church to allow people to tend and visit graves.
St Mary's Priory Church is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission, number 1137751.