Church of St Martin

Church of St Martin

A large church in Early English style with geometrical tracery, constructed of snecked rock-faced grey-green sandstone with Bathstone dressings and red tiled roofs. The building comprises a nave with lower chancel, a north-west tower, gabled south aisle, north aisle, north porch, chancel with transepts containing a chapel and vestry, and a small lean-to structure in the north-east angle.

The north side features a 4-bay clerestorey with paired 2-light windows divided by pilasters, though the northern bay has been shortened due to the tower addition. The north aisle has three 3-light windows with traceried heads, separated by buttresses. A gabled porch stands right of centre, with a double chamfered pointed arch and double planked doors; the hoodmould continues as a string course across the elevation.

The west end of the nave has stepped buttresses and a large 5-light window. The added south aisle is gabled and obscures the nave's clerestorey. Its west end contains a 3-light traceried window with a cusped wheel above. The south side of the aisle comprises five bays, each with a 3-light window separated by buttresses, and a planked door to the right under a shouldered lintel.

The chancel has angle buttresses and trefoiled windows. A 5-light east window features a large cusped wheel; 2-light windows light the north and south walls, with 4-light windows to the chapel and vestry. The chancel's south end has a blocked doorway to the right under a shouldered lintel. The vestry has a circular end stack. In the north-east angle between chancel and vestry stands a low lean-to with an east door under a square head.

The added 3-stage tower is substantially more ornate than the rest of the church. An octagonal stair turret rises from the north-east angle to the top stage. Set-back buttresses, heavy moulded dressings, and a battlemented parapet define the structure. A pointed doorway on the north side displays several orders of roll mouldings on octagonal bases and a hoodmould with foliate stops. The 1st and 2nd stages contain pairs of cinquefoiled lancets, with a clock above on the north and west faces. The bell stage holds paired 2-light windows with louvres and a corbel table beneath the parapet. A tablet on the north side records that parishioners erected the tower following a visit by Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1907. Catherine Anthony of the Grove, Caerphilly, laid the stone and also donated the peal of bells in 1910.

The interior features five-bay nave arcades with round piers on square bases and pointed arches with 2 orders of chamfered mouldings. The west arch of the north aisle contains planked doors leading to the tower. A tall chancel arch in similar style stands on responds consisting of 3 orders of shafts with ringed capitals and bases. An arched brace roof covers the nave, with principals standing on wall shafts. Two-bay arcades to the vestry and chapel sit beneath large relieving arches similar to the nave arcade.

A reredos in pink Penarth alabaster contains three ornate statue niches with ogee heads. Black marble shafts stand between the niches, which hold white marble statues. Sedilia with round columns and pointed arched heads feature pierced circles in the spandrels.

An octagonal medieval font sits on a 20th-century square stone base. An organ by George Pace dates to 1968 and occupies the south-east corner of the nave. A wood-fronted pulpit on a marble base displays blind arches and foliate decoration.

Stained glass in the east window dates to 1879 and was donated by Lord Windsor in memory of Harriet, Baroness of Windsor. It is probably by Hardman and depicts the crucifixion between the Agony in the Garden and the Way to Calvary. A south aisle window commemorates William Spickett (died 1939). Late 20th-century stained glass windows appear in the south chancel and north and south aisles. The west window contains stained glass in geometrical design, with the traceried heads containing a shield and yellow margin glazing. Other windows towards the west end also display stained glass in geometrical design.

Marble memorial tablets of simple style have been moved from the former chapel to the south wall of the nave. These include a memorial to John Goodrich of Energlyn (died 1825), who was associated with the Monmouthshire Canal Company and is buried in a vault in the churchyard, a tablet to his son, and a memorial to Elizabeth Pearson (died 1835).