Back to indexChrist College Chapel, Llanfaes, Brecon, Breconshire
Name: Christ College ChapelDenomination: Anglican Built: 13th century with 19th century additions Notes 1. Christ's College was originally the chapel of a Dominican friary; was changed, in 1531, into a seat of learning, under a dean and nineteen prebendaries; is now attached to a diocesan college of Lampeter; has an antique stone cross, and monuments of several bishops; and includes buildings in the monastic style, of imposing aspect, erected in 1864, at a cost of £10,000. [Extracted from The Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales. Vol I-II, by John Marius Wilson, published by A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1872. Accessible on-line at Ancestry.co.uk (subscription required)] 2. (Refers to engraving below) Christ Church College is situated in the suburb of St David's, on the banks of the Usk, at a short distance from the bridge. The history of the original foundation at this place is not known. It is ascertained to have been a monastery of Black Friars, with an apportionment church dedicated to St Nicholas. The present college church is only sixty-three feet in length by twenty-four in breadth, and comprises merely the choir and chancel of the original edifice. [Extracted from The Beauties of England and Wales: or Original Delineations , Topographical, Historical, and Descriptive – Vol. XVIII, South Wales, by Thomas Rees, London, 1815] 3. The chapel is a fine example of thirteenth century work, though like all the medieval buildings it was much restored by Gilbert Scott in the nineteenth century. More remarkable survivals are the two halls with their fine fifteenth century open timber roofs. Of the cloister, chapter house and other monastic buildings nothing remains but their position can be deduced from documents. In the 1530s momentous changes affected England and Wales. Henry VIII brought all of Wales under his control; this involved the creation of new Welsh counties, including Breconshire. At the same time the King made himself the Head of the Church and then dissolved the monasteries. This combination of events resulted in the foundation of 'the College of Christ of Brecknock' in 1541 to provide education in this area and thus would 'the Welsh rudeness soon be framed to English civility'! [Further historical details on the Christ College school website] Photography: John Ball Date: 5 August 2009 Camera: Nikon D50 digital SLR   Collegiate Chapel, Brecon (drawn by Mrs Lathbury, engraved by S. Rawle 1813, in Rees, 1815) Note the absence of the bell tower. |