St Cadoc, Raglan

St Cadoc sits on a slope below the crossroads in the little town of Raglan, its tower a prominent landmark. Like the town, the church is rather overshadowed by its impressive castle, but it is worth a look nonetheless.

The church reflects the succession of the owners of the castle: although probably founded by the de Clare family, development from the 12th to the 14th century was thanks to their successors, the Bluets. Of this period, the 14th century chancel survives. Major rebuilding took place in the 15th century under the Herberts and then the Somersets, Earls of Beaufort. They rebuilt the nave, and added both the tower (c.1460) and the Beaufort Chapel of two bays, north of the chancel. 

The church suffered badly during the Civil War, when Parliamentary troops damaged the chapel and desecrated the tombs during the siege of Raglan. A comprehensive restoration by Wyatt in 1868 for the 8th Duke of Beaufort saw the chapel restored, a north aisle of two bays erected to its west, and most of the windows replaced.

With its rubble walls and stone tile roofs, the church belies the grandeur of its patrons: this effect continues inside, where the modest nave and chancel with their scraped walls and barrel-vaulted roofs feel positively rustic - an effect heightened by the dark Victorian stained glass. Of greater interest is the Beaufort Chapel, which has the shattered remains of the effigies: these comprise the 3rd and 4th Earls of Worcester, William Somerset (d. 1589) and Edward (d. 1628), and Edward's wife Elizabeth (d. 1621). The Somersets themselves lie buried in a crypt beneath the chancel: this has been opened several times, and a brass plaque in the chancel described those thought to be buried there. The remaining fittings are all 19th century, although the pulpit has five panels of blind tracery, apparently C15, believed to come from a lost rood screen.

The church is now one of a dizzying number in the Heart of Monmouthshire Ministry Area, and has a regular Sunday Holy Communion, with a mid-week communion, alongside meetings of the Mothers' Union. The church is evidently very popular for weddings - there were two during my stay here.

St Cadoc, Chepstow Road, Raglan NP15 2EP