All Saint's Chuch Kemeys Inferior
An important medieval church
All Saint’s Church in Kemeys Inferior was an important place for the local community, including our own family, the Skinner’s of Abernant Farm. Situated on the banks of the River Usk it was a short walk from the family home and they were regular worshippers at the church.
All Saint’s was used for Skinner family baptisms, weddings, funerals, and burials. In 1912 our grandfather Donald Skinner, and his six siblings, were baptised together at the church. Their father James was also a church warden for many years until his death in 1927. James had also been Chair of the Parishioners and Friends of Kemeys Inferior and Langstone.
The date of the building is unknown, but the outer walls contained a fine Roman Arch and a mention is made of the “Parson of Cammeys” in the Llandaff Diocesan Register of 1383. We found a detailed description of All Saint’s in Kelly’s Directory of Monmouthshire 1891.
“The church of All Saints is a building of native stone in the Early English style, consisting of chancel, nave, north aisle, south porch and a western turret containing 1 bell: there are 80 sittings. The register dates from the year 1701. The living is a rectory, yearly value from the year charge £148, in the gift of Holford Cotton Risley Esq. J.P. of Deddington, Oxfordshire, and held since 1886 by the Worshipful George Woods M.A. of University College, Oxford, Chancellor of Llandaff, who resides at Penhow. Parish Clerk: William Collins.”
All Saint’s was also notable because in 1850 the remains of a carved wooden figure of Christ were discovered in the church. Known as the Kemeys Christ, it is regarded as an item of national importance. Further fragments of the figure were found, ‘together with skulls and bones’, in ‘the blocked rood-staircase’ during repairs and alterations to the church in about 1886. It was originally displayed in Caerleon Museum.
The Kemeys Christ was transferred in 1930 to Amgueddfa Cymru. Dating the figure relies on comparing it with other sculptures, and it is thought to be from the late 13th century. The Kemeys Christ is described as a rare survival of pre-Reformation devotional figures once common in the British Isles.
In 1932 All Saint’s found itself in the spotlight with two articles in the Western Mail. They reported that the church was in danger of toppling into the River Usk. The newspaper described the church as one of the smallest in the Kingdom with just 40 seats, but attracted thousands of visitors every year. There was a sheer drop of about 50 feet to the river below and the church was now just 5 feet away from the edge.
The parishioners had noticed that some of the bank had crumbled into the river. The Reverend D. Dudlyke was of the opinion that this was not caused by erosion but because there was a spring running under the church. The threat was deemed so serious that the Bishop of Monmouth had convened an emergency meeting. We don’t know what remedial works were done to alleviate the threat, but it continued as a place of worship for another 27 years.
A decision to close All Saint’s was made on 15th September 1959 by the Diocese of Monmouth. A letter confirming the decision said that the Parochial Church Councils of Tredunnock and Llantrisant had recommend the church be permanently closed. The reason given was that the church was in a dangerous state and condition and no longer fit for worship. This decision was confirmed in a letter sent on 24th September 1959 by Reverend James of Tredunnock Rectory to the Rector of Kemeys Inferior.
The original burial record book for All Saint’s Church is now held by Gwent Archives. The entries end on page 12 of the book and show the last burial conducted at the church was 2nd June 1959, just three months before the closure. The person buried was Howard Charles Badger of Little Kemeys. The full parish registers for All Saint’s Church from 1701-1959 are held by the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.
Tragically, the beautiful medieval church was demolished between 1960-62 to accommodate the construction of the A449, and the site is now a scheduled ancient monument under the protection of Cadw. The monument comprises the remains of the old church, which date to the late medieval period. They are located in an isolated position between the A449 dual carriageway and the steep slopes of the River Usk. There is no public access to the site.
The lower parts of the church walls were retained and stand to around 1m in height. The structure consisted of a nave, chancel and South porch with a small chapel on the North side and a staircase that originally led to a rood loft. The floor of the church retains some original flagstones, and some gravestones are still present. There are also some gravestones propped up against the outer walls.
The monument is described by Cadw as being of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval ecclesiastical organisation and architecture. The monument forms an important element within the wider medieval context and the structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information in regard to chronology, building techniques and functional detail.
The demolition of the church caused great distress for the families of those buried there. The poem included below was written by Gwen Skinner before the remains were exhumed and relocated. “And soon some unknown hands will lift these dear old bones and carry them away. Away to high Tredunnock’s ordered plot.”
Most of the remains buried there were moved to St Andrew’s Church in Tredunnock. These included those of our great-grandparents James and Rosa Skinner, as well as James’ parents, John and Jessie Skinner. We are fortunate at least that our family members were reburied as they were, with their original headstones, many others are now in a mass grave at St Andew’s.
If you have any stories or photographs of All Saint’s Church, Kemeys Inferior, we would love to include them. Email: [email protected]
