St Illtyd's Church, Mamhilad

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St Illtyd’s Church, Mamhilad

The church looking at the south porch

The church stands on a slight hill on Old Abergavenny Road off the A4042. Opposite is the Star public house, just a couple of minutes from the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal.

The church showing the south and west porches with the bellcote
above the west porch. The latter is used as a vestry.







Built in the Perpendicular style, the church comprises a nave, chancel, two porches and a bellcote. It is grade II* listed. The existing features are late medieval, or of the restoration undertaken in 1864–1865 and of the further restoration that took place more recently in 1999–2000. It is still an active church in the parish of Mamhilad with Monkswood with Glascoed.


The stile showing the gravestone of Aaron Morris



The visit gets interesting the moment you reach the stile entering the churchyard for the stile is the gravestone of Aaron Morris who died 5 May 1680. In 1953 C.J.O. Evans stated that it had been placed in position ‘in recent years’ when a descendant of the deceased had objected to the ‘questionable use’ of his ancestor’s memorial! The church is perhaps most famous for the incumbency of Reverend Christopher Cook who is buried near the entrance. Reverend Cook was incumbent from 1855 to 1925, a total of 70 years; he was a rector altogether for 74 years. He died on 19 December 1927, at the age of 102 as a result of a fall on an icy road. It was said that he was requested several times by his bishop to retire on account of his advanced age and wearying of these demands finally replied: ‘if I’d known this was a temporary job I wouldn’t have taken it on.’ The parish register records his burial 23 December 1927 age 102 years. Underneath the entry is a note: ‘Mr Cook held the living of Mamhilad for 70 years and also (vicar) Incumbent of Llanvihangel Pontymoile for 75 years. He was ordained in 1850. Truly a Record.’ At the time of his death he was described in the local press as ‘the world's oldest clergyman’; although this has not been authenticated it is believed that he may have been the longest serving parish priest in Wales.
Given the church’s beautiful location and the rural peace of the place, it is little wonder that Reverend Cook was reluctant to retire.

The Burial Register entry of Revd Christopher Cook

Sources
C.J.O. Evans Monmouthshire: its History and Topography (1953), p398.
Cadw Listing Report (Amended version) 2001.
Gwent Archives, D/Pa 26/10, burial register of Mamhilad Church.
Wikipedia sub Mamhilad (accessed: 31/05/2020)

Tony Hopkins 

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