Cathedral Plan and Guided Tour
helping you on your visit to the Cathedral
ST WOOLOS
HANGING ROOD ABOVE CHANCEL
THE EAST END AND SANCTUARYPlan of the cathedral showing
where you can find some of the points of interest
Click or touch the green star icon to take you to more detail as well as selected images.
We have highlighted a number of features that you will find as you explore the cathedral. You will see a good number of others – there are too many to include here. You may be able to ask about them.
This has been the site of a place of worship, a church, since about 500 AD. It’s believed to have been where Gwynllyw, St Woolos, was commanded to build a chapel to make up for his earlier life as a brigand. It has, of course, changed hugely since then but still remains a special place, at the heart of Monmouth Diocese.
The Narthex
Entering the cathedral there is a large enclosed porch or Narthex, forming the base of the tower. To your left you will see the door to the bell ringing chamber and the tower. The cathedral has 13 bells – with a 14th being installed towards the end of 2023. Bellringers call this a ‘ring of 12’!
During the year there are occasional opportunities to climb the tower to the top, to get a magnificent view of Newport and beyond.
The double doors ahead of you are decorated with engraved glass images – St David and St Gwynllyw (Woolos).
The St Mary (or Galilee) Chapel
The Galilee Chapel, also known as the St Mary Chapel, has the very oldest foundations, being the site of Gwynllyw’s earliest church. It was restored to its present form in the 13th Century. As you enter you will see the baptismal font, which is mostly Victorian but has an original Normal shaft, as well as a fragment of Normal font basin.
Baptism marks our entry into the family of the church, in the Christian faith.
Each side of the Norman Arch you will see icons – on the left is Mary, Mother of Jesus, while on the right is the Christ. These were painted, here in the cathedral by Christinel Pâslaru and are valued by many as aids to meditative prayer.
You can get more detail from this leaflet.
Towards the far left-hand end of the Mary Chapel is a memorial to those in the South Wales Borderers who gave their lives in WW2, with a Book of Remembrance.
One of the glories of the cathedral is the beautifully preserved Norman Arch leading into the nave. The delicate carvings clearly date from the 11th century as do the intriguing sculpted details forming the capitals of the columns at each side. Interpreting the symbols depicted has resulted in a number of differing opinions.
The candle stands, each side of the arch, allow visitors to light a candle as a gesture of love, thought, remembrance or prayer for someone they care for. You are very welcome to do so, and to sit and hold that person in your heart for a few minutes.
The Nave or body of the church
Norman pillars, simple and solid, dominate the nave. Each capital is slightly varied from the next. The corbels above the arches would have supported the lower, original roof. The clerestory windows, likewise, would have given outside light. A walk down the central aisle leads to the modern inlaid nave altar, with choir stalls beyond.
This altar was made in 2020. Its design reflects the arches along the nave. We gather round the table as we remember the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The roof, built (as was often the case) in the manner of an upturned boat, was renovatedbetween 2011 and 2017, with the earliest timbers being dated to 1402, making this one of the oldest existing roofs in England and Wales.
The organ as it is now incorporates various parts from the previous organ, and pipes from Newport’s former Town Hall. There are four manuals (keyboards). The ‘works’ are located across the nave behind the Crindau Chapel.
The North Aisle
The North Aisle, situated to your left as you stand in the Nave facing the East End, contains a number of features. Perhaps the most prominent is the Crindau Chapel – strictly, the name given to the whole of the North Aisle. Above the simple concrete-block altar you will see some of the organ pipes, behind which is situated much of the organ mechanism.
To the left of the Crindau Chapel a door leads to the private areas of the cathedral and the Processional Way. To the left of the door you will see a stained-glass window bearing, in the centre, the arms of the Morgan family. You will also see the inscribed memorial to Octavius Morgan, nineteenth century antiquarian and younger brother to the House of Tredegar.
Look to the west end of the North Aisle – a large stained-glass window shows the story of the presentation of children to Jesus as he welcomes them.
The South Aisle
Walk across to the west end of the South Aisle to find the partially restored tomb of Sir Walter Herbert, who died in 1568. Passing the cathedral shop (opening hours are on this website – please do call in if it’s open) note the 15th century piscina set into the wall, and the medieval squint, a narrow opening allowing people a view of the High Altar.
Along the South Aisle are three stained-glass windows depicting Gwynllyw and his family; Sts David, Maches and Caradog; and the story of the Good Samaritan.
On the pillar nearest to the East End you will see a statuette of Gwynllyw. This was given in memory of Archbishop Morris’ son who died in a car accident.
As you move towards the East end of the South Aisle you see the St Luke Chapel, formerly known as the Presentation Chapel. Above the small altar the stained-glass window depicts the Presentation of the child Christ in the Temple. The connection with St Luke comes from the former daughter-church of the cathedral, St Luke’s in Bridge Street.
As with some other areas of the cathedral the layout, decor and furnishings are changed from time to time. This photo dates from about 2010.
The Chancel and Choir
The Chancel. leading to the area around the High Altar was traditionally separated off from the Nave by a high partition called a Rood Screen. Few churches retain that, nowadays but many have some appropriate symbol. Here you will see, suspended above, the Crucified Christ. Fabricated in black wire by Singaporian artist Tay Swee Siong, it was installed in 2020, and was chosen as the special ‘Cathedral Treasure’ to represent this cathedral.
The modern Canons’ stalls line the Chancel. A medieval tradition has been carried on by the present-day carpenters, Robert Thompson of Kilburn, of including a carved wooden mouse each side. Can you find one, or both, of them?
On the right, nearest the High Altar, is the Bishop’s stall, slightly set apart.
Before reaching the Canons’ stalls you will see the choir stalls.
The cathedral has a very active choir. The young Choristers, girls and boys, sing regularly at Services, and enjoy free musical education as well as many social activities. The back rows are for the altos, tenors and basses.
The East End of the Cathedral
The east end of the cathedral is an extension, completed in 1962, to make the former parish church more cathedral-like.
The East End of the cathedral, known as the Sanctuary (in medieval times this was a haven where fugitives were immune from arrest), is the setting for the High Altar. This is dominated by the east window and the full-height reredos or ornamental screen covering the back wall. Both these were designed in 1960 by John Piper who fulfilled many other commissions in cathedrals and churches at that time. The marbling effect of the mural has proved, and remains, controversial.
The window mirrors the traditional Celtic crosses found across Wales.
On the left side of the Sanctuary is a small window which was originally sited nearer the back of the church, as it then was. It is referred to as the Leper window, with the interpretation that lepers, forbidden from entering the building, could watch proceedings.
Introductory remarks
Dean Ian Black writes:
“Welcome to Newport Cathedral, dedicated to our local saint Woolos (Gwynllyw). This has been a house of prayer and worship since the 5th century. It was founded by Gwynllyw, a king/tribal leader from South Wales. A 12th century biography describes him having a vision of a white ox with a black spot on its forehead. Wherever he found the ox, he was to build a church. Gwynllyw was the father of another Welsh saint, Cadoc, and some say he was the father of Petroc too, who founded churches in Cornwall. Gwynllyw’s wife Gwladys, is also remembered for founding a church near Basseleg.
The church has been in continuous use since the 5th century and this makes it one of the oldest Christian sites in Wales. It is now the Cathedral (the Bishop’s principal church) for the Church in Wales Diocese of Monmouth, created in 1921.”