Marcross

 

Holy Trinity Church Marcross
 
An ancient Church situated in the heart of the village of Marcross.
Eucharist is held on the first Sunday of the month at 6pm from late spring to Autumn.
 
What to expect
A small friendly congregation who always have a warm welcome for anyone wishing to join them.  On odd occasions we are known to extend the service to include a glass of wine and a chat. 
The Church is simple, so its advised to dress warmly. The church is left unlocked and access is down a slightly sloping wide path, suitable for wheelchairs.  There is a step into the church from the porch , but there is a ramp available at the entrance, and the congregation are always willing to help anyone to their seats. Parking is minimal, but there is space along the roadside opposite. 
 
About the building
History
The Church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity and was built in the early part of the 12th Century. It consists of chancel, nave, south porch, and a western tower containing one bell.
 
In 1254 it was a rectory valued at 5 marks and this value increased to £10 in 1291 (Taxatio Ecclesiatica) Three hundred years later it was valued at £10-12s-6d in (Valor Ecclesiaticus) and by 1771 the living was worth £130 and the incumbent was Reverend Edward Carne with the Dean and Chapter of Llandaff as its patron. By 1835 it had a value of £211.
 
The church was restored in 1893 and work included new roofs on the nave and chancel, a new pulpit, lectern, holy table, altar rails, and chancel seats. The nave was completely re seated with open benches to replace the old pews and a new east window was inserted together with a new window on the north side of the nave, two new windows on the south side and an old window on the west end of the tower was opened out. The church was re opened for services on Tuesday 16th January 1894.
 
Chancel Arch
The unique semicircular chancel arch is Norman and springs from square abaci. The roll moulding on the western edge of the arch follow the curve and at the top changes into five bold chevrons. There is a low rood screen wall probably of 14th century origin which has rebated for a door and this reduces considerably the width of the passage from the nave into the chancel.
 
Chancel Windows
The east window is of 19th Century insertion and consists of three trefoiled lights filled with plain patterned glass with red and yellow diamond inserts. The chancel is lit on the north side by a deeply splayed trefoil lancet and on the south side by two small trefoil lancets one of which is divided by a transom with the lower half shattered forming one of the rare ‘lepers’ windows in the diocese. This is also know a the Sanctus window.
 
Font
This is Norman and large with a circular bowl with roll moulding on its rim and lined with lead. Made of Sutton stone it is situated in the centre of the nave near the south door. This position was suggested by Miss Olive Talbot in the restoration in 1893.
 
Porch
The south doorway is Norman and has a single arch which springs from capitals decorated with leaf foliage. The porch is 19th century but done in a 14th century style with a little trefoil in the apex. The porch has scrolled stops and there is a plain cross on the apex. The porch has stone benches on either side and there is a mural tablet to the memory of Francis Gamage who was rector here for 48 years. He died in 1728 and his body is buried on the south side of the chancel. The tombstone was removed during the restoration in 1893
 
Tower
The Tower which is 14th century is tall and robust with a saddle back roof whose gables are surrounded by plain crosses. It houses a single bell which is blank and does not show any inscription or bell founder’s mark. The whole church still retains traces of the white wash once common on the Vale churches.
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Memorials
Just south of the centre of the chancel floor is an incised sepulchral slab of Sutton stone probably in memory of an early 13th century incumbent. On it is carved a beautiful Old English cross with an open bible on the right and a chalice on the left symbolising the word and the sacrament. It was unearthed by workman in 1893 when the church was undergoing its restoration.
 
Registers
The registers date from 1730 and can be viewed in the Parish Office at St Iltyds Llantwit Major.
 
Churchyard
In the churchyard is the base and fragment of the shaft of a medieval cross now surrounded by a modern bronze sundial.
 
The remains of the Reverand John Williams MA of Jesus College Oxford and his wife Ellen Louisa who was the daughter of the Reverand Robert Carne of Dimlands House Llantwit Major and the rector of Llanmaes lie interred beneath the east window of the chancel. He was rector for nearly 37years and died in 1869.
 
Acknowledgements ‘Medieval Churches of the Vale of Glamorgan ‘ by Geoffry R Orrin.
 
Feel free to pop in and enjoy the calm and peaceful atmosphere.  You can find us if you follow the signs to Nash Point, and Holy Trinity is on the right hand side in the heart of the village.
To contact us, please phone on 01446 792 439