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The
name Mitchel Troy is
derived from the Welsh name Llanfihangel
Troddi which means St
Michael by the Trothy. The River Trothy
rises in Glen Trothy, three miles east of Llanvihangel Crucorney,
then wanders mostly south to pass a field north of the church |
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before flowing into
the Wye a mile below Troy House. On the opposite wall is a
stained glass window and brass plate to the Revd. Everett, who
supervised the restoration. The architect was John Pritchard,
the Diocesan architect, who with his partner, JP Sneddon,
restored Llandaff Cathedral. Outside at the base of the tower
is a stone inscribed 'Orate Peo Godfride
et Johanne' which is said to be a
foundation stone. Members of the Beaufort family were officers
of the church in the 19th century. Henry George Talbot was
vicar 1825-67; he was the son of the Dean of Salisbury and was
married to the daughter of the 5th Duke. He was succeeded by
Boscawen Somerset, 1867-74. |
INSIDE
THE CHURCH
The elaborate
font, decorated with netted fish and water lilies, was installed at
the reconstruction and is to the left of the South door. To the
right is the old Norman font which was found in the Rectory
shrubbery some years ago.
There are
some interesting stone corbels. On the south wall is an otter with a
fish it has just caught. In the middle of the north wall are some
flowers and to the right of the entrance to the organ chamber are
some wheat and hops. On the outside of the organ chamber five
decorations show: an owl, a daffodil, a hawk or kestrel, a flower
and a nest of small birds being fed by their mother. Above the nave
the corbels are alternately the Beaufort device (a portcullis) and
the Cross of St George (at the time of the reconstruction the church
belonged to the Church of England).
At the
reconstruction an ancient stone altar was found buried at the end of
the South aisle. It was in two pieces, of different stone. The five
consecration crosses representing the five wounds of Christ were
also of two different styles. The slab was remounted under the East
window of the South aisle to serve as an altar for the Lady Chapel.
Under it is a rather decayed old tombstone which was brought into
the church in an attempt to preserve it. It was to Philip Stead,
churchwarden in 1723; it read:
Life is
unsartin
and death is shuer
sin is the wound
Christ is the cuer.
Also found
was a stone which had been used as a piscina but when turned over
was found to be the lid of a child's coffin of early date. This has
now been set in the wall of the South aisle.
At the end of
the North aisle is a black marble slab incised with a reproduction
of the Last Supper by Michaelangelo. It has been crudely mounted in
an old communion table.
In 1876 on
the choir stalls were erected carved figures of angels playing
musical instruments, presumably taken from Psalm 150. Unfortunately
these were stolen in March, 1995. They have now been replaced by
finials depicting oak, ash, holly, ivy, hawthorn and bramble, carved
by John Nethercott and Co. of Hereford and Presteigne.
In the tower
are three ancient bells. They are inscribed:
1. G
Tyler: H Williams: C Warden EE 1710
2. CACHMAI: Tyler: William: Tucker: Churchwarden 1656
3. Wm Robinson Rector: Phil Stead: Ch Warden EE WE 1723.
The second
bell is interesting as it dates from the Commonwealth when the
rector had been elected and the church was served by John Hardwicke
whose tomb, inscribed 'preacher of God's word' lay on the South side
of the chancel.
STAINED
GLASS
Opposite the
entrance is a window to the Revd Everett. In balanced positions in
the North and South aisle are windows to the two army Lieuts. Trower
who died in the South African wars. Nearby is a brass plaque to Lt
CJ Trower, RN who also died in South Africa.
At the West
end of the Chancel are windows to the wife and daughter of the Revd
Talbot.
The East
Window represents the Ascension.
In the South
wall is a window to the wife of the Revd. Sneyd, who gave the Lady
Chapel in memory of his son.
At the West
end is a window to General EH Somerset, of the Beaufort family, who
died in 1886. Nearby are plaques to his son and daughter who died in
1866 and 1883.
OUTSIDE
THE CHURCH
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The lych
gate is roofed in graded stone.
There is a churchyard
cross, probably of the 15th century, which is missing the cross
and top. It is decorated with ball flowers which are repeated on
the pulpit and reredos.
In the
spring the churchyard is rich in flowers - snowdrops, primroses,
crocus, wood anenomes, daffodils, cowslips, marguerites, red
campions, sweet violets, herb robert, lilac, clover.
FF 1996 |
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