Mathern

INFORMATION

FontID: 05726MAT
Church/Chapel: Parish Church
Country Name: Wales
Location: Monmouthsire
Directions to Site: Located on the northwest side of the Mouth of the Severn, half way between Caldicot and Chepstow
One of several churches in Wales in which the church was built near a holy well. Tyrrell-Green (1928: 11) informs that "chapels were sometimes built either directly above holy wells or in such close proximity to them that a simple arrangement could be made for the water from the sacred spring to flow into a reservoir within the chapel. It is probable that these well-chapels were erected in the first instance to serve as baptisteries", which would account for the choice of this church site, as well as those at Llangibby, Llanwenog, St. Cleer near Liskeard and others.

REFERENCES

Tyrrell-Green, E., Baptismal Fonts Classified and Illustrated, London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge: The Macmillan Co., 1928