History
The church in Wenvoe was built in the 13th century. In 1699, its tower was moved from the original northern side to the west. In 1869 or 1876 the church was thoroughly renovated and rebuilt in Victorian style. In 1930, the sacristy was added from the north and in 1989-1991 the northern arm of the transept.
Architecture
The church of St Mary was built in the center of the settlement, above a stream flowing through it in an east-south arch. Originally, it consisted of a rectangular nave, a narrower and lower rectangular chancel east of the nave, and a quadrangular tower. The latter was originally located rather unusually, on the north side of the chancel, while the nave faced west with a triangular gable. A porch preceded the nave entrance on the south side. A separate, narrower portal was located for the priest in the south wall of the chancel.
Lighting of the church was primarily provided by narrow, pointed-arch windows with trefoil-shaped openings. Traditionally, the eastern chancel window, larger, more ornate, and filled with tracery, could be distinguished to illuminate the main altar. The original tower was likely a simple structure, devoid of any large windows and topped by a battlemented parapet, thus possessing defensive features.
Inside, a rood arcade, probably with a pointed arch, separated the nave from the chancel. Another arcade may have opened from the chancel onto the ground floor of the tower. It is possible that in the late Middle Ages, the nave was separated from the chancel by a timber rood screen, very popular in 15th- and 16th-century Wales and England. Most likely, no part of the church was covered with vaults. As in most Welsh rural parish churches, an open roof truss or possibly wagon roof must have been used.
Current state
The original layout of the church is disturbed due to the displacement of the tower in the 17th century and its enlargement with a modern sacristy and the northern transept. A large part of medieval architectural details was also replaced (portals, window jambs, roof truss), and some, such as narrow, pointed-arched windows with trefoils, were renovated in the 19th century.
bibliography:
Newman J., The buildings of Wales, Glamorgan, London 1995.
Salter M., The old parish churches of Gwent, Glamorgan & Gower, Malvern 2002.