Over its long history, the parish church of Redwick has been dedicated to several different saints; before 1875 it was St. Mary the Virgin and before that St. Michael the Archangel.
This is a large church for such a small village and has many points of interest. The building dates from the 13th and 15th centuries, although it may have 12th century origins. It was restored in 1875 when the architect John Norton rebuilt the west wall and inserted a large window.
As you enter the church, look for the mass dials inscribed into the buttress of the porch. Mass dials, also called scratch or tide dials, are simple sundials and are usually, but not always, found on the south side of churches. There are also two flood markers, indicating the height reached by the Great Flood of 1606/07.
As you explore the inside of the church, look out for the 13th century font, the carving of a green man, and the remains of a medieval rood screen (an ornate wooden screen separating the area around the altar from the nave) and rood loft (a balcony above the screen used for displaying a crucifix and the statues of saints).
There is also a full-immersion baptistery, an unusual feature for an Anglican church that may date from the 18th century, although it may have been added during the restoration of the church in 1875. As the church is built close to sea level, the baptistery naturally fills with water after heavy rain.
There are six bells in the tower, including two that date from about 1350. In 1987, the bells were removed and taken to Whites of Appleton, in Oxfordshire, for retuning. Two of the 18th century bells were discovered to be cracked and were sent on to the Whitechapel foundry in London to be recast. The bells were returned to Redwick and rehung in a new steel frame in 1991. The Bishop of Monmouth, The Right Reverend Clifford Wright, rededicated them on 8th May 1991.
St Thomas’ was one of only a few churches in Wales to suffer bomb damage during the Second World War, when the roof was damaged and windows blown out.
Opening times
Opening times may vary due to Covid-19.How to get there
By Public Transport
By bike
By road
More Information
For more information about St Thomas’ Church and the village of Redwick, visit the Redwick History Group website.