St Bridget's, Skenfrith

Parish church of Skenfrith · Church in Wales

St Bridget's Church

Eglwys Sant Ffraid, Ynysgynwraidd

A small red-sandstone church beside the River Monnow, at the heart of Skenfrith for more than eight hundred years. Everyone is welcome, to a service or simply to sit quietly.

The nave of St Bridget's Church, Skenfrith, looking east between round stone pillars and rows of oak pews, under the arched timber roof, to the chancel and its stained-glass east window
Looking up the nave to the chancel and east window. J. Buchanan

Services and dates

Gwasanaethau

Sunday services are usually at 9.15am. Holy Communion is usually on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, with a visiting priest. On the first and third Sundays, Morning Prayer is led by members of the congregation: usually James Buchanan on the first Sunday and Jeremy Foster on the third.

Times sometimes change for festivals and for joint services with the other churches of the Grosmont Group, so please check the list above. Everyone is welcome, and there is no need to book.

Dates last updated 8 November 2026.

Children and families

Plant a theuluoedd

Children are very welcome at St Bridget's, at services and at any time.

There is also a regular afternoon for primary-age children and younger in Skenfrith Village Hall, with Bible stories, craft and a shared meal. The next date is in the list above, and places are booked through Carli at the Grosmont Group office (see Get in touch).

This October the church was filled twice for harvest: once for the parish's own Harvest service, and again when Cross Ash School brought its children and families for their Harvest celebration.

Inside St Bridget's Church, Skenfrith, decorated for harvest festival, with the stone font, lime-washed walls and flagstone floor
St Bridget's dressed for harvest festival. Ruthlin, Skenfrith

A short history

Hanes

St Bridget's has stood beside the River Monnow for about eight hundred years. The oldest parts date from the reign of King John, and a priest was here by 1207. Its squat tower carries a timber “dovecote” belfry, and Cadw lists it Grade I for its exceptionally good interior.

Inside are the carved tomb of John Morgan, last governor of the Three Castles, who died in 1557, and the Skenfrith Cope, a medieval embroidered vestment once found rotting on the communion table.

Read the full history of St Bridget's

Pen and ink drawing of St Bridget's Church, Skenfrith, seen across the weir on the River Monnow, by Warren Williams, 1899
Skenfrith Church from the Weir. Warren Williams, 1899

For more of Skenfrith's story, and more of Warren Williams's drawings of the village, castle and river, see the Skenfrith history page at Ruthlin.

Inside St Bridget's

Y tu mewn

Lime-washed walls, worn stone pillars and old oak pews, dressed with flowers through the seasons. Tap any picture to see it larger.

The nave of St Bridget's looking west, with rows of oak pews, round stone pillars and old brass lamps with glass globes on tall standards along the aisle
The old brass lamps down the nave, looking west. J. Buchanan
The chancel of St Bridget's: a three-light stained-glass east window above the altar with its green frontal, between faded painted texts on the plaster wall, under a hanging iron corona
The chancel and east window. J. Buchanan
Flowers in a white vase on the deep stone sill of a pointed leaded window, above old wooden pews, with a painted Commandment board to the left
Flowers on a window sill. J. Buchanan
Oak pews and round stone pillars in St Bridget's, looking across to the aisle and the painted Commandment boards
Pews, pillars and the Commandment boards. J. Buchanan
Small tables with patterned cloths and vases of roses set out in the aisle of St Bridget's, beneath two painted Commandment boards, beside a round stone pillar
Tables laid in the aisle. J. Foster
Harvest flowers, apples and hops along the carved oak pew in the corner of St Bridget's, beneath leaded windows and a wall memorial, with pampas grass in an earthenware pot
Harvest beneath the leaded windows. J. Buchanan
An arrangement of orange roses and white chrysanthemums in front of the stone pulpit at St Bridget's, with a green fall embroidered IHS
Autumn flowers at the stone pulpit. J. Foster
An enamel jug of teasels and garden flowers at the foot of a round stone pillar between oak pews in St Bridget's
Teasels and garden flowers by a pillar. J. Foster
Pampas grass in an old earthenware pot in a sunlit corner of St Bridget's, against carved oak panelling beneath a leaded window
Pampas grass by the carved panelling. J. Foster
Hops, apples, autumn leaves and a large flower arrangement laid along the stone steps beside the carved oak panelling for harvest
Hops and apples on the steps for harvest. J. Buchanan
Harvest apples, hops and autumn leaves laid along the stone step of a carved oak pew in St Bridget's Church, with a flower arrangement and a pot of pampas grass
Harvest apples, hops and pampas along the carved oak pew. J. Foster

Plan your visit

Ymweld

St Bridget's stands at the north end of Skenfrith village, a few steps from the ruins of Skenfrith Castle and the bridge over the River Monnow. A gentle walk takes in all three: the castle, then the bridge, then the church and churchyard.

St Bridget's Church, Skenfrith, in low winter sun: the red sandstone south porch with its open gate, the long stone-tiled roof, and the squat tower with its gold clock face and timber dovecote belfry
The south porch, where you come in, and the tower with its timber belfry. J. Buchanan
Open
Every day
Address
St Bridget's Church, Skenfrith, Monmouthshire NP7 8UG
Map
OS grid reference SO 456 203 · Get directions
Parking
On-street parking by the church, with more within 250 metres
Access
Level access to the main areas
Toilets
Accessible toilets nearby
Dogs
Welcome
Walkers
Walkers and cyclists welcome, with space to lock a bike

Visitor details as given on the church's National Churches Trust listing.

Look out for

Pen and ink drawing of Skenfrith churchyard with a woman on a bench beneath a great tree and a man at the gate, by Warren Williams, 1899
The churchyard
Pen and ink drawing of Skenfrith village and its stone bridge over the River Monnow, framed by trees, by Warren Williams
Skenfrith Bridge

Get in touch

Cysylltu

Church enquiries

For baptisms, weddings, funerals, or to share village or church news with the Skenfrith community, contact Carli at the Grosmont Group office: grosgroup.pa@gmail.com

Carli works a few hours each week; every email is read and answered.

Friends of St Bridget's

Local supporters who raise money to repair and care for the church building and its Cope. New Friends are always welcome.

Safeguarding

To raise a concern about the safety of a child or adult, see the Church in Wales safeguarding pages.

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.