Service Times
Sunday
11:00am – Holy Communion (2nd Sunday)
11:00am – Morning Prayer (4th Sunday)
Accessibility
| Parking | Small dedicated car park, but on-street parking is usually available nearby. Closest spaces approximately 40 metres from church entrance. |
| Churchyard paths | Entrance from the car park has a even slope up to the main entrance. There is a ramp at the main entrance. Paths can be uneven in places due to age and weathering. Significant steps at two of the other entrances. |
| Door Access | The main entrance doors are wide enough for a standard wheelchair, though assistance may be needed with opening. |
| Inside Church | Two steps up to the chancel and altar. Ramp can be places before altar. Floor can be uneven in places. Room for wheelchairs at the back of the nave. |
| Accessible Toilet | Unfortunately, there is currently no accessible toilet on-site. |
| Induction Loop | There is no induction loop in this church. |
History
Llanfapley church is first mentioned in c 860, and has a unique Celtic dedication. St Mabli’s church is mostly of 15th Century origin and was restored and reseated in 1861 by A. M. Wyatt of Monmouth. There were later fittings by E. M. Bruce Vaughan of Cardiff dated 1904. A major restoration took place in 2008/9 which included the renewal of the stone tiled roof, application of a lime slurry coat to the walls and the upgrading of the rainwater goods. This restoration was supported by Cadw and the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
The Church is constructed in stone with a pitched roof over the Chancel and the Nave and a tower to the west end. There is a south porch and internally the walls are finished with lime render dressed around the quoin stone. There is a wagon vaulted roof over the Nave and Chancel. To the west end of the church there is a ringing room at the base of the tower and to the North there is a small lean-to Vestry.
St Mabli’s is a Grade II star listed church and is regarded as a well preserved medieval parish church with fine tower, original window tracery and good interior details. These include roofs, piscina and later pulpit with communion rails.
More information about St Mabli’s Church can be found on the Church Heritage Cymru website. Click here to go to CHC website.
Llanvapley Church has two bells in the tower. Only one of them is currently used. The second bell has two hairline cracks in the top of the bell possibly caused by corrosion of the iron staples used to hold the clapper inside the bell. Both of the bells were made by John Palmer I of Gloucester (1621-38). Reference is made to an earlier survey by Brown Willis which took place between 1740 and 1752 in which he records the presence of 3 bells at Llanvapley. John Palmer I was the founder and there are examples of bells throughout the county of bells cast by John Palmer I e.g. a 1635 bell at Llanbadoc, a 1627 bell at Caldicot (now recast) and a 1623 bell at Penrhos. The IP on the inscription is John Palmer and he was succeeded by his son John Palmer II who was much more prolific casting 37 bells in total for churches throughout the county