Look ahead for an arched stone doorway with heavy wooden doors and iron hinges-St John’s Church stands out with its weathered medieval style and a curious circle of glass above the entrance.
Welcome to St John’s Church! Imagine yourself standing here, just as townsfolk once did centuries ago, with the air filled with stories and secrets. This is the oldest church in Abergavenny, its stone tower and part of its nave dating all the way back to the 14th century. Picture the sun dipping low behind the hills and villagers hurrying in from the market as the ancient bell in the tower rang out to declare the curfew--reminding everyone it was time to close the town gates for the night.
Back then, this church was the heart of the town. But things changed dramatically when King Henry VIII set his sights on the monasteries. Monks packed their bags and the church was seized, but instead of crumbling into ruin, it got a surprising makeover. St John’s became the first grammar school in the whole county! Boys would rush through these doors, nervously clutching their slates, while schoolmasters watched over them as strictly as hawks. There must have been quite a few groans and whispers-maybe even a secret giggle or two when the teacher wasn’t looking!
By the 18th century, the tower was rebuilt, with some describing it as a “curious piece of antiquarianism.” You could say the builders gave it a quirky personality, like a medieval tower with a hint of mischief. For over 400 years, lessons echoed through these rooms, until finally, in 1998, the classrooms moved elsewhere and St John’s took on a new life again-this time as a mysterious masonic lodge. Imagine men in fine suits swapping passwords and stories by candlelight, the air thick with intrigue. Hidden within this lodge are four certificates from long-ago French prisoners of war, tucked away like buried treasure.
Today, what remains of St John’s-the tower and part of the nave-still stands as a monument to the many lives, laughs, lessons, and secrets that have passed through its doors. If these old stones could talk, I bet they’d have some pretty good tales to tell... with just the odd riddle thrown in for fun!
