St Michael’s Church, Tintern

St Michael’s  Church, Tintern

This is a far earlier Christian site than the famous Tintern Abbey. Situated where there used to be a ford crossing point on the River Wye it sits high on the bank above the river. Today it is an oasis of calm amongst the tourist points near the Abbey. Clearly loved and open for prayer, the whole atmosphere was permeated in peace and a beautiful soft presence of God settled over me as I saw two white wings wrap around me. We were hidden in the shadow of His wings in this sanctuary of rest. As I waited in God’s presence I had a fleeting vision of someone wiping another’s feet and the sense that this was a place of humility and service, as well as prayer. I pondered the fact that Tintern Abbey was established a few hundred yards downstream, 350 years after the church. Could it have been a spiritual well of prayer reopening? Just a thought.

The Celtic saint who founded the church was Tewdrig, a King of Gwent who renounced his title to live here as a hermit. However in AD630 invading Saxons were attacking monasteries and he came out of seclusion to fight for the church. The site of his church was an important Roman crossing point on the Wye before the monks of the Abbey crested a weir downstream and the water level deepened.

Access:   OS ref:SO 531007

There is a small carpark adjacent to the church by the riverside.