Hay
St John's Chapel
Founded of ancient time
St John's Chapel, also known as Church Evan, is one of the earliest
religious foundations in Hay. It is entirely separate from the
parish church of St Mary.
The oldest known documentary reference to the chapel was in a
survey of Chantry Chapels in Wales ordered by Henry VIII in 1545.
In a reference to the parish of Hay it was recorded that "there
is within the same parish one chappell called Saynt John's Chappell
founded of Auncyente tyme by whom it is not known".
The chapel may have been an existing Celtic church which was taken over by the Normans when they reached Hay around 1100. The alternative name of Church Ifon or Church Evan may have come about as the Anglicised version of Ioan, the Welsh for John.
Sketch map
showing the defensive
town walls, and the
location of St John's
within the enclosure
The
original parish church of St Mary, built around 1115, lay close
to the first motte and bailey earthworks
castle constructed by the Normans when they took Hay around
1100. This was on the western side of the present town close
to the River Wye. A more substantial castle
was needed later to house an enlarged garrison, and this was
built around 1200 on high ground at the centre of the town.With the addition of the defensive town walls in 1236 the church of St Mary was cut off from the enclosed settlement, so it is possible that St John's may have been built around this date to serve those within the town walls. As shown on the sketch map, St John's Chapel was at the heart of the once walled town, whilst the parish church of St Mary was well beyond the south western gate, on the banks of the River Wye.
There are 4 pages on St John's Chapel. Use the box links below to view the other pages.
