Garway - Church of St Michael

St Michaels Church (Historic Churches Trust), stands in a remote and beautiful situation above the Monnow, was the property of the Knights Templar from about 1180 to 1308, when the Order in England was dissolved.

Garway then passed to the Hospitallers or Knights of St John. The Templars' churches were often round, in memory of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, and here at Garway their church consisted of a round nave - the foundations of which can be seen on the north side of the later rectangular one - a chancel, and a south chancel.

The odd external appearance of the church, is due to the fact that the massive 13th century tower, built on a different axis from the church, was originally detached from it, and only later joined by a low passage. The tower may indeed have been built as a refuge from the marauding Welsh, and it looks like a castle. The nave is filled with solid and primitive pews dating from the 16th or 17th century the chancel arch - part of the Templars' church - is strikingly decorated behind it are the stone stairs leading to the now vanished rood-loft. In the chancel is much 17th century woodwork, and the medieval altar-slab, with its consecration crosses, has