Brecon Cathedral

Brecon Cathedral

officially known as the Cathedral Church of St. John the Evangelist, is a significant and historic ecclesiastical building located in the town of Brecon, Wales.

Here are a few pictures of this lovely cathedral.

Here's a brief overview:

• History: The site has been a place of worship for centuries. The current building was originally founded as a Benedictine Priory in 1093 by the Norman nobleman Bernard de Neufmarché. It served as a priory church until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1537, when it became the parish church for the town of Brecon. It was not until 1923, with the creation of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon, that it was elevated to the status of a cathedral.

• Architecture: The cathedral is primarily a Gothic-style building, with much of the current structure dating from the 13th and 14th centuries. It features a central tower and a unique walled close, which is the only one of its kind in Wales. The architecture is a blend of medieval craftsmanship and later restoration work, including a Victorian-era restoration by Sir George Gilbert Scott.

• Notable Features:

  • The South Wales Borderers Chapel: The cathedral has a strong connection to the military, and a chapel within the cathedral serves as the regimental chapel for the South Wales Borderers. It displays regimental colours and other artifacts, including those from the Battle of Rorke's Drift.

  • Celtic Font: A rare and beautiful Celtic font, older than the cathedral itself, is a testament to the site's long history as a place of worship.

  • The "Wreath of the Immortelles": A wreath made of everlasting flowers in honor of the 24th Regiment of Foot (the South Wales Borderers) who fell at the Battle of Isandlwana.