Bishton


Bishton or Bishopston is a small rural community in the east of the city of Newport, South Wales. It lies in the Llanwern electoral district and contains the eastern end of Llanwern Steelworks, the Underwood estate as well as Bishton itself. The population in the 2011 census was 2,181; dropping to 2,137 in 2011.
The name is said to derive from "Bishop's Town", as the village has been alleged to the sometime home of the Bishops of Llandaff. Owain Glyndŵr destroyed the palaces at Bishton and Llandaff, from which time the episcopal palace was moved to Mathern. Bishop John Pascall died here of the plague in 1361.

Government

The area is governed by the Newport City Council and the Bishton community council.

St Cadwaladr's church

Bishton church is the only church is the country dedicated to Cadwaladr, although it is possible that St Mary's Church, Magor also was originally dedicated to him. Cadwaladr was the last Welsh ruler to call himself King of Britain and he earned the title "blessed" for his peaceful disposition. He died of the plague in 664 AD.
The original decorated and perpendicular church was damaged in 1760 when part of the tower collapsed into the nave. Considerable rebuilding and restoration was required. The north porch is a 19th-century addition. Whilst some of the lancet windows are original, the east window, the west tower window and the two south windows to the nave are Victorian insertions. The origins of the chancel arch are unclear and it seems to have been reconstructed from earlier stonework, incorporating medieval corbel heads of a monk, a nun, a man and a woman. The stoup is located near the north door. The font is a late medieval piece. The stained glass to the east window, which depicts Christ as the Light of the World and as the Good Shepherd, dates from about 1915. The church was designated as a listed building, Grade II, in 1963.
Use of the Welsh language in services continued at the church until 1828.
Sunday Worship is held at 11.00 am, on the 1st and 3rd Sundays and the Local Pastoral Contact is Rev Celia Jones.