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For over 400 years monks of the Cistercian order worshipped and worked at Tintern until the Abbey was dissolved in 1536. The buildings fell into ruin but some of the fallen stone-work remains, including fragments of a remarkable statue of the Virgin and Child dating from the late 13th century. The surviving pieces of the statue are damaged beyond repair and hardly anyone knew they existed until recently.

Now, nearly 500 years later, a project to replace the statue by recreating the original as faithfully as possible by detailed research has been completed.

Prayer of Our Lady of Tintern

The new statue was carved at the Abbey from local Forest of Dean stone by the sculptor, Philip Chatfield, who used only hand tools and medieval techniques. The project was undertaken with the permission and encouragement of Cadw, custodians of the site, under the patronage of the Abbots of Belmont and Caldey, and the Bishop of Monmouth. The statue is now permanently installed in the south aisle of the Abbey and can be seen by visitors.