Coordinates: 51°56′48″N 3°23′27″W / 51.94677°N 3.39086°W / 51.94677; -3.39086

Brecon
Welsh: Aberhonddu
Brecon, with St. Mary's church
Brecon  Brecon shown within Powys
Population	7,901 2001
OS grid reference	SO045285
Community	Brecon
Principal area	Powys
Ceremonial county	Powys
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BRECON
Postcode district	LD3
Dialling code	01874
Police	Dyfed-Powys
Fire	Mid and West Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Brecon & Radnorshire
Welsh Assembly	Brecon & Radnorshire
List of places: UK • Wales • Powys

Brecon (Welsh: Aberhonddu) is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901.^[1] It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre. Brecon is the third largest town in Powys.

History[link]

Early history[link]

In Roman Britain Y Gaer, Brecon (Cicucium) was established as a Roman cavalry base for the conquest of Roman Wales and Brecon was first established as a military base.

After the Dark Ages the original Welsh name of the kingdom in whose territory Brecon stands was (in modern orthography) "Brycheiniog", which later became Anglicised to Brecknockshire or Breconshire, and probably derives from the personal name of the Irish Brychan, the eponymous founder of the kingdom. The English name of Brecon town may also be derived from Brychan.

The Welsh name, Aberhonddu, means "mouth of the Honddu". It is derived from the River Honddu, which meets the River Usk near the town centre, a short distance away from the River Tarell which enters the Usk a few hundred metres upstream.

Before the building of the bridge over the Usk, Brecon was one of the few places where the river could be forded.

Coming of the Normans[link]

The confluence of the Honddu and the River Usk made for a valuable defensive position for the Norman castle^[2] which overlooks the town, built by Bernard de Neufmarche in the late 11th century.^[3]:80

Town walls[link]

Brecon's town walls were originally constructed by Humphrey de Bohun after 1240.^[4]:8 The walls were built of stone, with four gatehouses and was protected by ten semi-circular bastions.^[4]:9 In 1400 the Welsh prince Owain Glyndŵr rose in rebellion against English rule, and in response in 1404 100 marks was spent by the royal government improving the fortifications to protect Brecon in the event of a Welsh attack.^[5] Brecon's walls were largely destroyed during the English Civil War. Today only fragments survive, including some earthworks and parts of one of the gatehouses; these are protected as scheduled monuments.^[5]

Priory and cathedral[link]

About 250 m north of the castle stands Brecon Cathedral, a fairly modest building compared to many cathedrals. The role of cathedral is a fairly recent one, and was bestowed upon the church in 1923 with the formation of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon from what was previously the archdeaconry of Brecon — a part of the Diocese of St David's.

St. Mary's Church[link]

Saint Mary's Church began as a chapel of ease to the priory but most of the building is dated to later medieval times. The West Tower, some 27 m (90 ft) high, was built in 1510 by Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham at a cost of two thousand pounds. The tower has eight bells which have been rung since 1750, the heaviest of which weighs 16 cwt (815 kg). In March 2007 the bells were removed from the church tower for refurbishment.^[6]

Present-day Brecon[link]

Today Brecon is a thriving community and is popular as a holiday destination, being on the northern edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park, affording among the best views of the Brecon Beacons themselves, a range of hills, including Pen-y-Fan, the highest point in southern Britain at 886 m (2,907 ft). The latest Powys County Council (2011) estimate of the population of the town is 8,020.

Military town[link]

The east end of town also has two military establishments:

• Dering Lines, home to the Infantry Battle School (formerly Infantry Training Centre Wales),^[7] where infantry officers and Other Ranks are trained, and
• The Barracks, home to 160th (Wales) Brigade.
• Gurkha Company (Mandalay) is also based here.

Approximately 9 miles (14 km) to the west of Brecon is Sennybridge Training Area, an important training facility for the British Army.^[8]

The High Street, Brecon

Cattle market[link]

The west end of Brecon has a small industrial area, and recent years have seen the cattle market moved from the centre of the town to this area, with markets held several times a week.

Education[link]

Brecon has many primary schools, with a secondary school and further education college (Coleg Powys) on the northern edge of the town. Due to Brecon being a rural area, bus trips of over an hour are not uncommon for pupils making their way to school. The town is also home to Christ College, the oldest school in Wales, a private boarding and day school with a strong academic, sporting and musical tradition.

Transport[link]

Brecon is located near where the east-west A40 (Monmouth-Carmarthen-Fishguard) meets the north-south A470 (Cardiff-Merthyr Tydfil-Llandudno). The nearest airport is Cardiff Airport.

Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal[link]

The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal basin at Brecon, the northern starting point of the Taff Trail.

The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal runs for 35 miles (56 km) between Brecon and Pontnewydd, Cwmbran. It then continues to Newport, the towing path being the line of communication and the canal being disjointed by obstructions and road crossings. The canal was built between 1797 and 1812 to link Brecon with Newport and the Severn Estuary.

The canal in Brecon was redeveloped in the 1990s and is now the site of two mooring basins and the Theatr Brycheiniog.

Former railways[link]

The Neath and Brecon Railway reached Brecon in 1867, terminating at Free Street. By this point, Brecon already had two other railway stations:

• Watton – from 1 May 1863 when the Brecon and Merthyr Railway to Merthyr Tydfil was opened for traffic
• Mount Street – in September 1864, with Llanidloes by the Mid Wales Railway which linked to the Midland Railway at Talyllyn Junction. The three companies consolidated their stations at a newly rebuilt Free Street Joint Station from 1871.^[9]

Through services from the Midlands ceased in 1930, while services to Merthyr ended in 1958, Neath in October, 1962 and Newport in December 1962. Therefore, Brecon lost all its train services prior to the notorious "Beeching Axe".

Town twinning[link]

• Saline, Michigan, USA
• Blaubeuren, Baden-Württemberg, Germany (Blaubeuren is twinned with Brecknockshire, which is an area of Powys, rather than with the town of Brecon.)
• Gouesnou, Brittany, France

Points of interest[link]

• Brecon Beacons and National Park Visitor Centre (also known as the Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre)
• Brecon Cathedral, the seat of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon
• St. Mary's Church, Brecon
• Brecon Jazz Festival
• Brecknock Museum
• South Wales Borderers Museum
• Theatr Brycheiniog (Brecon Theatre)
• Christ College, Brecon

Notable people[link]

See Category:People from Brecon

• Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham – born at Brecon Castle in 1478
• Sarah Siddons – best-known tragedienne actress of the 18th century, born 1755
• Andy Powell – Welsh rugby union international number eight
• Roger Glover – bassist and songwriter with the band Deep Purple
• Thomas Coke – the first Methodist bishop, who previously had served as mayor of Brecon in 1772
• Medicine Head's Peter Hope-Evans
• Reginald Talbot, 8th Baron Talbot, MC (1897–1975), buried in Brecon cemetery
• Sam Hobbs – rugby union player with Cardiff Blues
• Nia Roberts – actress

Culture[link]

Brecon hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1889.

August sees the annual Brecon Jazz Festival. Concerts are held in both open air and indoor venues, including the town's market hall and the 400-seat Theatr Brycheiniog, which opened in 1997.

Bibliography[link]

• Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel (2008). The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6. 
• Pettifer, Adrian (2000). Welsh Castles: a Guide by Counties. Woodbridge, UK: Boydell Press. ISBN 978-0-85115-778-8. 

References[link]

External links[link]

• Brecon Town Council website

v t e Powys Principal settlements Brecon Builth Wells Crickhowell Hay-on-Wye Knighton Llandrindod Wells Llanfair Caereinion Llanfyllin Llanidloes Llanwrtyd Wells Machynlleth Montgomery Newtown Presteigne Rhayader Talgarth Welshpool Ystradgynlais Communities Abbey Cwmhir Aberedw Aberhafesp Beguildy Berriew Bettws Brecon Bronllys Caersws Carno Churchstoke Cilmery Clyro Duhonw Erwood Gladestry Glantwymyn Glasbury Guilsfield Kerry Knighton Llanbadarn Fawr Llanbrynmair Llanddew Llandinam Llandrindod Wells Llandrinio Llandysilio Llanelwedd Llanerfyl Llanfechain Llanfrynach Llangamarch Llangedwyn Llangors Llangunllo Llangurig Llangynidr Llangyniew Llangynog Llanidloes Llanigon Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant Llansantffraid Llansilin Llanwddyn Llanwrthwl Llanyre Llywel Machynlleth Meifod Merthyr Cynog Montgomery New Radnor Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Old Radnor Painscastle Penybont Presteigne Rhayader St Harmon Talybont on Usk Trallong Trefeglwys Tregynon Trewern Welshpool Ystradfellte Ystradgynlais Towns and Villages Abbeycwmhir Aber Clydach Aberbechan Aberbran Abercegir Abercraf Aberedw Abergwesyn Abergwydol Aberhafesp Aberhosan Aberllynfi Abermule Abernant Abertridwr Aberyscir Adfa Aithnen Arddlin Bacheldre Beguildy Berriew Bettws Cedewain Beulah Bont Dolgadfan Boughrood Bronllys Builth Wells Burgedin Buttington Bwlch Caehopkin Caersws Capel-y-ffin Carno Cathedine Cemmaes Road Church Stoke Cilmery Clatter Clyro Coelbren Commins Coch Crickhowell Criggion Crossgates Cwmdauddwr Cwmdu Cwmtwrch Cwrt y Gollen Derwenlas Dolanog Dolfach Dolyhir Dylife Erwood Esgairgeiliog Forge Four Crosses Gladestry Glasbury Hay-on-Wye Heartsease Heol Senni Kerry Knucklas Libanus Llan Llanafan Fawr Llanbrynmair Llanddew Llandinam Llandrinio Llandysilio Llanelwedd Llanfair Caereinion Llanfechain Llanfihangel Nant Bran Llanfyllin Llangadfan Llangammarch Wells Llangedwyn Llangors Llangurig Llangynidr Llangynog Llangynyw Llanllwchaiarn Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant Llansantffraed Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain Llansilin Llanwchaiarn Llanwrin Llanwrthwl Llanwrtyd Wells Llanwrtyd Llanymynech Llanyre Llawryglyn Llyswen Llywel Meifod Milebrook Morben Nant Glas New Radnor Newbridge-on-Wye Old Church Stoke Painscastle Pandy Pant-y-Dwr Partrishow Penegoes Pennant Penwyllt Penybont Pilleth Plas Esgair Pont Crugnant Pontdolgoch Pontrobert Sarn Sennybridge St Harmon Staylittle Sycharth Talerddig Talgarth Talybont-on-Usk Tirabad Trecastle Trefeglwys Tregynon Trewern Tylwch Van, Llanidloes Ystradfellte Castles Aberedw Castle Castell Dinas Castell Du Cefnllys Colwyn Castle Dolforwyn Castle Llangoed Hall Mediomanum Montgomery Castle Painscastle Powis Castle Tretower Castle Reservoirs and lakes Cantref Reservoir Clywedog reservoir Elan Valley Reservoirs Llangorse Lake Lake Vyrnwy

Charlotte Church
Church performing at Selfridges in 2005
Background information
Birth name	Charlotte Maria Reed
Born	(1986-02-21) 21 February 1986 (age 26) Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales
Origin	Cardiff, Wales
Genres	Pop, Celtic, classical, classical crossover, operatic pop
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Sony Music (1998-2006) Power Amp Music (2010-Present)
Website	charlottechurch.co

Charlotte Maria Church (born Charlotte Maria Reed; 21 February 1986) is a Welsh^[1] singer-songwriter, actress and television presenter. She rose to fame in childhood as a classical singer before branching into pop music in 2005. By 2007, she had sold more than 10 million records worldwide^[2] including over 5 million in the United States.^[3] In 2010 she was reported to be worth as much as £11m^[4] (though one 2003 report quoted her worth at £25m^[5]). She hosted a Channel 4 chat show titled The Charlotte Church Show. Church released her first album in five years, titled Back To Scratch, on 17 October 2010. She is also mentioned as one of the Bohemians in Ben Elton's musical We Will Rock You.

History[link]

Early life[link]

Charlotte Church was born Charlotte Maria Reed in Llandaff, a district of Cardiff, Wales. She was brought up as a Roman Catholic by her mother, Maria, who was separated from Church's biological father, Stephen Reed. Church was adopted by her mother's second husband, James Church in 1986.^[6] Her break came at 11 when she sang Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Pie Jesu" over the telephone on the television show "This Morning" in 1997, followed by her performance on ITV's Big, Big Talent Show in 1997.^[7] This led to concerts at Cardiff Arms Park, the Royal Albert Hall and opening for Shirley Bassey in Antwerp. She also received a vocal scholarship to Howell's School Llandaff in Cardiff where she started in 1998 after leaving The Cathedral School, Llandaff. She balanced performing and school with help from tutors for when she was on the road and said in many interviews that she was "just like every other girl her age".

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (February 2012)

1998–2005: Classical career[link]

Church was then introduced to the Cardiff impresario Jonathan Shalit, who became her manager and negotiated a contract with Sony Music. Her first album, Voice of an Angel, was a collection of arias, sacred songs, and traditional pieces that sold millions worldwide and made her the youngest artist with a No. 1 album on the British classical crossover charts.

Church appeared on PBS specials. Her self-titled second album also included operatic, religious and traditional tracks. One, the soaring and inspirational Just Wave Hello, was the centre piece of a millennium-themed ad campaign for the Ford Motor Company. The song's full-length video, featuring Church, won acclaim at the Detroit Auto Show and introduced her to new fans. The track reached No. 31 in Britain.

In 2000, she released Dream a Dream, an album of Christmas carols. It included Church's first foray into a more pop-influenced style in the title track Dream a Dream, borrowing the melody from Fauré's Pavane and featuring young American country singer Billy Gilman. Church also sang with Gilman in "Sleigh Ride" on his CD Classic Christmas.

In 2001, Church added more pop, swing, and Broadway with her album Enchantment. That year, Church made her first film appearance in the 2001 Ron Howard film A Beautiful Mind. Celine Dion was beginning a concert engagement in Las Vegas and was not available to perform the film's end title song, "All Love Can Be", so composer James Horner enlisted Church and the song was rewritten for her vocal range. Church also handled other vocal passages throughout the score.

In 2002, at 16, she released a "best of" album called Prelude, and took part in the Royal Christmas tour alongside Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, concluding her classical music career.

2005–09: Pursuing pop career; Tissues and Issues[link]

Charlotte Church signing her music single in 2005

In 2005, Church issued her first pop album Tissues and Issues. Four singles were moderately successful in the UK with "Crazy Chick" reaching no. 2, "Call My Name" number 10, "Even God Can't Change the Past" number 17, and "Moodswings (to Come at Me like That)" number 14. Although these were released in Australia as well, they failed to reach the same level of success there, and in March 2006 it was announced that there would be no US releases of Church's pop work until she had achieved a number 1 hit in the UK.^{[citation needed]} Tissues and Issues accounted for no more than 2% of her total sales.^{[citation needed]} Church's pop album was released in the U.S. through Amazon.com MP3 shop, and iTunes in 2009.

In April 2006, she performed three concerts in Glasgow, London, and Cardiff, in venues holding between 2,000 and 3,000 people; the dates at London and Cardiff were sold out. Supported by Irish band the New Druids, Church performed a mix of tracks from her debut pop album and a number of pop covers including Prince's "Kiss" and Gloria Estefan's "Rhythm is Gonna Get You". Though Church hinted at the possibility of a full tour in the future, none took place.

In November 2006, it was announced that she and Sony had parted ways. According to her publicist, this was a mutual decision reached after a series of meetings throughout the year, which were held since her five and later six album deal had come to an end. There was some speculation that Church had decided to take a break from her singing career, in order to focus on her television show. Others suggested that the performance of her pop releases in the charts also contributed to the decision.^[8] Soon, she became pregnant with her daughter, Ruby Megan Henson, and this was widely believed to have contributed to the decision.

In 2007, Church became Patron of the charity The Topsy Foundation UK,^[9] helping to raise awareness and funds for its work to support rural communities in South Africa, empowering people infected with and affected by HIV and AIDS, through medical care, social support and skills development.

Articles emerged in the UK press in March and April 2008 stating that she was still training classically and was contemplating a return to classical crossover at some point. Church has sung in religious services in Taizé. She has also performed before Pope John Paul II, Queen Elizabeth II, the Prince of Wales and Bill Clinton.

In June 2008, she again became pregnant, this time with her son, Dexter Lloyd Henson. In Church's latest interview, she mentioned she would be ready to work on more music a few months after she was fully recovered from her second pregnancy, and Dexter was a little bit older, though was not sure whether she would further develop her classical career, her pop career, or both as she loves both genres for different reasons, and plans to work on both genres but needs to be in a creative state of mind to continue work on her second Pop album. Church also mentioned that she has been working with a vocal instructor to keep her voice in check during, and after her second pregnancy, and while she has never put a focus on her body image, she would like to get back into the shape she was in before becoming a mother when she resumes work.

In June 2009, Church was interviewed for 'Hello!' magazine,^[10] and discussed her life since having her second child. She said that she was currently in the studio, resuming work on a new album. She mentioned that Henson had been strongly encouraging her to get back to work, and pursue her career that she has greatly missed since settling down.

[edit] 2010–present: Return to Music and Back to Scratch

This section may need to be updated. Please update this section to reflect recent events or newly available information, and remove this template when finished. Please see the talk page for more information. (April 2011)

Church appeared on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross on 13 March 2010, where she confirmed that she had already begun writing and recording her sixth studio album. Church also stated that the album was of a different sound to previous, more mature with a "kooky" vibe.

On 4 August 2010, Church made a new track, "Cold California", available to download from her Web site .^[11]

Church's new album, Back to Scratch, was released in the UK on 25 October 2010. The 14-track set has been produced by Martin Terefe. Back to Scratch was preceded by a single - the LP's title track - on 24 October. "Back to Scratch" was originally inspired "by problems facing a family member", but Church admitted in a press release that the song now has resonance to her own personal life following her recent split from Gavin Henson.^[12] Other tracks confirmed for the album include "Ruby", originally recorded by French singer Camille and written by Euston Jones, "Logical World", "Story Of Us", "Don't Think About It" and "Cup Of The Sun".^[12] Back To Scratch will also feature "The Actors", which Church performed on BBC One talent contest Over The Rainbow in May, and a cover of Joni Mitchell's "River".^[12] A video featuring a snippet of another song from the album, "Snow", is available to watch on the singer's YouTube channel and is currently streaming on her official Web site.^[12] On 6 September 2010 Church posted a short video to her official YouTube channel showing her being filmed for the video of the lead single and title track "Back to Scratch" in the background the song can be heard playing.^[13] It was announced on 13 March 2011 that Church had terminated her $3 million (£2 million)deal with Power Amp Music over promotional disputes. Her spokesperson released the following statement "All I can really say, because of the confidentiality issues, is that it was in Charlotte's financial interests to do so before the agreement entered the second year of its term. This is typical for these type of deals, which are investment deals rather than record deals. I can also say that the decision to terminate the term early, which suited both parties, was made well before the commercial release of the album." A spokesperson from the record label also released a statement saying "It didn't work out with Charlotte and that's fair enough. There was no falling out. It was a mutual decision. They decided to exit the deal."

The third single to be released from the album, Snow was released on 11 April 2011.

On 26 May 2012, Church premiered three new songs "The Rise", "How Not To Be Surprised When You're A Ghost", and "Say It's True" on BBC Radio with Bethan Elfyn. Church is also slated to perform at many musical festivals to promote her new material.

Acting and television career[link]

Church has made a number of cameo appearances on television. She appeared in the CBS series Touched by an Angel, starred in the 1999 Christmas special of Heartbeat, and in 2002 and 2003 she appeared on episodes of Have I Got News For You (the first time as the show's youngest-ever panelist; the second time as host). In 2005 she played herself in an episode of The Catherine Tate Show, in a sketch with the fictional character Joannie Taylor. In 2008 she appeared briefly in a sketch in Katy Brand's Big Ass Show.

In December 2005, for The Paul O'Grady Show Christmas pantomime, The Wizard of Oz, Church played Dorothy Gale.

In January 2010 for Hospital 24/7, Church made an appearance on the program finale, where she visits the Children's Hospital for Wales to launch the Noah's Ark Appeals campaign to fund the equipment in the new Critical Care Unit, which will help children needing high dependency, or critical & intensive care.

In the summer of 2006, Church began work on her own entertainment TV show, The Charlotte Church Show. After a pilot episode which caused some controversy and which was never released to the public,^[14] the series began on 1 September 2006 on Channel 4.

The show, hosted by Church and featuring two celebrity guests each week, involved a mixture of sketches, reality TV, interviews, extremely foul language, and music, as well as a recurring Welsh theme. The show has averaged 1.9 million viewers and 10% of the available audience, and on 6 October 2006, it was announced that Channel 4 paid Church a reported £1,200,000 for a further two series of the show.^{[citation needed]} According to her official website, the final series, originally planned for summer of 2007, was deferred until after Church gave birth.

Church won a British Comedy Award for "Best Female Comedy Newcomer" in 2006,^[15] and the 'Funniest TV Personality' award at the 2006 Loaded Magazine's 'LAFTA' awards.^[16] In 2008 she was nominated for the Rose d'Or Special Award for Best Entertainer.^[17]

In late June 2008, Channel 4 began showing trials for the series. It has since concluded its eight-show run. Church confirmed on 28 August 2008 that The Charlotte Church Show would return for a Christmas special, which aired on 21 December 2008. On Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Church revealed that the third series would be shown on Thursday nights beginning on 10 July 2008. The show ended after its third series.

Church was confirmed by the BBC in February 2010 to be one of the judges on Andrew Lloyd Webber's new West End revival show Over The Rainbow.^[18]

She made her silver screen debut in 2003's I'll Be There, co-starring and directed by Craig Ferguson. Church played the role of Olivia, the daughter of a washed-up '80s rocker from a one-night-stand, played by Ferguson. The film did not meet with widespread success, playing for only ten days in British cinemas and being released directly to video in the US. Church was also under consideration to appear in the 2004 film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera as the leading female character Christine Daaé but elected not to audition as it was specified she would have to lose weight before she could try out which she declined to do. The part eventually went to Emmy Rossum. Church also stated she had wanted the part of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series of films, however, at 14 she was too old for the part, which eventually went to Emma Watson.

Church sat in for Zoë Ball on BBC Radio 2's Saturday breakfast show on 10 and 17 September 2011

Personal life[link]

Church's personal life has often been portrayed in UK tabloid newspapers, inspiring the song "Let's Be Alone" on her album Tissues and Issues.

Church released an autobiography titled Voice of an Angel (My Life So Far) at 14, before the release of Enchantment and just after she had wrapped up her Dream a Dream Christmas CD. Her change of music direction is hinted at in the final chapter, "Turning Corners".^[19] She released a second autobiography titled Keep Smiling in late 2007, very different in tone from the first.

In 2002, she was photographed smoking; many members of her family were heavy smokers, making it difficult for her to quit.^[20] Her smoking habit was alluded to on the album Tissues and Issues, in "Confessional Song". Her weight gain has been mentioned.^[21] Church has been quoted as saying, "I'm happy with how I look. I like looking like this. Why change just to be like everyone else? What's the point of that?"^[22] In an interview with Reveal magazine in June 2006, she said, "I do look a bit of a heifer on telly and in pictures but that's because the camera puts pounds on you."^[23]

The press devoted much attention to Church's relationship with boyfriend Gavin Henson, a Welsh International rugby union player. At the end of 2005, she bought a property in her native Cardiff—for a reported £500,000—which she later sold for £900,000. The couple then bought a manor with a 20-acre (8 hectare) small holding in the Vale of Glamorgan in the village of St. Bride's Major. The couple mentioned marriage on talk shows and in the press^[24] but put off marriage while Church was pregnant.

In 2007, Church made another appearance on a British young people's rich list with Henson. They were ranked 49th-richest young people in Britain with an estimated joint wealth of £12 million,^[25] The couple bought a Princess yacht in spring 2008 for £800,000, named Sketchy, which is berthed at Swansea marina. In late 2009, returning from a day-trip in the Bristol Channel, Church called out Her Majesty's Coastguard to rescue their lost RIB tender.^[26] Church practices karate to keep fit.^[27]

On 20 September 2007, Church gave birth to daughter named Ruby Megan Henson.^[28] On 11 January 2009, Church gave birth to her second child, son Dexter Lloyd Henson.^[29][30] Church has stated she wants her childbearing days to be over by the time she is 32. She has also said she wants four to six children, whereas Henson wanted eight.^[31] The Daily Mail reported on 31 May 2010 that Church and Henson had split up.^[32]

In November 2011, Church testified before the Leveson Inquiry about the media intrusion into her personal life stating "I've been made a caricature for so long, and this person portrayed in the tabloids really isn't me. It's not the person I am, and it's had a massive impact on my career. As an artist, I find it hard to be taken seriously because my credibility has been blown to bits."^[33]

On 27 February 2012 Church accepted £600,000 in damages and costs in settlement of a lawsuit arising out of the News International phone hacking scandal. She had claimed that 33 stories about her that appeared in the News of the World were the product of illegal hacking into her family's voice mail. After the settlement was announced in open court she made a lengthy statement afterwards.^[34] She said, “I have also discovered that despite the apology which the newspaper has just given in court, these people were prepared to go to any lengths to prevent me exposing their behaviour. They are not truly sorry. They are just sorry they got caught.” ^[35]

Controversy[link]

Church has provoked controversy on some occasions with her comments and criticisms — in an interview with Davina McCall, she agreed being diplomatic was "not in her nature".^[36] At age 15 she was criticised for remarks she made about the behaviour of people in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks^[37]

The pilot episode of Church's talk show, The Charlotte Church Show, was unwelcome to some religious groups, as Church made comments about Pope Benedict XVI, calling him a "Nazi" because he was a member of the Hitler Youth and German Army.^[38] A distributor of religious books, CDs and other goods, Ignatius Press, removed Church's products from its catalogue.^[39]

In her video blog entry for 22 March 2007, Church referred to the UK's Eurovision entry, Scooch, as "absolute shit" and went on to say, "I've never seen shit like it, because Scooch really are shit." Russ Spencer of Scooch hit back, saying, "What a pity the voice of an angel has acquired the mouth of a sewer." Spencer's fellow band member Natalie Powers added, "As a mother of a young child myself I find her behaviour and language quite unacceptable. What kind of role model is this for a mum-to-be?" Church commented on her Channel 4 show, "They called me attention seeking ... then what's doing the Eurovision dressed as air hostesses?"

She has claimed she would be a better judge for the reality show X-Factor than any of the judges on the show. She becomes "annoyed" when their remarks are inaccurate, stating, "They just do not know the ins and outs of a voice or music."^[40]

In January 2011, in an interview with Esquire magazine, Church referred to Queen Elizabeth II as "an old woman who has no idea what's going on",^[41] but apologised within days.^[42]

Discography[link]

• Voice of an Angel (1998)
• Charlotte Church (1999)
• Dream a Dream (2000)
• Enchantment (2001)
• Tissues and Issues (2005)
• Back to Scratch (2010)

Filmography[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Charlotte Church

• CharlotteChurch.co - Official website
• The Charlotte Church Show - Official website
• Biography from BBC Wales
• Charlotte Church at the Internet Movie Database
• Charlotte Church discography at Discogs