The priory was dissolved under Henry VIII in 1536, and the monastic buildings were demolished or absorbed into private use. The church itself continued as the parish church, which is why its Norman nave, with its round-headed arches and chunky piers, survived when so many comparable priory churches did not. The west doorway is particularly fine: a recessed arch with zigzag moulding that dates to the original foundation.
Inside, look for the tomb of Henry Marten — the same regicide imprisoned in the castle — whose remains were brought here after his death in 1680. The church also contains fragments of a medieval wall painting and a monument to the Kemeys family, the local gentry who owned Chepstow Castle in its final centuries. The building is usually open during daylight hours and admission is free.