after the sixteenth century, monmouth was a centre for recusancy. the town had, in 1773, one of the highest proportions of catholics in england and wales. the penal laws against catholics were relaxed in 1778, through the papists act, and monmouth magistrates were petitioned to erect a "public catholick chapel in the town". one of the petitioners, michael watkins, was then the landlord of the robin hood inn in monnow street, where mass had been celebrated hitherto in an upper room. lobbying resulted in permission being given for this church three years before a similar church in chepstow. however, because of a local by-law aimed at making nonconformist and catholic buildings as inconspicuous as possible, it had to concede that the building should not look like a church. the entrance was not allowed to open on to the highway and catholic worshippers were required to arrive at the chapel one at a time. the church was originally set back discreetly from the road, concealed by a row of cottages. the cottages were demolished in bucknall's rebuilding, after discrimination against catholics had been eased.