Taking advantage of the tolerant religious atmosphere following the Restoration of Charles II, he told the local vicar frankly that "he had kept a priest in Oliver Cromwell's time, and would keep one now".

[4] Like most Catholic landowners he failed to anticipate that the outbreak of the Popish Plot would force the King, despite his own pro-Catholic leanings, to insist on stricter enforcement of the Penal Laws.

[5] The laity were reminded that harbouring priests was a crime, which carried the death penalty, although neither Gunter nor any other Catholic layman was actually prosecuted for this offence.

In 1678, with the outbreak of the Popish Plot, a Jesuit priest, David Lewis was arrested at St Michael's Church, Llantarnam.

A mural showing the Adoration of the Magi was found and given to the Abergavenny Castle Museum along with the original door from the front entrance.