The name or dedication of the church.
This identifies the church type. Most churches are parish churches which means they serve a specific parish or area. Other types such as chapel, daughter and mission are mostly historic designations as many are now also parish churches. Please note that former churches are no longer used for worhsip and may be in private ownership.
A unique identification number given to every church.
The name of the diocese in which the church is located.
The name of the archdeaconry in which the church is located.
This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.
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There are 3 levels of listing: Grade I, II* & II. The majority of buildings which are of special interest are Grade II. A much smaller number of particularly important buildings are listed as Grade II*. Buildings of exceptional interest (approx 2% of the total number of listed buildings) are Grade I.
Ancient monuments and archaeological remains of national importance are protected by law. Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service is responsible for compiling a schedule (list) of these ancient monuments, some of which can be found in churches and churchyards. Examples can include churchyard crosses and the archaeological remains of previous churches or buildings on the site.
There are three National Parks in Wales: Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons. These protect 20 percent of the land in Wales, including precious landscapes, habitats, villages and heritage sites.
There are over 500 conservation areas in Wales. They are designated by local planning authorities for their special architectural and historic interest.
The Buildings at Risk register is managed by Cadw (the Welsh Government’s historic environment service) in order to identify the number and type of listed buildings at risk in Wales.
It is often extremely difficult to determine a precise date of construction for a church as many have been extensively altered over time. Church Heritage Cymru therefore shows a date range within which a church is believed to have been constructed. The dates are as follows: Early Medieval (pre 1066), Medieval (post 1066 to 1540), Post Medieval (1540 to 1837), Victorian/Pre WWI (1837 to 1914) and Modern (post 1914).
This is a very brief summary of the church's main features. More detailed nformation can be found in the other fields and pages (tabs) in this database.
Useful information is displayed here for people wishing to visit the church. This may include things like opening hours, catering & toilet facilities, parking, etc.
If the church has its own website the details will be displayed here.
Any further sources of information for the church will be listed here (eg. links to other historic databases).
This is the Ordnance Survey (OS) reference for the location of the church. Some locations will be approximate as this data is continuously being refined and updated.
This is the name of the Local Authoirity within which the church is located.
This describes how the church relates to its immediate and wider environment, sometimes called its setting. It describes how the church contributes to its landscape or townscape and how these things collectively contribute to the character of the area.
Ewenny is 2.4km south of Bridgend along the B4265.
Reference AA Route Planner OS Map 170
This is a description of the ground plan of the church.
If known, the dimensions (measurements) of the church ground plan will be displayed here.
If the footrprint (area) of the church is known, it will be displayed here.
A description of the history and archaeology of the church and its site.
The Norman Earl William de Londres built a church which was consecrated by Bishop Urban of Llandaff. In 1141 his son, Maurice confirmed the gift of the church along with those at St Brides Major and Ogmore chapel with all their possessions to St Peter’s Abbey in Gloucester (now the cathedral) ‘in order that a convent of monks might be formed’. Maurice’s tombstone in the Abbey calls him the ‘founder’. The architectural evidence suggests the building shows a pre-1126 church which was enlarged for monastic use after 1141. The main fabric is C12 while the south porch and north aisle are C16. The priory suffered during the revolt of Owain Glyn Dŵr as the Prior helped organise local resistance to him. When Henry VIII Act of Supremacy became law in 1534 there were two monks and the prior and in 1535 the priory was valued at just under £79. After Dissolution the eastern part of the building was neglected while the western part, west of the chancel arch was used as the parish church. The building was acquired by Carnes who formed a large house out of the conventional buildings but left the church part alone. Work of restoration started in 1820 but the main work began in 1870 under the direction of Lt Col Thomas Picton Turbervill with advice from Prof Edward Freeman, two of the three buttresses were removed, the interior of the presbytery was repaired and reglazed and all signs of white wash were removed. The old oak screen was repaired and encaustic tiles covered the floor. Between 1875 and 77 the nave was restored, the box pews were removed and replaced by open benches, the present pulpit was erected on the north side of the nave and the tower was restored. In 1895-6 restoration was undertaken by John Thomas Micklethwait of London. He built a new north aisle, narrower than the C16 one and more in keeping with the Norman aisle. The Tudor porch was taken down and moved to a new position, masonry blocking up the arcade was removed and the floor lowered to its original height so exposing base of the arcade pillars. The flat plaster ceiling was removed and the plain oak roof raised to its original height. A new vestry was built on the site of the ruined north transept. The contractor was the Turbervill estate workforce, the coast was £1000 and the church reopened on 29 September 1896.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Historic Wales Listing notice 11251 Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004 Abbeys & Priories of Medieval Wales Janet Burton and Kate Stöber 2015
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
The building is in the Romanesque style built with rubble stone which was formerly lime rendered with ashlar dressings all under a slate roof. There is a nave with a north aisle and north porch.
Reference
Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Historic Wales Listing notice 11251 Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004
Information about any noteable architects, artists, people, or events associated with the church.
Information about any important features and building fabric.
If known, a list of the church's major building material/s will be displayed here.
Any renewable energy systems the church is using will be listed here.
This section gives a general description of the interior of the church. Further details of any important internal fixtures and fittings will be listed below.
Information about the church's important internal fixtures and fittings.
Information about the church's important moveable items and artworks.
A description of the ecology of the churchyard.
Information about the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.
Records whether the church has been consecrated.
Records whether there have been burials in the churchyard.
Records whether the churchyard is still being used for burials.
Records whether there are any war graves in the churchyard.
Any important churchyard structures will be listed here.
Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship of the church to its surrounding area and helps place it within its wider landscape context.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the significance of the historic building fabric of the church.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the historic significance of the interior of the church.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship between the church and its community.