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.
The church is to be found in the centre of the village which is 3.8km south east of Cowbridge along the A48 then south on a country road.
Reference AA Route Planner OS Map 170 Historic Wales Listing notice 13170
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.
St Hilarius was a C4 Bishop of Poitiers in France; this is the only church in Britain dedicated to him – the church has C12 origins. The south aisle was added in C14 and the tower in C16. In 1862 Mrs Charlotte Louisa Traherne appointed Sir George Gilbert Scott to the restore church, her husband, the vicar, was drawing up plans when he died and the restoration was carried out in his memory. Gilbert Scott refenestrated the church in the Decorated style adding thew south porch and reroofing the south aisle and nave. The contractor was Messrs James & Price of Cardiff and the work cost £2,600. In 1900 William Weir engaged in further restoration on behalf of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, the contractor was W A Fonmon and the cost was £300.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Historic Wales Listing notice 13170 Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
The church was constructed with limestone rubble with a red clay tile roof which was replaced by William Weir with Welsh slate with cross finials at the gables. The windows were restored in a thoughtful but variety of styles by Gilbert Scott. The south porch has a stone slab roof, coped gables with a cross finial. The two-storey tower has a moulded plinth, angle buttresses, it is joined to the nave with quoin stones cut to shape.
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.
The pointed chancel arch is the earliest feature of the church. The aisle arcade is of 4-bays with 2-centred arches and two big continuous hollow chamfers carried down to the piers without interruption. While the tower arch is 2-centred with a wave and two hollows which suggests that the present tower had a predecessor. Behind the altar is a fine alabaster altar piece intimately related to the east window. Over the nave roof and south aisle is a crown and post roof with pitch pine – a style more associated with the west country and rather out of place here. The font is Norman while the other fittings date from Gilbert Scott’s restoration. At the east end of the south aisle is a recumbent effigy of Thomas Bassett (d 1423). The stained glass: ‘’Christ carrying the Cross’, Cox & Sons, 1853; ‘Ascension between Noli me Tangere and Pentecost’, Clayton & Bell, 1862; ‘Scenes from the Life of Christ’, Clayton & Bell, 1872. There are six bells, two cast in 1734 by Abraham II Rudhall, three cast in 1906 by John Taylor & Co and one cast by the same firm in 1999.
Reference
Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Historic Wales Listing notice 13170 Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004 A National Bell Register - George Dawson's Website - Homestead
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.