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 close to the river below and on the north side of the A48 on the north side of Church Street. Briton Ferry is on the south side of Neath 3.5km to the north along the A474, it is 11km west of Swansea along the A473 and 64km north west of Cardiff along the M4.
Reference AA Route Planner OS Map 170 Cadw Listing notice 23301
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.
A church was first mentioned here in 1254 and there are photographs of a gothic survival church of c1740. In 1870-1 repairs were carried out on the old church by Henry Francis Clarke of Briton Ferry. In 1891-12 the nave and chancel probably dating from the 1740 church were demolished and a new church was built on the same site but on a larger scale again under the direction of Henry Francis Clarke but under the overall direction of Henry Coates carter of Seddon & Carter. The foundation stone was laid on 30 July 1891, the church was to be used by the Welsh congregation. The contractor was Walter Dowland of Abergavenny, the cost was £1775 and the church was consecrated on 27 May 1892.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Cadw Listing notice 23301 Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004 Coflein NPRN 420953
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
This is a simple Gothic style church of nave and chancel under a single roof with north and south aisles under out shut roofs, there is a south porch and south tower. At the west end of the nave and north aisle and beyond the tower is a separate church hall. The whole church is now somewhat overshadowed by the high level A48 bridge. It was built from Pennant sandstone with a concrete pantile roof replacing an original slate roof. The three-stage tower is now the earliest part of the church probably C17 and it was constructed with rubble stone with a battered base. On the east side of the tower, it is possible to make out the shadow of the former church. The projecting battlements have embrasures with saddleback copings.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Cadw Listing notice 23301 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.
Steps inside the porch lead to double half lit doors with Gothic tracery above. The nave arcades are of timber of 4-bays on the south side and 7-bays on the north the piers have tall bases with diagonal struts which carry long, paired spine beams. A plain boarded screen separated the church form the church hall. The main roof has collar beams with raking struts above and further raking struts carried on the piers, the chancel has a three-tiered barrel roof. There is a c13 font with a round bowl with roll mouldings around the rim and base and it stands on a concave pedestal. In the chancel there is a plain panelled reredos with a central Gothic panel in high relief. The altar has a plain and simple arcade of 6x2-centered arches and was added in 1934. The Choir stalls have Gothic panelling to their ends and front and date from c1909. From c1905 is polygonal pulpit. The stained glass: ‘The Ascension’, J Wippell & Co Ltd, c1922; ‘The Virgin Mary with Phebe and Dorcus’, Celtic Studios, 1951; ‘The Crucifixion, S Belham & Co to a design by John Pollard Seddon, 1890s; ‘St Anne and the Virgin Mary’, J Wippell & Co Ltd, c1919; ‘The Adoration of the Shepherds’, Celtic Studios, 1966. The bell was cast in 1893.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Cadw Listing notice 23301 Stained Glass in Wales 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.