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.
Merthyr Tydfil is situated in the upper reaches of the Taff valley and occupies an area of land which rises from 100m to over 400m. It is on the A480 38km north of Cardiff. St David’s church in the town centre in an open churchyard on the corner of Church Street and High Street with a gabled west front on to High Street.
Reference AA Route Planner OS Map 160 Historic Wales Listing notice 11439
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 expanding population of the town especially of English-speaking folk produced the need for a new church to accommodate them. By 1840 it was clear that a new church was needed and designs were drawn up by David Vaughan for a Grecian style church but this was rejected in favour of a Gothic style designed by T H Wyatt and D Brandon from London. The foundation stone was laid on24 March 1846 by Lord James Stuart MP, the contractor was Joshua Daniel of Crickhowell and the cost was £4110. During 1868-9 restoration occurred under the supervision of the architect Edward Brigden, a large organ chamber was built on the north side of the chancel. The organ which had been install in 1854 in the west gallery was moved. The space under the gallery was turned into a lobby and the whole of the floor was covered by encaustic tiles. The lighting was improved by the installation of a brass coronae and ‘Gurney’s heating stoves were installed; the cost was £700. In 1930 old school buildings were incorporated into a church hall. The church is now part of a good group of public buildings in the town centre.
Reference
Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Historic Wales Listing Notice 11439 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 built with Welsh Pennant sandstone with bath stone dressings with a slate roof. It has an aisled nave, a south porch, a vaulted west porch and a lower chancel. To the north east and east are the church hall and vestry blocks. The west front has an openwork bellcote with a crucifix and a corbelled head stop making a significant impression on the town centre. It was the first church in Glamorgan to be built with a clerestory to provide more light in the main body of the church.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Historic Wales Listing notice 11439 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.
An unaltered interior with open-rafter trussed roofs – arch braced to the chancel and tie-beam to the nave, both having paster between the rafters. The is a tall moulded chancel arch with trefoil shafts and bushy stiff-leaf capitals. The 6-bay nave arcades have quatrefoil piers and moulded caps. The west gallery which was originally designed to accommodate 300 children has a trefoil-panelled front. In 1936 a new altar, pulpit, choir stalls and other furnishings were installed. The stained glass: ‘Scenes and Figures from the Bible’, A K Nicholston Stained Glass Studios, 1937; ‘The Resurrection’ Clayton & Bell,1860-1870; ‘Virgin and Child with the Burial of Sarah’, Clayton & Bell, c1860; ‘The light of the World’, 1907; ‘St David and St Tudful’, designed by Henry Wilson for Shrigley & Hunt, 1887; ‘Miriam and the Virgin Mary’, Clayton & Bell, 1874; ‘St Teilo and St Maelog’, Robert J Newbery, c1922; ‘Decorative Windows’, John Coates Carter, 1922; ‘Christian Symbols’, designer Rika Schrinner for Glantawe Studios, 2007.
Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Stained Glass in Wales Historic Wales Listing notice 11439 Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004
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.