Church Heritage Cymru

Church Heritage Cymru 5417

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St Teilo, Bishopston

Name:

The name or dedication of the church.

St Teilo, Bishopston
Record Type:

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.

Parish Church
Church code:

A unique identification number given to every church.

5417
Diocese:

The name of the diocese in which the church is located.

Swansea and Brecon
Archdeaconry:

The name of the archdeaconry in which the church is located.

Gower
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

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Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

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.

This is a Grade II* Listed Building
Scheduled Monument?

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 is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

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. 

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

There are over 500 conservation areas in Wales. They are designated by local planning authorities for their special architectural and historic interest.

The church is in the following Conservation Area: Bishopston

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Buildings At Risk Status

On Buildings At Risk Register?

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. 

This church is not on the Buildings at Risk Register
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Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

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).

Medieval

Exterior Image

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Summary Description

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.

Very much a suburb of Swansea the Bishopston valley is a delightful wooded limestone cleft leading to a beach. The fields still show evidence of strip farming. Reference The Encyclopaedia of Wales

Visiting and Facilities

Useful information is displayed here for people wishing to visit the church. This may include things like opening hours, catering & toilet facilities, parking, etc. 

The church is open for worship.
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Church Website

Church Website:

If the church has its own website the details will be displayed here.

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Sources and Further Information

Any further sources of information for the church will be listed here (eg. links to other historic databases).

View information on worship and access at this church on the Church In Wales web site
RCAHMW (2004) Coflein http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/13495/details/ [Digital Archive/Document]
http://www.coflein.gov.uk/
GGAT (2016) Historic Environment Record http://www.cofiadurcahcymru.org.uk/arch/query/page.php?prn=GGAT00311w [Digital Archive/Data]
http://www.ggat.org.uk/her/her.html
Paul Baker (2017) Bishopston Church plan [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Bishopston Church plan

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.

Grid Reference: SS 578 893

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Church address

Address
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
St Teilo Bishopston SWANSEA SA3 3JT

Administrative Area

Unitary Authority:

This is the name of the Local Authoirity within which the church is located.

Abertawe - Swansea

Location and Setting

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.

Bishopston is now a commuter village on the edge of the Gower some 10 km southwest from Swansea City Centre.  The church is best approached along the Swansea Bay Sea front as far as Blackpill and then taking the Gower turn there over Clyne Common.  Situated in a wooded valley close to a stream the church is at the northern end of the village and seems to be built into the hillside.

Church Plan

Bishopston Church plan
Caption:

The name/dedication of the church to which the plan refers.

Bishopston Church plan
Description:

A brief description of the plan. eg. who created it and where it came from.

Year / Date:

The date the plan was created.

2017
Copyright:

The details of any copyright are displayed here.

Chris Stevens
Originator:

The name of the person who inputted the plan.

Paul Baker

Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

This is a description of the ground plan of the church.

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Dimensions

If known, the dimensions (measurements) of the church ground plan will be displayed here.

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Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

If the footrprint (area) of the church is known, it will be displayed here.

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Description of Archaeology and History

A description of the history and archaeology of the church and its site.

The Church is on the site of one of the earliest Christian Foundations in Wales AD 450-490 when St Teilo  established a church hidden in a dell above the stream.  The church belonged to the Bishop of Llandaff from 1130 until 1920, the current church is probably C12 or C13.  The tower is thought to have been defensive, to protect the Anglo-Normans against the Welsh.  The porch was added in 1851, along with a new west door and was part of the restoration by Thomas Penrice of Kilvrough.  The church furnishings were replaced by Revd Peter Potter in 1896.  Many of the windows are mid- late C19 and of yellow stone.  The tower parapets were probably battlemented in C19.  In 1927 a major restoration and refurbishing was undertaken by W D Caröe at a cost of £2600.  The roof was thatch until 1831.

References

Cadw Listings Notice

Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001

Church Quinquennial Inspection Reports

Exterior Description

A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.

The church has a nave and chancel, with a south porch and a short thick-set west tower.  It is constructed of rubble stone masonry under stone tile saddleback roofs.  There is no particular style to the church but probably is a C12-C13 original build.  The tower is unbuttressed with a corbel table and embattled parapets enclosing a pyramidal roof with a cupola.  Within the tower is a west doorway under a pointed arch.  The large clock on the west wall of 1850 is by C & G Mears and is said to have come from  a Swansea Brewery.  The porch provides entrance into the nave through panelled double doors.  The north nave wall has a Decorated  trefoil-headed lancet to the far left, there is a blocked round-headed doorway now buttressed flanked by C19 windows similar to those on the south wall and late C20 square windows to the far right.  On the south side of the chancel is a blocked priest's door with 2-centred head left of centre, to its left is a  small round-headed lancet and to the right a pair of similar lancets.  The three-light east window is mid-late C19, Perpendicular in style with head-bosses to hoodmould.  There is a single lancet to the north side with a shallow pointed head.

References

Cadw Listings Notice

Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001

Church Quinquennial Inspection Reports

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

Information about any noteable architects, artists, people, or events associated with the church.

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Building Fabric and Features

Information about any important features and building fabric.

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Building Materials

If known, a list of the church's major building material/s will be displayed here.

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Interior Image

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Interior Description

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.

A seven-bay arch-braced roof is probably C15 and covers the nave, the shallow-pointed chancel arch is slightly asymmetrical and shows evidence of a former rood screen.  There is a panelled roof over the chancel.  A short round tower arch leads to the west gallery up stone steps.  The gallery has a panelled front.  This gallery provides access to the organ (the organ by Blackett and Howden of Newcastle 1927 has been replaced with an electric organ) and to the first floor of the tower.  There is a massive mediaeval font on a round stem with a lead lined square bowl and base.  Also a pine altar table  with ornately carved oak altar rails.  The pulpit is also ornately carved in oak with cross detail. There is a brass eagle lectern.  These fittings were from the W D Caröe restoration of 1927.

The stained glass in the east window shows 'The Crucifixion with St Teilo and St David' (Given in memory of men who died in the First World War. The window cost £142, paid for by public subscription with a donation from the Bishopston Sailors' and Soldiers' Fund), it is by Robert J Newbury 1929. ' On the south wall two lights show 'St Simon and St Jude' dated 1924. 'St Mary Magdalene and St Martha with local scenes' is by John Edwards 1969.  A three-light window with an arch in the colours of the rainbow flowing out of a fountain in the central light, and local buildings in the outer lights with a Celtic-Christian wheel cross is shown in the upper central light celebrated the Millenium 2000  by Celtic Studios.  On the south wall is 'The Candle' window by Glantawe Studio 1993.  'St Iudocus' the patron saint of the countryside was made in 1962.  On the north wall of the nave 'St Teilo Riding a Stag' by John Edwards, also on that wall from the 1980's 'Angels' by John Edwards  who also designed 'St Francis Teaching the Animals' 1988.  Also by him is the 'Peace Window' of 1995.

References

Cadw Listings Notice

Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001

Church Quinquennial Inspection Reports

Stained Glass in Wales

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

Information about the church's important internal fixtures and fittings. 

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Portable Furnishings and Artworks

Information about the church's important moveable items and artworks.

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Ecology

A description of the ecology of the churchyard.

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Ecological Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

Information about the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

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Burial and War Grave Information

Records whether the church has been consecrated.

The church/building is consecrated.

Records whether there have been burials in the churchyard.

The churchyard has been used for burial.

Records whether the churchyard is still being used for burials.

The churchyard is used for burial.

Records whether there are any war graves in the churchyard.

The churchyard has war graves.

National Heritage Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

There are no Listed Buildings within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this Parish Church

Churchyard Structures

Any important churchyard structures will be listed here.

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Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

Moderate
Setting Significance Description:

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.

Visible from the road into the Gower
Fabric Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

Moderate
Fabric Significance Description:

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.

A pleasant sympathetically restored medieval church
Interior Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

Moderate
Interior Significance Description:

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.

A good collection of C20 stained glass around a W D Caröe restored building
Community Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

Moderate
Community Significance Description:

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. 

A well used parish church - sponsors of the Lamplighter Bookshop in the village.

Church Renewables

Any renewable energy systems the church is using will be listed here.

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Species Summary

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the Parish Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

"Seek Advice" Species

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

If any of the following species have been seen close to the Parish Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the Parish Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the Parish Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the Parish Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this Parish Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

Refresh
WhoActionWhen
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Summary DescriptionSun 07 Apr 2024 09:54:47
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Asset AddressSun 07 Apr 2024 09:52:11
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Interior DescriptionMon 10 Jul 2023 11:35:00
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Exterior DescriptionMon 10 Jul 2023 11:34:25
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Archaeology and History DescriptionMon 10 Jul 2023 11:34:02
Paul BakerAdded a plan of the buildingThu 01 Jun 2017 11:26:42
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Interior DescriptionTue 04 Apr 2017 11:55:49
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Interior DescriptionMon 03 Apr 2017 11:57:01
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Exterior DescriptionMon 03 Apr 2017 11:55:25
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Archaeology and History DescriptionMon 03 Apr 2017 11:52:45
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