St. John the Baptist
Click on picture for location of church.
The Church of St. John the Baptist is the parish church of Skewen. It has served the people of Skewen and Neath Abbey for almost 175 years since its consecration in 1850. It is a fine example of the style of the famous Victorian architect Augustus Pugin. It was designed in 1848 by the architect R. C. Saunders but executed in 1849-1850 to a modified design by Egbert Moxham.
It has a steep-gabled nave with lean-to aisles and cusped spherical-triangle windows in the clerestory. The three sanctuary stained glass windows and the south-east window in the south aisle are probably by Clayton and Bell and depict scenes from the life of Christ. The six stained glass windows in the aisles and baptistery date from c1950-70. The fine carved oak chancel screen is a memorial to those men of the parish who were killed in the First World War.
In 1937 Bishop Timothy Rees dedicated the present outstandingly beautiful high alter and matching alabaster mosaic reredos. The outstanding fittings of the church are the marble pulpit and matching marble font. The former given by Mrs. Catherine Jones of Rockfield House, Neath Abbey and the latter by her adopted niece Miss Katherine Thomas. The fine brass eagle lectern was given by the wife of Howel Gwyn, the first church warden. The floor is covered with tiles made by the distinguished firm of Godwin of Lugwardine, Hereford. All this makes an interior of great beauty to replicate on earth the beauty and majesty of God.
The Church holds records for Baptisms, Weddings and funerals. Skewen and District Historical Society members have compiled a record of all identifiable graves in the churchyard.
St John’s has a Mothers’ Union branch which meets monthly in Tŷ Santes Fair.