St. Mary
Click on picture for location of church.
History
The church was built 1891-2 by H. Francis Clarke of Briton Ferry under the supervision of J.P. Seddon, at a cost of £1800. The present church replaced an earlier church, of which the tower was retained although there is evidence to suggest that there has been Christian worship and witness held at this site since the 6th century AD. The current chancel and nave were built to replace a smaller 17th century building. The Norman tower was heavily restored in the 15th century and the font and base of a churchyard cross are the only surviving features that can belong to such an early date.
Exterior
A simple Gothic style church with the nave and chancel under a single roof. The west end of the nave and north aisle, beyond the tower, is a separate church hall. In the west wall is a segmental-headed doorway inserted or renewed in 1891 with a replaced door. Above is a single narrow slit and a small square-headed belfry window with a moulded surround and hood. The other faces have similar belfry windows and narrow slits below, on the east side the shadow of the roof of the earlier church is visible.
The main body of the church is of snecked, rock-faced stone with brick dressings to pointed windows and doorways, and a concrete pantile roof replacing the original slate. The angle has a foundation tablet bearing the date of the building. The chancel has a pair of windows in the south wall and 3 stepped lights making up the east window. The north aisle has 5 groups of triple windows with a pair of windows at the east end.
The external grounds are lawned and contain numerous ancient gravestones as well as more recent memorial stones.
Interior
The porch has steps leading up to double half-lit doors with Gothic tracery. Inside, the nave arcades are of timber, of 4 bays on the south side and 7 bays on the north side where it is continuous with the hall at the west end. The piers have tall bases, diagonal struts and carry a long paired spine beams. The roof has collar beams with raking struts above and further raking struts below carried on the piers. The nave has a plaster ceiling. The chancel, which extends into the easternmost bay of the nave arcade, has a trefoil-section boarded ceiling. In the east wall of the tower is a plain round-headed doorway with plastered arch, above which is a deeply splayed window.
The font is probably 13th century. It has a round bowl with roll mouldings around the rim and base, and stands on a concave pedestal. The chancel has a plain panelled reredos, with a central Gothic panel in high relief, and was added c1929. A plain altar rail has a simple arcade of 6x2-centred arches, and was added in 1934. The choir stalls with Gothic panelling to the ends and front were added c1909. The polygonal pulpit was added c1905. In the south aisle is an alabaster tablet to Lewis Thomas (d.1817) and his wife Elizabeth (d. 1826) reclaimed from the earlier church. Several windows have stained glass. In the east window is an Ascension, unsigned but c1922 and German in style. In the south aisle is a group of 3 windows showing crucifixion, Mary and John, by S. Belham & Co of London to the design of J.P. Seddon in the style of William Morris. Another group of 3 windows in the south aisle has glass depicting the Virgin Mary in memory of the Reverend Walters (d. 1948) by Celtic Studios. In the north aisle is a single undated window by Celtic Studios showing an Adoration scene. St. Mary's has a Grade II listing.