Holy Cross Church, Port Talbot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Cross Church |
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| Chapel of Ease | |
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| 51°35′28″N 3°46′09″W / 51.59116°N 3.76908°W | |
| Country | Wales |
| Language(s) | English |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 28 April 2000 |
| Architect(s) | Edward Haycock Sr. |
| Years built | 1827 |
| Closed | 2008 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 500 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Margam |
Holy Cross Church, also known as the "Chapel of Ease," is an old church in the Taibach area of Port Talbot, Wales. It was built in 1827. Before the M4 motorway was built in the 1960s, the church was in the middle of a busy neighborhood. Now, it's very close to a big motorway junction.
The land for the church was given by C. R. M. Talbot, who owned the Margam Abbey estate. He wanted a church for local people who couldn't easily go to Margam Abbey for worship.
Contents
Building the Church
The church was built in 1827 by an architect named Edward Haycock Sr.. Its first vicar, or priest, was William Bruce Knight. The church was part of the Margam parish and served as a chapel of ease for Margam Abbey. It was big enough to hold 500 people.
Upgrades and Changes
Later, after St Theodore's Church, Port Talbot was built, Holy Cross Church became a smaller part of the new Taibach parish. In 1903, the church was improved by architect G. E. Halliday. It was made grander to become a full parish church, and a special screen called a rood screen was added.
Famous Connection
Did you know that the parents of the famous actor Anthony Hopkins were married at Holy Cross Church? This happened in 1936.
Why the Church Closed
The church closed its doors at the end of December 2008. This happened because part of its ceiling fell down. In 2009, the Archbishop of Wales, Barry Morgan, officially said the church was no longer needed for regular services.
What Happened Next?
The churchyard has graves of soldiers who died in wars. These graves are looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
There was a plan to turn the church building into a private house. However, many people who had family buried in the churchyard didn't like this idea. So, a new plan was made to change the building into a chapel of rest instead. A local funeral director took over the chapel in 2016.
