St Fagan's Church, Trecynon facts for kids
St Fagan's Church (also known as Welsh: Eglwys Sain Ffagan in Welsh) is a special church in the village of Trecynon. This village is close to Aberdare in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It's an Anglican church, which means it belongs to the Church in Wales. This church is so important that it has a "Grade II-listed" status. This means it's a building of special historical or architectural interest.
The church was first built in the mid-1800s. It was designed in a style called Gothic Revival. This style looks like the old castles and cathedrals from the Middle Ages. Sadly, the church burned down a few years after it was built. But don't worry, it was rebuilt and stands strong today!
The History of St Fagan's Church
The original church was designed by an architect named Thomas Talbot Bury. He was from London and had learned from a famous architect, A. W. N. Pugin. Building the church took about two years, from 1851 to 1853. It cost £1,795 to build.
However, on January 12, 1856, the church caught fire and was destroyed. It had to be rebuilt completely. The new building cost a lot more, around £5,000. Both times, the money for building and rebuilding came from a very generous person. Her name was Lady Harriet Clive. By 1856, she was a widow and known as Harriet Windsor-Clive, Baroness Windsor. She lived at St Fagans Castle near Cardiff.
In 1909, a tower was added to the southwest side of the church. This made the building even grander. Because of its history and special design, St Fagan's Church was given a heritage listing of Grade II on October 1, 1991. This protects it for future generations.
What St Fagan's Church Looks Like
The church is built in a style called "Decorated Gothic." Its walls are made of a type of stone called snecked Duffryn rubble. This stone has a rough, natural look. Smooth bath stone is used for decorations around windows and doors.
The church has strong, stepped buttresses. These are supports built into the walls to help hold them up. The roof is made of slate, a common material for roofs in Wales. The gables (the triangular parts of the walls at the end of the roof) have parapets, which are low protective walls. You can also see crucifix finials, which are decorative tops shaped like crosses.
Inside, the church has a large main area called a nave. This nave has four sections, or "bays," and is divided by aisles. There are round columns that support the roof. Beyond the nave is the chancel, which is the part of the church where the altar is. The chancel has three bays and also features circular columns.
