St Mary's Church, Glyntaff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church |
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The church in 2017.
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| 51°35′47″N 3°19′21″W / 51.5965°N 3.3224°W | |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | Saint Mary |
| Consecrated | 29 October 1839 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 26 February 2001 |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Henry Wyatt |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1837 |
| Completed | 1839 |
| Construction cost | £2500 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 800 |
| Bells | Space for 2 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Pontypridd |
| Deanery | Pontypridd |
| Diocese | Llandaff |
St Mary's Church is a historic church located in Glyntaff, a village near Pontypridd in South Wales. It belongs to the Church in Wales and is the oldest Anglican church in the Pontypridd area. It used to be its own parish, but now it's part of the larger Parish of Pontypridd. The church is also a member of a local group called Pontypridd Christians Together.
For a long time, since at least the 1920s, St Mary's Church has followed an Anglo-Catholic style of worship. This means their services and traditions are similar to those found in the Roman Catholic Church.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
The church was designed by a famous architect named Thomas Henry Wyatt from London. He used some of the same building ideas here that he later used for another church in Wilton, Wiltshire. The church received a grant of £414 from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, a group that helped fund churches. Other local important people, like Hon. R. H. Clive and J. Bruce Pryce, also helped pay for the church, giving £400.
Early Days and Changes
Worship at St Mary's Church began on 22 April 1838. This event was even reported in a local newspaper at the time. The first vicar, or priest, of St Mary's was John Griffiths, who led the church from 1848 to 1875.
When the church first opened, its inside was very plain. It was designed to fit as many people as possible, even if it wasn't very comfortable. This was common for churches built with help from the Commissioners back then.
In 1906, the church got a big makeover. The inside was updated, and the seating became much better. They added a special wooden screen to create a chancel, which is the area near the altar. At the same time, new oak flooring, a wooden pulpit (where the sermon is given), and oak pews (benches for people to sit on) were installed.
Storm Damage and New Additions
The church's tower originally had a pointed roof, but a very strong storm on 27 October 1913 destroyed it. The roof was never replaced. The storm also caused a lot of damage to the vicarage, which is the house where the vicar lives.
In 1922, a new vestry was added to the church. A vestry is a room used by the clergy and choir. The church also has a memorial in its porch to remember those who served in the First World War. In 2001, St Mary's Church was given a special status as a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historic building that needs to be protected.
Recent Updates
In late 2022, some of the oak screen and pews were removed. This was part of changes being made so that another church group, Citizen Church, Cardiff, could also use the building.
The churchyard, which is the area around the church, has the grave of Gordon Lenox. He was a kind person who supported the church. His family owned a local company called Brown Lenox & Co Ltd, which made chains.
Location
St Mary's Church is located close to the main A470 road. The closest train station for visitors is at Treforest.
See also
