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 special church located in the village of Glyntaff, near Pontypridd in South Wales. It belongs to the Church in Wales. This church 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. St Mary's also works with other local churches as part of "Pontypridd Christians Together." The church has a long history of following an Anglo-Catholic style of worship, which means it has a traditional way of holding services.
History of St Mary's Church
The church was designed by a famous architect named Thomas Henry Wyatt from London. He started building it in 1837, and it was finished in 1839. The total cost was about £2,500. Some of the money came from a grant, and local important people also helped pay for it.
Church services began on April 22, 1838. The first vicar, or priest, of St Mary's was John Griffiths. He led the church from 1848 to 1875. When the church first opened, it was quite plain inside. It was designed to fit as many people as possible, even if it wasn't super comfortable.
Changes Over Time
In 1906, the church got a big makeover. The seating was improved, and new wooden features were added. These included an oak screen, oak flooring, a wooden pulpit, and new oak pews.
A strong storm hit the church on October 27, 1913. It destroyed the pointy top of the church tower, and it was never replaced. The storm also damaged the vicar's house. In 1922, a new room called a vestry was added. Inside the church's entrance, there is a special memorial to remember those who served in the First World War. In 2001, St Mary's Church was given a special "Grade II listed" status. This means it's an important historic building that needs to be protected.
More recently, in late 2022, some of the wooden screen and pews were removed. This was done to prepare the church for use by another group called Citizen Church, Cardiff.
The churchyard, which is the area around the church, has the grave of Gordon Lenox. He was a kind person who helped the church. His family owned a local chain-making company.
Where to Find St Mary's
The church is located close to the main A470 road. If you want to visit by train, the nearest station is Treforest.
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