The name or dedication of the church.
This identifies the church type. Most churches are parish churches which means they serve a specific parish or area. Other types such as chapel, daughter and mission are mostly historic designations as many are now also parish churches. Please note that former churches are no longer used for worhsip and may be in private ownership.
A unique identification number given to every church.
The name of the diocese in which the church is located.
The name of the archdeaconry in which the church is located.
This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.
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There are 3 levels of listing: Grade I, II* & II. The majority of buildings which are of special interest are Grade II. A much smaller number of particularly important buildings are listed as Grade II*. Buildings of exceptional interest (approx 2% of the total number of listed buildings) are Grade I.
Ancient monuments and archaeological remains of national importance are protected by law. Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service is responsible for compiling a schedule (list) of these ancient monuments, some of which can be found in churches and churchyards. Examples can include churchyard crosses and the archaeological remains of previous churches or buildings on the site.
There are three National Parks in Wales: Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons. These protect 20 percent of the land in Wales, including precious landscapes, habitats, villages and heritage sites.
There are over 500 conservation areas in Wales. They are designated by local planning authorities for their special architectural and historic interest.
The Buildings at Risk register is managed by Cadw (the Welsh Government’s historic environment service) in order to identify the number and type of listed buildings at risk in Wales.
It is often extremely difficult to determine a precise date of construction for a church as many have been extensively altered over time. Church Heritage Cymru therefore shows a date range within which a church is believed to have been constructed. The dates are as follows: Early Medieval (pre 1066), Medieval (post 1066 to 1540), Post Medieval (1540 to 1837), Victorian/Pre WWI (1837 to 1914) and Modern (post 1914).
The name/dedication of the church and its location.
A brief description of the image
The date the image was created.
Details of any copyright are displayed here.
The name of the person who uploaded the image.
This is a very brief summary of the church's main features. More detailed nformation can be found in the other fields and pages (tabs) in this database.
Useful information is displayed here for people wishing to visit the church. This may include things like opening hours, catering & toilet facilities, parking, etc.
If the church has its own website the details will be displayed here.
Any further sources of information for the church will be listed here (eg. links to other historic databases).
This is the Ordnance Survey (OS) reference for the location of the church. Some locations will be approximate as this data is continuously being refined and updated.
This is the name of the Local Authoirity within which the church is located.
This describes how the church relates to its immediate and wider environment, sometimes called its setting. It describes how the church contributes to its landscape or townscape and how these things collectively contribute to the character of the area.
St Bridget's Church is built on a small hill rising above the village of St Brides Major, and set within a typical circular Celtic Christian churchyard. It stands just off the main Bridgend to Barry road, the B4265.
The village is set within a small valley, which has grown up around the church, and now has a population of about 1000. On the main road is the village shop and pub, with St Brides Major Church in Wales Primary School a few hundred yards from the church. The setting is rural, with a number of farms both within the village and nearby. The Glamorgan Heritage Coast is about a mile south, with a popular beach at Southerndown.
The name/dedication of the church to which the plan refers.
A brief description of the plan. eg. who created it and where it came from.
The date the plan was created.
The details of any copyright are displayed here.
The name of the person who inputted the plan.
This is a description of the ground plan of the church.
St Bridget's Church consists of nave, chancel, sanctuary and large west tower, with a north porch and small vestry
If known, the dimensions (measurements) of the church ground plan will be displayed here.
If the footrprint (area) of the church is known, it will be displayed here.
A description of the history and archaeology of the church and its site.
Tradition has it that the first church and Christian community in this area was established by St Bridget of Kildare in c500AD, though there is no historical evidence to prove this. However, it is likely that a pre-Norman church was built on this site.
The earliest record occurs during the 12th century, when it is recorded that 'In the year 1141, Maurice de Londres gave to the church of St Peter of Gloucester, the church of St Michael of Ewenny, the church of St Bridget (St Brides Major)....' Various medieval documents show that the church remained in the possession of Ewenny Priory Church, who provided a vicar. The living (along with Ewenny Priory) passed to the Carne family at the Reformation.
Remaining Norman features are the chancel arch and possibly parts of the chancel and nave walls. The N doorway is in Norman style with a plain tympanum but is probably a reconstruction. The chancel S windows, and N window inside vestry, are C14. Perpendicular tower. Tudor window in N side of chancel, possibly a C17 insertion. The chancel roof may also be C17. The church was heavily restored by Egbert Moxham of Neath in 1854 at a cost of £1,000. This included replacement windows, the addition of the vestry and porch, a new nave roof, and new furnishings. The rood screen was removed at this time. The church contains an exceptional group of memorials and effigies, many associated with Dunraven. An incised sepulchral slab to Sir John le Botiler (c 1285) of Dunraven was relocated underneath the altar in 1854 and is not visible. It depicts a knight with crossed leg and rolled spurs resting on a wyvern. The associated stone coffin is on the S side of the chancel.
St Brides Major and the surrounding district is rich in history. The ancient track-way of Heol-y-Milwr (the Soldiers Way) was used by the Romans and later by the Normans to form a ready link with Ogmore Castle.
The leading Welsh bard of the day, Iorwerth Fynglwyd (c1480 - 1527) lived in the parish and is reputed to be buried within the churchyard. In 1815 Sir Thomas Picton, who was to die in the Battle of Waterloo, stayed with his brother-in-law, then vicar of St Brides Major, and took his last Communion in the church before leaving to join Wellington in Belgium.
Main sources: Cadw listing description and St Bridget's Church Guidebook
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
The dominent exterior feature of the church is the west tower, built in the 15th century, which looks out on the descending roofs of nave and chancel. It is one of the few angle-buttressed towers in the Vale of Glamorgan and consists of three stages. It surmounted by a pinnacled battlement.
he exterior of the church is mainly in Decorated-style with Perpendicular tower. W tower, nave, chancel, N porch, N vestry. Constructed of limestone with dressings of Sutton stone and grey sandstone, under a slate roof. The dominent exterior feature of the church is the west tower, built in the 15th century, which looks out on the descending roofs of nave and chancel. It is one of the few angle-buttressed towers in the Vale of Glamorgan and consists of three stages of coursed masonry. Stepped angle buttresses, plinth with string course. Further string course below upper stage. Corbelled battlements, finials rising from angles with gargoyles below. Pointed arched W doorway containing a planked door with strap hinges. Set in a square-headed sandstone surround, with 4 orders of mouldings and recessed sexfoils and daggers. The base may be original, but most is C19. Above the entrance is a C19 3-light pointed arched window under a relieving arch. The top stage of the tower has louvre openings to all 4 sides; 2 cinquefoiled lancets under a hoodmould. On the N side at ground level is a recessed stone tablet, and a stone bracket to its R, probably associated with memorials. To the L is a diagonal buttress. On the S side, below the louvre and offset to the L is a small square headed window in heavy surround. In the centre is a C19 opening with segmental arch and voussoirs, containing a C20 metal window. To its R is a square-plan stair turret with a single pitch roof and 2 arrow loops to the front face. A clock is mounted on the wall immediately below the E louvre.
The nave has been substantially remodelled in the C19 and has quoins and raised coped gables. C20 slate roof. All the windows were replaced in the C19 in Decorated style; pointed arches with hoodmoulds under relieving arches, and containing cusped lancets. The N side has a porch to R of centre flanked by 3-light windows, with a 2-light window to the L end. The C19 gabled porch is of snecked grey stone. Large doorway with pointed arched head with several orders of mouldings, containing planked double doors. Each side of the porch has a tall cusped lancet in heavy surround. The S side of the nave has 3 pointed arched windows each containing 2 cinquefoiled lancets with an irregular foiled light above.
The chancel is lower and narrower than the nave, and constructed of masonry rubble under a slate roof. The N side has a square headed 4-light mullioned window under a relieving arch. To its R is a C19 lean-to vestry of snecked stone under a slate roof, with central planked door under square head with chamfered reveals approached by stone steps. The E end of the vestry has a 2-light window. The S side of the chancel has 3 Decorated windows, each a tall lancet with ogee head in heavy surround, with quarry glazing. The E end of the church has a small C19 2-light pointed arched window under a relieving arch. Four memorials are mounted on the E wall. That to the L of the window is dedicated to Elizabeth and William South (d. 1792 and 1800 respectively) and has an urn above the inscription and drapery swags below. To the R is a small tablet and 2 large memorials one of which is to Evan Philip and his family, most of whom died in the C18.
Within the churchyard is the 16th century preaching cross medieval preaching cross, with a polygonal shaft and head, and hipped square socket on a high base of 6 square steps. Pilgrims knelt in prayer on the stone steps, and farm workers are said to have sharpened their sickles on them. The cross is said to have been damaged during Cromwell’s time, and was restored in 1985.
Main sources: Cadw listing description, Newman Glamorgan and St Bridget's Church Guidebook
Information about any noteable architects, artists, people, or events associated with the church.
Information about any important features and building fabric.
If known, a list of the church's major building material/s will be displayed here.
Any renewable energy systems the church is using will be listed here.
A brief description of the image.
Copyright details.
The name of the person who inputted the image.
This section gives a general description of the interior of the church. Further details of any important internal fixtures and fittings will be listed below.
The nave has a keeled arch-braced roof. Perpendicular tower arch, pointed with 2 orders of continuous hollow mouldings. The round Norman chancel arch rests on square imposts, and is flanked by squints with chamfered shallow-pointed heads. The chancel has a 6-bay, panelled, collar truss roof of the C16-17.
The nave has been substantially remodelled in the C19 and has quoins and raised coped gables. C20 slate roof. All the windows were replaced in the C19 in Decorated style; pointed arches with hoodmoulds under relieving arches, and containing cusped lancets. The N side has a porch to R of centre flanked by 3-light windows, with a 2-light window to the L end. The C19 gabled porch is of snecked grey stone. Large doorway with pointed arched head with several orders of mouldings, containing planked double doors. Each side of the porch has a tall cusped lancet in heavy surround. The S side of the nave has 3 pointed arched windows each containing 2 cinquefoiled lancets with an irregular foiled light above. The chancel is lower and narrower than the nave, and constructed of masonry rubble under a slate roof. The N side has a square headed 4-light mullioned window under a relieving arch. To its R is a C19 lean-to vestry of snecked stone under a slate roof, with central planked door under square head with chamfered reveals approached by stone steps. The E end of the vestry has a 2-light window. The S side of the chancel has 3 Decorated windows, each a tall lancet with ogee head in heavy surround, with quarry glazing. The E end of the church has a small C19 2-light pointed arched window under a relieving arch.
The round Norman chancel arch rests on square imposts, and is flanked by squints with chamfered shallow-pointed heads. That to the S contains a small C16 statue of a female martyr, identified as St. Bridget.
In the south-west corner of the chancel may be seen the only remaining trace of the entrance to the rood screen, which it is known in the C16 was surmounted by a rood-loft.
The chancel contains an exceptional group of memorials and effigies.
The Tudor window on the N side has a decorative stone window frame with columns to the sides and a hollow moulding bearing crockets in various designs including leaves, birds and winged cherub heads. A large coat of arms rises above it. The window itself has sunk chamfered diamond mullions, blue marginal glazing and quarry lights. Early fragments of decorated stone are fixed to the window reveals. Memorials in the chancel are to the Butler, Turbeville and Wyndham families.
A Norman tub font (now out of use) with inscribed cross is located in the chancel.
East Window
By William Glasby (1863-1941), installed in 1926.
Sources: Cadw, Newman
Information about the church's important internal fixtures and fittings.
Information about the church's important moveable items and artworks.
A description of the ecology of the churchyard.
The churchyard is built on rock, with no significant trees.
It is vested in and administered by St Brides Major Community Council.
Information about the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.
Records whether the church has been consecrated.
Records whether there have been burials in the churchyard.
Records whether the churchyard is still being used for burials.
Records whether there are any war graves in the churchyard.
Any important churchyard structures will be listed here.
Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship of the church to its surrounding area and helps place it within its wider landscape context.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the significance of the historic building fabric of the church.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the historic significance of the interior of the church.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship between the church and its community.