Church Heritage Record

Church Heritage Record 4077

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Core DetailsLocationBuildingInteriorChurchyardSignificanceEnvironmentAudit

St David, Neath

Name:

The name or dedication of the church.

St David, Neath
Record Type:

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.

Daughter Church
Church code:

A unique identification number given to every church.

4077
Diocese:

The name of the diocese in which the church is located.

Llandaff
Archdeaconry:

The name of the archdeaconry in which the church is located.

Margam
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

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Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

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.

This is a Grade II* Listed Building
Scheduled Monument?

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 is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

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. 

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

There are over 500 conservation areas in Wales. They are designated by local planning authorities for their special architectural and historic interest.

The church is in a Conservation Area

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Buildings At Risk Status

On Buildings At Risk Register?

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. 

This church is not on the Buildings at Risk Register
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Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

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).

Victorian/Pre-WWI

Exterior Image

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Summary Description

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.

Neath developed firstly as a religious suite with the founding of Neath Abbey in 1130 on the western bank of the Neath River. The town with its castle effectively marked the western edge of Norman Glamorgan with the Gower left to the west. The town developed in the C19 with the coming of the metallurgical industries and coal mining/ Pevsner describes the town centre as the best in Wales. Reference The Encyclopaedia of Wales

Visiting and Facilities

Useful information is displayed here for people wishing to visit the church. This may include things like opening hours, catering & toilet facilities, parking, etc. 

The church is open for worship.
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Church Website

Church Website:

If the church has its own website the details will be displayed here.

http://parishofneath.org/http___www.parishofneath.org_/St._David.html

Sources and Further Information

Any further sources of information for the church will be listed here (eg. links to other historic databases).

View information on worship and access at this church on the Church In Wales web site
RCAHMW (2004) Coflein http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/156/details/ [Digital Archive/Document]
http://www.coflein.gov.uk/
GGAT (2016) Historic Environment Record http://www.cofiadurcahcymru.org.uk/arch/query/page.php?prn=GGAT01768w [Digital Archive/Data]
http://www.ggat.org.uk/her/her.html

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.

Grid Reference: SS 754 975

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Church address

Address
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
St David St David's Road NEATH SA11 3AA

Administrative Area

Unitary Authority:

This is the name of the Local Authoirity within which the church is located.

Castell-nedd Port Talbot - Neath Port Talbot

Location and Setting

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.

Neath is bypassed by the M4 to the south but lies on the A474, it is 64km west north west of Cardiff, 14km north east of Swansea and 34km south west of Merthyr Tydfil via the heads of the Valleys’ Road.  The church is near Victoria Park by the junction of orchard Street with St David’s Street.

Reference
AA Route Planner 
OS Map 170
Historic Wales Listing notice 11818

Church Plan

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Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

This is a description of the ground plan of the church.

Nave 101ft x 31ft8in and 61ft high to the ridge, north and south aiusles13ft wide and 12ft high to wallplate; north and south transepts20ft 9in wide 50ft high to ridge;  chancel with semi circular apse 40ftx 9ft  56ft to roof.

Reference
Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004

Dimensions

If known, the dimensions (measurements) of the church ground plan will be displayed here.

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Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

If the footrprint (area) of the church is known, it will be displayed here.

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Description of Archaeology and History

A description of the history and archaeology of the church and its site.

The church was designed by John Norton of London on land donated by Howell Gwyn of Dyffryn as a church for English speakers.  The foundation stone was laid by Mrs Gwyn on22 September 18664 and was consecrated on 29th November 1864 at a cost of £6,400; the contractor was Jones & Son of Gloucester. In many ways the church is a reminder of Keble College Oxford. In 1868 a new organ was installed by Messrs Davies & Sons of London and built by E H Salter at a cost of £400.  Then in 1883 a Caen stone pulpit was installed together with a brass lectern.

Reference

Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001
Historic Wales Listing Notice 11818
Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004

Exterior Description

A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.

The church was built in C13 Gothic style of a 5-bay nave with low aisles, north and south transepts, an apsidal chancel and a south east tower.  It was built from snecked bull nosed Pennant sandstone masonry with red sandstone and Box Ground Bath stone dressings.  It has steep gabled slate roofs with over sailing eaves, gable parapets and ironwork cross finials.  There is a Gothic arch over the west door which has been constructed in three layers, a relieving ach in Pennant Sandstone over two layers of creamy Bath dressed stone with alternate voussoirs of red sandstone (probably from Staffordshire or the Lake District) which are staggered in the top layer to give as colourful chequered effect.  The “Rhenish Tower” of five stages, in the south east corner of the building, between the chancel and the south transept, which was completed in 1869 shoots up buttressed to its crown- a slated pyramid with Broseley tiles in bands with four smaller pyramids at its base and four clock faces.  Figures on the four evangelists stand at the four corners. The top story is on corbels with pinnacled roofs and ironwork weather vanes.  It is known as the Vaughan Tower.  Its model was the campanile of C E Street’s Westminster Church of St James the Lesser in Thorndike Street.

Reference
Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001
Historic Wales Listing notice 11818
Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004
Welsh Stone Forum National Museum of Wales  Number 14

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

Information about any noteable architects, artists, people, or events associated with the church.

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Building Fabric and Features

Information about any important features and building fabric.

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Building Materials

If known, a list of the church's major building material/s will be displayed here.

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Interior Image

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Interior Description

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 cruciform plan of the church has an exuberant red brick interior with broad bands of blue Staffordshire bricks in diaper work with freestone dressings.  There are alternating round and composite arcade piers with foliate capitals rising to pointed banded arches with continuous hoodmoulds.  There are arch braced roofs with iron tension bars, the alternating trusses cusped with truncated colonettes on corbels.  The chancel arch and the tall banded arches are similar in detail sitting on truncated double colonettes (with corbels to the transepts.)  The pointed organ recess in the north wall sits below a stone medallion with Christian emblems.  The fittings are contemporary with the church and include the lavish pulpit with marble shafts and bosses.  In 2006/7 reordering of the church moves the magnificent brass eagle lectern into the Nave as a permanent feature.  The stained glass: ‘St David with St Cecilia and the Virgin and Child’, Designer Dillwyn Morris for Glantawe Studios, 1933; ‘Scenes from the Passion and Resurrection of Christ (in the apse), Clayton & Bell, 1864-1866; ‘Scenes from the Passion’ Clayton & Bell, 1900; ‘Christ and Angels Tending Sheep’, Clayton & Bell, 1925; ‘The Risen Christ’, Celtic Studios, 1962; ‘The Miraculous Draught of Fishes’, artist John Edwards for Celtic Studios, 1967; ‘The Sower, artist John Edwards for Celtic Studios, 1967; ‘Christ with Children Brought by their Mothers’, designer Howard Martin for Celtic Studios, 1965; ‘St Christopher and St John the Evangelist’, designer Arthur L Ward for A R Mowbray & Co; , c1936; ‘King David’ c1895; ‘Let Every Thing that hath Breadth praise the Lord’, artist John Petts, 1984; ‘The Light of the World and the Good Shepherd’, designer F M Baker for G Maile & Son, c 1946; ‘Jesus and Nicodemus, 1901; ‘Two Musical Angels’, artist Frank Roperc1981; ‘Welsh Saints with Scenes from the Life of St David’, Robert J Newbery, 1912.  The church has a ring of 11 bells cast in 1923 by John Taylor & Co.

Reference

Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001
Stained Glass in Wales
Historic Wales Listing notice 11818
Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004
A National Bell Register - George Dawson's Website - Homestead
Welsh Stone Forum National Museum of Wales  Number 14

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

Information about the church's important internal fixtures and fittings. 

Skip Navigation Links.
Collapse Internal Fixtures and FittingsInternal Fixtures and Fittings
ORGAN (1868)

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

Information about the church's important moveable items and artworks.

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Ecology

A description of the ecology of the churchyard.

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Ecological Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this Daughter Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this Daughter Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this Daughter Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

Information about the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

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Burial and War Grave Information

Records whether the church has been consecrated.

It is unknown whether the church or churchyard is consecrated. Work in progress - can you help?

Records whether there have been burials in the churchyard.

It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?

Records whether the churchyard is still being used for burials.

It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?

Records whether there are any war graves in the churchyard.

The churchyard does not have war graves.

National Heritage Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

There are no Listed Buildings within the curtilage of this Daughter Church.

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this Daughter Church.

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this Daughter Church

Churchyard Structures

Any important churchyard structures will be listed here.

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Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

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Setting Significance Description:

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.

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Fabric Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

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Fabric Significance Description:

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.

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Interior Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

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Interior Significance Description:

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.

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Community Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

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Community Significance Description:

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. 

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Church Renewables

Any renewable energy systems the church is using will be listed here.

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Species Summary

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the Daughter Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

"Seek Advice" Species

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

If any of the following species have been seen close to the Daughter Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the Daughter Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the Daughter Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the Daughter Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this Daughter Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

Refresh
WhoActionWhen
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Ground Plan Description and DimensionsTue 31 Aug 2021 16:48:45
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Interior DescriptionTue 31 Aug 2021 16:44:24
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Interior DescriptionTue 31 Aug 2021 16:42:47
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Exterior DescriptionTue 31 Aug 2021 16:42:11
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Archaeology and History DescriptionTue 31 Aug 2021 16:41:32
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Location and Setting DescriptionTue 31 Aug 2021 16:40:57
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Archaeology and History DescriptionTue 31 Aug 2021 16:40:38
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Asset AddressTue 31 Aug 2021 16:39:59
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Summary DescriptionTue 31 Aug 2021 16:39:02
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Burial and War Grave informationMon 30 Aug 2021 10:56:38
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