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).
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.
The village sits at the junction of the A48 with the A4229, 43km west of Cardiff, 25km southeast of Swansea and 7km north of Porthcawl. The church stands in its own churchyard to the north of the centre of the village on the road to Margam.
Reference AA Route Planner OS Map 170 Historic Wales Listing notice 11227
This is a description of the ground plan of the church.
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.
When the Norman church at Kenfig was threatened with being overwhelmed with sand in the late C14 the church was moved, stone by stone to Pyle where a new church was erected possibly with additional stone from Kenfig castle. There is a date on the present roof of 1471 which perhaps indicates a rebuild at this time. Church restoration began on 5th April 1877 when John Prichard reseated the church to provide additional accommodation and repaired the well moulded oak roof and walls of the church. The cost was £848 and the church reopened on 13th September 1877. Further restoration occurred in 1891 under the direction of the Gloucester Diocesan Architect Frederick W Waller and a n organ chamber was added to the chancel and the organ moved from the nave in keeping with the current Ecclesiastical practice of having the organ close to the choir. Further repairs were carried out to the walls at this time, the chancel was provided with an encaustic tile floor and the area formerly occupied by the organ was provided with chairs increasing the seating capacity of the church to 260. The cost was £450.
Reference
Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Historic Wales Listing notice 11227 Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
The medieval roof is largely intact with slate roofs over a nave and chancel with a west vestry dating from C19 and a south porch. The church was built of squared local limestone rubble with a brown sandstone for the dressings. There is an unbuttressed west tower which has a tall lower stage and a short bell stage with a crenelated parapet set on corbels and there is a south east stair extension. The roof had coped gables with stone apex crosses
Reference Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Historic Wales Listing notice 11227 Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004
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.
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 tall nave has plastered walls with an open timber barrel roof with five moulded runners which rise from wall plates which have alternately, masks and shields (one on the north side bears the date 1471.) The chancel arch is of 2 wave orders dying to square abutments and is probably late C15, a single step up leads into the chancel which is plastered beneath a dressed timber panelled roof with centre and end trusses. On the north side is the door to the former roof loft. Two steps up lead into the encaustically floored sanctuary. At the east end of the nave there remain stone brackets for a former wide rood loft. The tower arch was raised up when the upper part of the tower was rebuilt in C15/C16. The font is made from gritstone and is octagonal in shape with chip-carved roundels alternating with elementary but symbolically carved triple trees and dates from C15-C16, the stem is broached to the medieval base which has ball motifs on the base. The octagonal pulpit is late C19 alabaster, the Gothic arches meeting to serpentine colonettes at the angles and has a limestone figure of St James while the book rest is supported by an angel., this all replaced a timbe pulpit in c1919. The sanctuary rails are brass on brass sheathed scrolled stanchions. There is linenfold panelling to the east wall with a gilded and carved wooden reredos displaying the Crucifixion. The stained glass: ‘Crucifixion, Christ the Light of the World and Good Shepherd’, Charles Powell, 1921; ‘The Good Samaritan’, Karl Parsons, 1929; ‘David and Jonathan’, William Glasby’, 1927; ‘St James and St John’, Alfred L Wilkinson, 1950; ‘Samuel in the Temple and the Finding of Moses’, Charles Powell, 1922. The bell is dated 1655 with the initials RP.
Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Stained Glass in Wales Historic Wales Listing notice 11227 Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004 A National Bell Register - George Dawson's Website - Homestead
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.
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.