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.
Llanblethian is 2km south west of Cowbridge via Broadway and the A4222. The church is one the north side of and above the village in Church Road.
Reference AA Route Planner OS Map 171 Historic Wales Listing notice 13144
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.
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.
The earliest part of the church seems to be the low chancel which is mid C12 at which time the church was in the possession of Tewkesbury Abbey. Anne Neville, the wife of Richard III is said to have built the tower which is stylistically more in keeping with Devon and Somerset churches than with Glamorgan ones. In 1859 Ewan Christopher of London was engaged by the Church Commissioners to carryout chancel repairs at a cost of £51, the contractor being W James of Cowbridge. In 1896-7 Charles Busteed Fowler of Kempson and Fowler of Llandaff restored the church. He removed the old box pews replacing them with open benches sitting on wood-block floors, opening out the south chapel and removing the low ceilings from the nave, chancel and south chapel so exposing the medieval oak roofs which were carefully restored, the original low chancel arch was replaced and the interior stone work repointed. During the restoration an old ossuary was discovered under the south chapel, over one hundred skeletons were removed for reburial in a large common grave in the churchyard. The contractor was W A James Cowbridge and the cost was £1200. The church reopened 5th May 1897.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Historic Wales Listing notice 13144 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 church was built from a local stone beneath green Bangor slate roofs mostly in Decorated and Perpendicular styles. There is a chancel, an aisleless nave with a south chapel and a south porch. The tall three stage tower has slender diagonal buttresses with evenly spaced set-offs rise nearly to the top bearing pinnacles as they die into the tower. There is a crowning string course with gargoyles and the battlements have small angle pinnacles. There is a northeast polygonal stair turret which clearly shows that the tower post dates the rest of the church.
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 late medieval restored roofs have arch-braces, wind-braces and collar purlins. In the north wall is the doorway to the former rood loft. There is a screen to the organ in the south chapel and a mutilated effigy in the Gothic-arched recess. The low chancel has a C219 chancel arch the work of Fowler. The C20 reredos shows the Supper at Emmaus, it is a in multicoloured stone and carved by W Clarke 1896-7. There is a tub shaped medieval font. The pulpit again carved by W Clarke is multicoloured but predominantly in a pink alabaster. Under the cornice of the north wall is a wall painting, probably ‘Christ of the Trades’, showing a saw, a sword, a scourge in red and Yellow with drops of blood and dark red roses. The stained glass: A First World war memorial window by R J Newbery, 1926. There are eight bells cast in: 1907 by Charles Carr, 1995 in Whitechapel, two bells in1769 by Thomas Rudhall, 1726, 1700 and 1702 by Evan I Evans, 1746 by William Evans.
Reference
Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Historic Wales Listing notice 13144 Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004 A National Bell Register - George Dawson's Website - Homestead Coflein NPRN 164
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.