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.
St Donats lies on the Glamorganshire coast the church lies in a cwm on the west side of, and below the castle. The village is 3.5km west of Llantwit Major and 10km south west of Cowbridge along the B4270 and then minor roads.
Reference AA Route Planner OS Map 170 Historic Wales Listing notice 13329
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 area came under the early influence of the Normans and St Donats castle was constructed by members of the Harvey family as a defence against the Welsh. The Harvey family held the land as tenants of the de Clare family. The church began in C12 with a small apsed chancel. The tower was added in the early C14 and the lady Chapel, now the Stradling Chapel in the late c14. The chancel was rebuilt in the C15 and the nave in the C16. The church was restored in 1878 by David Vaughan of Bonvilston as the church was subject to much decay despite having been restored in 1847. The roof was put into an excellent state, the floor was raised by 1 foot, and the pews were stained and varnished. The contractor was Edward Richards of St Donats and the cost was £155. The church reopened on 2nd October 1878. Further restoration took place in 1892 under the direction of the Diocesan Architect G E Halliday and under the watchful eye of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, the heating chamber was added to the tower. In 1907 restoration again occurred by Morgan Stuart Williams of St Donats castle in return for church concessions over the access road. The church was refloored – the nave having wood blocks and there was restoration of the High Altar Slab from the sanctuary pavement. The parapets of the tower were rebuilt and a handsome stone pulpit, a pseudo-Norman arch created to allow access to the pulpit and a carved oak reading desk. The church reopened on 23th April 1907.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Historic Wales Listing Notice 13329 Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004 Three Chevrons Red Paul R Davies Coflein NPRN 227714
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
The church was built with roughly coursed lias limestone with dressed quoins. The stone of the rebuilt tower is much more carefully squared. The roof is Welsh slate of two different colours with red ridge tiles. There is a nave with a north porch, a chancel with the Stradling chapel on the northwest side a southwest tower with a elan-to boiler room. The northwest nave roof is steeply gabled. The Stradling chapel has plain walling save for a small 4-centred arch doorway in the northwest corner. The southwest tower is embattled with pinnacles parapets on corbels.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Historic Wales Listing notice 13329 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.
Entrance is through a segmental arch from the porch which has a medieval stoup. The interior is plastered and painted save for revealed stone features. The nave roof has close-set-arch-braced collar trussed while the chancel roof of a similar design has a slightly heavier construction. There is a semi-circular Norman chancel arch with angle columns with capitals. Upper and upper stone Rood-loft doors and stone corbels would have provided access to the former Rood-loft. The nave floor is stone paved. A tall double chamfered pointed arch leads to the tower. The Norman font has two rows of small-scale patterns with a tall conical wooden cover and sits at the base of the tower. The lectern is partly medieval. There is a stained-glass window dated c1862 which may have been by Clayton & Bell. There are six bells cast in 1913 by Mears & Stainbank.
Reference
Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Historic Wales Listing notice 13329 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.