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.
Please enter a number
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.
Cowbridge lies in the Vale of Glamorgan on the A48, 28km west of Cardiff and 10km southeast of Bridgend. The church is to be found in Church Street.
Reference AA Route Planner OS Map 170 Coflein NPRN 301845
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.
Built as a chapel of ease on a mighty scale to Llanblethian, the manor to the south, the early church had a tower between the chancel and the wide aisleless nave. The nave and chancel are probably C13 while the tower is C14. In the C15 a south aisle and chantry chapel were added and in C16 the east end was added to. There is dubious documentary evidence that the chapel that Lady Anne Neville (Wife to Richard III) was responsible for this chapel. Restoration in Victorian times took place: in 1848 when the tracery windows were restored, the architect being Edward Haycock of Shrewsbury and the cost was defrayed by the Chancellor of Llandaff cathedral. in 1849-50 when the architect John Prichard re-levelled the floors, re-arranged the pews to provide seating for the poor (258 seats out of 645 – this was a matter of great concern to the vicar, The Revd Thomas Edmonds who feared they would otherwise become Nonconformists), the erection of an oak chancel screen and inserting new windows in the south aisle and the west end of the nave. The cost was £1800 paid for by a public subscription of £1000, £50 from Cowbridge Corporation and the levying of two shillings in the pound church rate. in 1893 with the architects Bruton & Williams of Cardiff, the tower was restored, the bells were re-hung, the interior walls were repaired and re-plastered, the old organ and gallery at the west end of the nave were removed. A new organ was installed in the south aisle and a new stone pulpit erected. The heating system was improved. The contractor was Messrs Hatherley & Carr of Bristol and the cost was £800. Between 1912 and 1913 the tower was renovated and the nave roof repaired ata cost of £450, the architect being George E Halliday. From 1925-26 the roof of the nave was completely renewed and the leaning arcade to the south aisle was taken down and rebuilt stone by stone on secure foundations. The cost was £4000 and the architect was Thomas Guy Clarke of Llandaff.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004 Coflein NPRN 301845
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
A nave and chancel with a central tower, a south aisle, chantry chapel and north porch. It was built from local stone with slate roofs and with windows now in the Perpendicular style.
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 nave has an arcade of five bays, there is a C15 wagon roof to the south aisle and a boarded roof of c1926 to the nave. The chancel roof dates from 1926. There are east and west tower arches, one with three continuous chamfers while the other is double chamfered with a kneeled half-shaft with a moulded cap applied to the inner chamfer. In the chancel the only original feature is a Sutton stone piscina. The arcade has piers with half shafts with four centre arches with keeled profile and double -wave and hollow-chamfered mouldings. The late medieval extension to the east is now a vestry, there are two hatches in the east wall for dispensing alms. The font is possibly C14, it has a plain octagonal bowl, tapering down to a roll. The altar rails are by George pace from 1965. The pulpit dates from the 1890s. Nicholston of Worcester made the three-manual organ which was installed during the renovations of 1893. The stained glass: ‘Scenes from the Life of Christ’ Baille, before 1868; ‘Biblical Scenes of Instruction’, to commemorate the life of the headmaster of Cowbridge Grammar School, c1870. There are 8 bells cast in 1722 by Evan I Evan and a sanctus bell undated.
Reference
Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001 Church Building and Restoration in Victorian Glamorgan Geoffrey R Orrin 2004 Coflein NPRN A National Bell Register - George Dawson's Website - Homestead Stained Glass in Wales
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.