St Mairs Church

The development of the mineral resources of the Valley gave an impetus to religious as well as commercial matters. Chapels were built, re-built, and enlarged, and the friends of the Church were aroused to action. An active, able, and zealous Vicar (the Rev. John Griffith, M.A.) seized the reins in Aberdare, and quickly stretched forth an arm strong enough to serve the occasion. He found here a Church with sittings for 176 hearers, and he left the parish after having built one of the finest churches in Wales (St. Elvan’s), and provided accommodation commensurate with the wants of the day. To help them other church the parish church, St. Elvan’s was built; by the munificence of the Right Honourable the Baroness Windsor, the fast-increasing neighbourhood of Mill Street was provided with a neat and useful edifice; Hirwain was favoured with a church, and Mountain Ash mainly through the liberality of J. Bruce Pryce, Esq., and the Right Hon. H. A. Bruce, M.P has since been fully provided with church accommodation.
During this time the parish Church was devoted to Welsh services alone, and these, for the past 8 years, have been conducted with great ability and success by the Rev. David Davies. Indeed, so successful has Mr David’s been in his ministration that the Church has been filled to repletion with hearers for years past.

Before leaving here Mr Griffith, the present esteemed Rector of Merthyr Tydfil, had become fully sensible of the inadequate accommodation which the old parish Church afforded the Welsh hearers who flocked there weekly. He had come to the conclusion that it was necessary to meet this want with all promptitude; and had already determined to rebuild or enlarge the Church. With this end in view, Mr Griffith had commenced exerting himself to obtain subscriptions towards this good object, when circumstances called him away to his present field of usefulness. His successor, however, the Rev. Evan Lewis, B.A., our present excellent Vicar, was nothing loth to saddle himself with the good work which his immediate predecessor had commenced.

Between the time at which Mr Griffith had resolved j upon extending the parish Church, and the ad- vent of Mr Lewis to the parish, the population of the place had vastly increased. Moreover, Mr Lewis has a habit of doing what he thinks necessary to do thoroughly and well; he at once there- fore determined upon building the splendid edifice which, amid solemn grandeur, was opened for public service this day, Thursday, November 10th 1864.
From the time he undertook the task until the present moment the Rev. E. Lewis has been most indefatigable in his efforts to raise the necessary subscriptions, and crown the whole undertaking with success. The contract for the building was let to our respected townsman, Mr. Philip Rees, builder, for £2,797, but, including the cost of the promenade, railing, &c., by which the church is surrounded, the edifice as it now stands is likely to cost about £3,500. The substantial and really magnificent character of the building may be partly gleaned from the following facts:-
The first stone of the new building was laid on the 2nd of July, 1863, by Mrs Thomas Wayne, of Glan Dare, and the church was at the same time dedicated to St. Mary. The church was designed on the most economical principles consistent with strength and durability, and the preservation of a sufficient amount of ecclesiastical character. The style is French Gothic freely treated. The edifice is built of stone taken from quarries near the town, with bonds and dressings of Bath stone. The details are of a plain and massive character; the church is divided into nave, side aisles, chancel, side chapels, and vestry under the tower. The nave-arcade is carried on coupled iron columns.

It is scarcely necessary to add that the building has been completed to the utmost satisfaction of all concerned, and reflects the highest credit upon the skill of the builder. The ground, which includes space for a parsonage and school, in addition to the church was kindly given by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who were also liberal enough to hand over a donation of £500. The Trustees of the late Marquis of Bute have also given the munificent sum of £500 towards the building. The Vicar, manifesting his usual generosity in these matters, has given a handsome donation and the parishioners, some out of their fullness and some out of their poverty, have subscribed most liberally.

The beautiful pulpit, which is an ornament to the church, was presented by Mrs and Miss Wayne, Plasnewydd; the splendid communion service, altar cloth, cushions, &o by Mrs Wayne, and the Misses Wayne, Glandare, and Mrs Davies, Bryngolwg. A handsome font was also presented by James Lewis, Esq, Tydraw.

The expense attending the formation of the promenade outside, and the handsome railings, which form the boundary, and which, together with the cast iron pillars inside, and the railings just added to St. Elvan’s, were made by Mr Chivers, the Mill-street Foundry, will be borne by the congregation of the old church.

The town itself had quite a holiday appearance, groups of artisans clustered round the railway stations. The trains brought numerous bodies of strangers from the neighbourhood; the bell was boiling for the morning service, and streams of people from different localities were wending their way to the New Church, and some time before the commencement of the service, the building was filled in every part. Soon after the arrival of the various trains, the Clergy, headed by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, who was accompanied by the Chancellor, moved in processional order. At the western door they were met by some of the principal inhabitants of the district, and the Bishop was presented with the petition praying him to consecrate the church. His Lordship handed the petition to the Registrar, Mr Huckwell; that gentleman having read it, and the Bishop having assented to its prayer, they marched up the centre aisle, the Bishop took his seat within the Communion rails, and read the usual consecration prayers; the sentence of consecration was afterwards read by the Chancellor, and the morning service commenced the Bishop read the Communion.

When St Mair’s church closed, two of the stained glasses were moved to St Elvan’s church and the one of the stained glass showing St Anna, and was replaced with the face of Martha Eglwys. The other glass from St Mair’s went to St Mathew’s Church, Abernant)

Martha Eglwys (1808-1903)

Martha Edwards was popularly known as “Martha’r Eglwys, was the Sexton of St John’s Church for 47 years, she knew all the story of all the graves and their family history of all the families there buried at St John’s.

She lived somewhere near the bottom of Gadlys Hill, and was known to children of the day as “Martha Black” because she dressed always in black. She was said to be very deaf and fond of stuff, she died about the turn of the century.

When St Mair’s church closed, two of the stained glasses were moved to St Elvan’s church and the one of the stained glass showing St Anna, and was replaced with the face of Martha Eglwys. The other glass from St Mair’s went to St Mathew’s Church, Abernant)

The ceremony of consecration was performed on Thursday by the Bishop of the Diocese. The day was delightfully fine, and from an early hour in the morning the town presented an animated though holy-day like appearance. The shops were closed and all business seemed to be suspended as thoroughly as if it had been a Sabbath. At intervals the bells rung merrily and the streets were lined with well-dressed visitors. The clerical element; was almost everywhere perceptible, and as the clergy were enjoined to bring their surplices and to meet in the Parish Church at 10.40 a.m., gentlemen who, happily, are mostly occupied in better work than bundle-carrying might be seen hurrying to the venerable Church of St. John, shortly before 11 o’clock, burdened with a parcel.

The choral part of the service was most effectively rendered by the choir of St. Elvan’s. The Epistle and Gospel having been read, his Lordship ascended the pulpit.

After a short but fervent prayer, the Bishop gave the words of the text, and preached a very admirable sermon from the 20th, 11st, and 22nd verses of the 71st Psalm.

On the conclusion of the sermon, which was listened to with great attention by the very crowded congregation? A collection was made which amounted to nearly £100.

Shortly after the morning service a large number of the clergy and laity repaired to the Market-place, where an excellent luncheon had been prepared by Mr and Mrs Dyke, of the Boot Inn. From the large number of persons expected, there J was no room in the town sufficiently large for the purpose, and the centre of the market, which is covered in, was gracefully surrounded with carpet to prevent draft, and they also served by their crimson hue to impart an air of warmth to the place.

The tables were spread with a profusion of substantial viands and others of a lighter character were intersperse J, forming not only an excellent, but tasteful display, sufficiently tempting to the appetite, although the atmosphere of the building was not of the most agree able temperature. The chair was taken by the Right Hon. H. A. Bruce. Grace having been said by the vicar of Aberdare, thevarious joints quickly assumed a different aspect. On the conclusion of the lunch, Archdeacon Denison returned thanks. Soon after this, the Chairman gave the health of the Queen, which was cordially responded to by the company in the usual manner. After that on the health of the Prince and Princess of Wales, which was also cordially acknowledged?

Stone of the new building was adroitly performed by Mrs Thomas Wayne, a lady whose kindness of heart and geniality of disposition had made her beloved by the people, who stood crowding around, and gave the ceremony a still greater interest in their minds. Rapidly has the work grown beneath the workman’s fingers, and we now behold a handsome building enclosed with four low stone walls, surmounted with a light and elegant iron railing. The building is a handsome one, the style of architecture being what is called French Gothic, rather freely treated. The edifice is constructed with the Newbridge stone with Bath stone dressing. The details are of a rich and massive character. It is divided into nave, side aisles, chancel, side chapels, and a vestry under the tower. The nave arcade is carried on complete. Iron columns separate the aisles from the naves.

The shafts on the responses and in the chancel are of green Bridgend stone with carved Bath stone capitals. No clerestory is employed, and the roof, which is of an open wooden construction, springs nearly from the centre of the arches. The Church is, however, sufficiently lighted from the additional height gained by some of the side windows being placed in the gables, of which there are six on the South and North sides, the usual windows being in these cases aided by beautiful circular heads. Most of the glass employed is of a greenish hue, and this gives a subdued tone to the colouring of the interior. The chancel end is lighted by a massive window, with a beautifully ornamented head. The communion is raised above the floor by seven steps richly carpeted. A sedilia and credence niche are provided. Both nave and aisles are filled with open benches painted in imitation of oak, and calculated to hold about 700 people. The carving, which is very profuse, is in the style peculiar to the era. The capitals under the chancel arch are in the form of Ferns. In the tympanum over the principal entrance is sculptured a subject from the Ascension of our Lord, showing the three Marys and the Angel at the tomb.

The length of the building is 100 feet, with a breadth of 52 feet, and enclosed in a court yard, surrounded by four low walls, with ornamental iron railings at the top. The interior of the yard is very prettily planted with trees and shrubs. The whole of the carved work, both wood and stone, has been creditably done by Mr G. Whittington, of Newport, Salop.