Church of St John

Cadw's description

Location

Church is situated in a prominent position on the hillside above the earlier settlement of Cymmer centred round the C18 chapel.

History

Built 1888-9 by the architect E M Bruce Vaughan of Cardiff on land of the Bedw Estate to serve population working at Cymmer Colliery Steam Coal Seams which was worked from 1877, the services originally alternated between English and Welsh language. The church was in the parish of Llantrisant until the new parish of Cymmer and Porth was created in 1894.

Exterior

Early English style Gothic of rock-faced, occasionally snecked sandstone with ashlar dressings. A deep and wide single span roof, now of artificial slate and incorporating base of former fleche, covers nave, chancel, north and south aisles. Double cross gabled vestry wing at NE is 2 storey because ground level falls away and has enclosed stone flight of steps to door. W vestibule outshut has moulded pointed arched entrance doorways at each end. Mostly 2 or 3 light windows of simple lancets or geometric tracery interspersed with slim but deep buttresses to S and N; E and W windows have more decorative geometric tracery; small triple lancets in gable apexes. N churchyard boundary wall of rubble sandstone with decorative iron railings and gates with steps E and W'.

Interior

Unusual timber nave aisle arcades of painted wood comprising octagonal piers supporting transverse arches and elaborately pierced spandrels. Wide and high chancel arch has wooden 'Insole' screen of 1909 with heavily carved and painted bressumer. Unusual painted stone pulpit incorporating carved putti and saints in roundels. Stained glass includes windows by Kempe and Tower studio.

Reason for designation

Listed for the special interest of the interior arcades and furnishings.