Church of Our Lady of Penrhys

Cadw's description

Location

Prominently situated at the south end of Ferndale occupying a corner site on the main thoroughfare of the Rhondda Fach valley

History

Roman Catholic Church built 1912 and financed by Miss M Davies of Llantrisant following refurbishment of shrine at Penrhys some 3.2 kilometers distant. Name of architect unknown. Beams from Penrhys Farm were inserted in the church after its construction but were later removed. The wooden statue of Our Lady in S aisle was installed at the time of building 'as a replica of the ancient statue of Penrhys'.

Exterior

Arts and Crafts Gothic. Mostly roughcast finish with rubble stone plinth and pilasters and Welsh slate roof. Single storey to roadside left and because of slope two storeyed to right with meeting rooms on ground floor below church. Nave has 4 bays with single narrower bay to chancel; S aisle to nave and chancel consists of 4 bays with 3 separate cross gabled roofs and the SE chapel bay forming a cross wing; at W a porch and baptistry at NW end of nave. Windows with mostly replaced glazing are single wide pointed arched lights with sillband beneath and separated by pilasters in nave; lancets to chancel and at W. W gable end elevation has 3 small lancets at apex surmounted by a turret incorporating a cross with metal cross finial above and with saddleback roofed chimney to left; pitched roof to porch extends left into a polygonal roof over baptistry with lancet windows; pointed arched west entrance doorway. S two storey elevation has segmental arched windows with replaced glazing and similar doorways on ground floor. E end, pebbledashed, retains original glazing of coloured glass quarries in triple lancets. Iron railings with gates extend round W, S and SE.

Interior

Stained timber roof consists of alternating scissor brace and tie beam trusses to nave and cross gables to south aisle. Pointed arched openings to door, windows and arcade are all without mouldings or capitals. East end partly refurbished in 1970s retains decorative wood and iron communion rail. Nave furnished with pine benches; quarry tiled central nave aisle and parquet elsewhere.

Reason for designation

Listed as an unusual distinctively Arts and Crafts small church which notwithstanding changes to glazing has retained much of its original character.