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Graves and the Churchyard
The first burial here was recorded in Evan Morgan's Lay register which shows in November 1653 that :
"Rees Lewelin ab Rees was buried at Aberpergu..."
However, the grave is unlocated, and may have been within the church itself and not in the churchyard. The churchyard is now 'closed' which means that no new burial sites are available. However, if there is a connection to a family grave plot, then internment of cremated remains and burials are allowed.
Here are some details of graves.
Several inscriptions report that the person was tragically killed, or involved in a colliery accident.
25% of the gravestone use the Welsh language .
Some graves inform us of the jobs of the deceased.: Post Office, Vicar of Aberpergwm, Farmer, Hotel owner, Pub landlord, A surgeon, A railway manager
The Williams family have their own area of churchyard, used from 1926 after another family home & and burial site in South Wales, St Donat's, passed from their hands. The most remarkable memorial in the churchyard is the "Wedding Cake". One of the sons of the Williams family, The Revd. Thomas Williams, curate at Aberpergwm church, fell in love with a young girl, Jane Dyce. After some persuasion, her parents agreed to their marriage, but by then, she was dying of consumption and passed away within a year of being married. Dedicated in 1832, a large 3 tiered gothic monument was constructed at St Cadoc's within sight of Aberpergwm house. The design, by J White, recalls medieval high crosses, and may indeed have been based on a wedding cake, in memory of Jane's tragic life. Over the years, the monument has weathered badly and now only the vague impression of its former splendour can be imagined. This is a Grade II listed monument, and it's history continues to stir up myths and tales from local community of un-dying love and the existence of mysterious underground tunnels to Aberpergwm house.
A postcard of Aberpergwm church from the early Twentieth century showing the intact wedding cake memorial.
Several classes from local schools are carrying out projects on the churchyard for
history and ecology.
The Glamorgan Family History Society have catalogued all the grave inscriptions at
St Cadoc's and St Mary's, providing much information on the community.
Please contact the Vicar if you would like to use these resources.
