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History of St Cadoc’s Church (Aberpergwm Church)
St. Cadoc is a saint commemorated in the nearby village of Cadoxton and it is possible that underneath the present Church at Aberpergwm, there was the site of an early chapel of ease to the parish church at Cadoxton.
What is certain is that the present church has a history entwined with that of the local Neuadd (stately house) of the Williams family at Aberpergwm. For this reason, the church is often referred to as ‘Aberpergwm church’. Aberpergwm is first mentioned in 1294 as a ‘grange’ to Neath Abbey and there is documented reference to Capel Aberpergwm (the chapel of Aberpergwm) on Saxton’s map of Glamorgan 1567-7. Whilst it is likely that a private chapel was built in the grounds of Aberpergwm house, it was Rees Williams who made improvements to his estates and commissioned the present Aberpergwm Church to be built in the early nineteenth century (the main body of the present building appears to have been constructed between 1800 and 1810). His son, William Williams returned from a sixteen year tour of Europe and Asia and in 1837 he seems to have used money from his new wife’s family to re-design Aberpergwm Church and add the present chancel area.
Over forty years or so from Rees Williams’ instructions, the church was re-built incorporating designs and features no doubt seen by William Williams himself on his travels abroad. The east Window contains remnants of Flemish glass, medieval effigies either side of the altar may originate in France, there are benches (not pews) for the congregation as in catholic churches abroad, a staircase to the organ loft (concealed by a screen) would have been in the style of Greek churches.
There was a service of blessing and re-dedication on nineteenth of May 1841, and the parish of Aberpergwm received it’s first recorded minister, Revd. Evan Evans, curate. One should note that Aberpergwm was not an independent parish, the mother church and Vicar continued to be at Cadoxton. From 1861, the Williams family became patron to the church – as well as having responsibility for contributing to the church’s income, patronage meant that the Williams family could influence the choosing of the minister. The first vicar was Revd. John George, marking the start of the independent parish of Aberpergwm (he was vicar from 1861 to 1894). The church was transferred from the Williams family tot he Church in Wales at the time of disestablishment after the first world war.
The neighbouring parish of Blaengwrach was originally part of the church Glyn Corrwg group of churches in the Afan Valley; but in 1940 it was incorporated into the new parish of Aberpergwm with Blaengwrach.
Over the years, St Cadoc’s church has had to be repaired several times. The recent restoration was completed in 2001 and included work on the roof and bell tower. In 1993 the Welsh Office classified St Cadoc’s church a Grade II Listed Building and is described by CADW (the heritage group in Wales) as being largely “perpendicular Gothic, a long rectangular aisle-less church built of local split stone and rubble with deep red sandstone dressings”. The church contains a fine interior with vaulted plaster ceilings that are ribbed with leaf bosses in the chancel, reached through a Neo-Norman arch with carved head. Please click onto the tour of the church to view details of the church
Sadly, Aberpergwm house has not faired so well. Having been used during world war II as a hospital and for blind people, it was later used by the coal board. Today, very little of the building remains standing, and its grounds are overgrown.
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