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Interior of St Mary's church.
Whilst there is a strong connection with the Williams family of Aberpergwm, Glynneath and the Penrose family of Glyn-y Bont, Cwmgwrach at St Cadoc's church, both sets of families have also left their mark at St Mary's.
Elizabeth Ann and Maria Jane Williams, spinster sisters, lived at Ynyslas house; when standing, this was situated behind St Mary's. Elizabeth Ann was Churchwarden at St Mary's and when she died, her sister erected a memorial, now situated on the South Wall.
Various wall plaques commemorated members of the Penrose family, who also feature on the brass eagle lectern.
In 1873, Vicar David Griffiths had a new church built at Blaengwrach, and as one local newspaper reported, "the whole of the inside entirely new, with pulpit, reading desk, and seats of pitch pine, varnished."
The history of the two bishop's chairs is uncertain, but they are richly carved, with designs of IHS, the first three letters of JESUS in the Greek language. The East Window depicts Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and as in St Cadoc's church's North Window, he is flanked by St Peter and St John. The window was constructed in 1885 when the church was refurbished.
Plans are being made to carry out extensive repairs to the fabric of the building and to install toilets, kitchen, new flooring and heating; our aim is to convert the interior of the building into a small community hall so that the church may be used for Christian worship on a Sunday but be open for groups during the rest of the week The design utilises several renewable energy features highlighting our vision for St Mary's to be a place of renewal and a focal point within the community.
