Church of St Mary, Ynysmeudwy

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Church of St Mary, Ynysmeudwy

Unfortunately, St Mary's Church, is in the process of being made redundant due to the failing state, of the building, which has become unsafe in places with the erosion and weathering of the sandstone. St Mary's Church was the gift of the Gilbertson family. This family had succeeded Mr William Parsons in the steelworks of Pontardawe, and as the population of the valley grew, Mrs Gilbertson encouraged her husband to build a church in Ynysmeudwy. She acquired land from her mother, Mrs Illtyd Thomas of Glanmor, Swansea, and Mr J. Cook Rees of Neath was employed to design the church and Messrs Price Brothers of Cardiff undertook the building work. The church was consecrated by the Right Reverend John Owen on 21 February 1913 The church is Gothic in design, but underwent major work in 2003. The pews were removed and chairs installed, along with a nave altar, a new heating system, and new wood flooring. In 1997, with the closure of All Saints' Church, Pontardawe, the original pulpit and reredos were removed from St Mary's Church, and the pulpit and reredos from All Saints' Church were installed.