Famous Merthyr Tydfil Church Gets Signage And Security Boost

One of Merthyr Tydfil’s most historic and famous churches is set to continue its role as both a regular place of worship and a popular tourist attraction following a refurbishment grant. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

St Gwynno’s Church, set into the hillside in a remote location near Pontsticill to the north of the town centre, will also have its security improved – following a recent attempted break-in – through the installation of a CCTV system. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The churchyard contains the grave of Merthyr Tydfil ironmaster Robert Thompson Crawshay, who had it rebuilt in 1870 and dedicated to St Gwynno. The original medieval parish church of Vaynor was burnt down during the battle of Maesvaynor in 1291 and the building which replaced it had become dilapidated by the late 1860s. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Crawshay’s grave comprises a huge quarrystone slab, believed to weigh 10 tons, which bears the inscription ‘God forgive me’ – interpreted by some historians as meaning that he was sorry for closing the Cyfarthfa Ironworks and making hundreds of his workforce destitute. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Ffos-y-fran Community Benefit Fund has made an award of £2,900 to the church towards the replacement of its entrance sign and the installation of CCTV. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Both the church and churchyard are very popular with visitors,” said Treasurer Mrs Anne Jones. “But the entrance sign, which gives details of services and contacts for arranging weddings, funerals and baptisms, is in a bad state of repair. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The new sign will improve its general appearance and information for visitors, making for a more welcoming environment for visitors and church attendees alike.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Leader Cllr Brendan Toomey said the Council-administered Ffos-y-fran Community Benefit Fund has supported many worthwhile projects with money they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We’re delighted to be able to help St Gwynno’s – better known locally as Vaynor Church – as it has an important role in the County Borough’s history and is a famous tourist attraction as well as a busy, working parish church,” he added. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Ffos-y-fran Community Benefit Fund was established by the Council in collaboration with local mining company Miller Argent, which donates £1 for every ton of coal sold from the Ffos-y-fran land reclamation scheme. More than £5m has been awarded to a wide range of groups and causes since the site opened in 2007. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​