Holy Cross Church
The Margam Chapel of Ease was consecrated on 15th September 1827 having been built on land given by Mr. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot of Margam Park. The whole of the land comprising the surrounding graveyard was given at different periods by the Talbot family. Originally within the Parish of Margam Holy Cross became part of the Parish of St. Theodore, Port Talbot in 1901.
By the time Holy Cross became part of the parish in 1901, the church had fallen into severe disrepair. A restoration took place in 1903 at which time the church, which had previously been bilingual, became exclusively Welsh speaking. A further renovation took place in 1915 and in 1949 electricity was introduced to Holy Cross. An English service started once a month in 1953 but by the 1980s the concept of a Welsh church within the parish was untenable and English again became the norm.
Holy Cross Church remained in use until suddenly and unexpectedly it had to be closed for health and safety reasons in Lent 2008 due to the interior ceiling falling in. Upon further investigation it was deemed too dangerous to continue to worship in and too expensive to repair; Cadw and other organisations having declined grants when they were applied for in 2003.
Holy Cross Church was formally closed on 31st December 2008 and declared redundant by decree of the Archbishop of Wales on 8th April 2009.
Exterior of Holy Cross Church
Holy Cross - Chapel of Ease - as seen from the main gates
Built in a Gothic style cruciform shape with nave, chancel south and north transepts. The bell was the gift of Bishop Van Mildent and reportedly bears the inscription:
"The gift of William Van Mildent D.D., Lord Bishop of Durham 1827. I Rudhall fecit."
This means it was cast by John Rudhall in the foundry which had been established in Gloucester in the early 14th Century by John of Gloucester. The Rudhall family took over the foundry 1684 after which it passed to the Whitechapel Foundry.
Interior of Holy Cross Church
The nave, chancel and transepts of Holy Cross church were undivided. The interior had undergone several alterations since the church was first built. In 1831 a gallery was erected at the west end where choir and musicians were accommodated. In 1860 the gallery was extended in order to accommodate a new organ which in 1873 was then moved to the north transept. In the 1903 restoration a teak rood scene was erected and new choir stalls introduced which meant rearranging the east end steps. The gallery at the west end was dismantled and a rose stained glass window created. The coal chimney was altered and two vestries created in the north transept. In the south transept a new organ was erected in 1906 and stained glass windows depicting the Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension installed in the east window.
Holy Cross Graveyard
Holy Cross church is situated within the largest churchyard in Port Talbot. Gravestones date from the opening of the Chapel of Ease in 1827 and Commonwealth War graves can also to be found in the graveyard. The Churchyard remains open for burials and the interment of cremated remains.
Find Holy Cross Church
Holy Cross Chapel of Ease is situated on Junction 40 of the M4.
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