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St Mary's Church, Swansea

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Coordinates: 51°37′08″N 3°56′35″W / 51.619°N 3.943°W / 51.619; -3.943
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St Mary and Holy Trinity, Swansea
The Collegiate & Parish Church of St. Mary's
St Mary and Holy Trinity, Swansea is located in Swansea
St Mary and Holy Trinity, Swansea
St Mary and Holy Trinity, Swansea
Location in Swansea
51°37′08″N 3°56′35″W / 51.619°N 3.943°W / 51.619; -3.943
LocationSwansea
CountryWales
DenominationChurch in Wales, Anglican church
Websitehttps://www.swanseastmary.co.uk/
History
StatusCollegiate church
Foundedearly 13th century
Founder(s)Henry de Gower, Bishop of Saint David's
Consecrated1959
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade II*
Designated1896,1950
Architect(s)Arthur Blomfield, Dean Allan Smith
Architectural typeChurch
Administration
ProvinceWales
DioceseDiocese of Swansea and Brecon
ArchdeaconryGower
DeaneryAfon Tawe (Swansea)
ParishCentral Swansea
Clergy
ArchbishopArchbishop of Wales
Bishop(s)Bishop of Swansea and Brecon
RectorThe Revd Justin Davies
Vicar(s)The Revd Ian Folks, The Revd Sam Aldred
Curate(s)The Revd John Anthony,The Revd Sarah Harris
ArchdeaconJonathan Davies
Laity
Director of musicDr William Reynolds
Chapter clerkMr Paul Murray
Churchwarden(s)Mrs Helen Murray MBE, Mr Ryan Thomas

St Mary's Collegiate and Parish Church is an Anglican church in the centre of Swansea, Wales, UK. It is considered the Civic Church of Swansea.

There was a church on the site of St Mary's since circa 1328, erected by Henry de Gower, Bishop of Saint David's. One Sunday morning, in 1739, the roof of the nave collapsed into the church while the congregation was waiting to enter the building. The whole structure was re-built apart from the tower. 1822 saw the church being lit by gas for the first time with thirty six lamps. The church underwent complete renovation between 1879 and 1882 by Vicar Dr Morgan. In 1896, the church was flattened and rebuilt again under the designs of Arthur Blomfield by Dean Allan Smith, though some parts of the old church survived the re-development. In February 1941 the church was extensively damaged by Bombing during the Blitz. It was not rebuilt until the 1950s.[1]

From the 1890s the Swansea Devil stood on a set of buildings facing the west side of the church, constructed by a disgruntled rival of Blomfield's, angry at the commissioning of Blomfield's designs over his own.

Bells

The tower contains eight bells, which were cast in 1959 by John Taylor & Co, Loughborough with the heaviest weighing 20cwt - 2qr - 12lb (1049.2 kg) in "E". Details of the bells:-

Bell Weight Nominal Freq. Note Diameter Year Cast Foundry
1 5-1-10 (271.9 kg) 1326.0 Hz E 28.25 inches (71.8 cm) 1959 John Taylor & Co
2 5-2-12 (285.5 kg) 1249.0 Hz D# 29.13 inches (74.0 cm) 1959 John Taylor & Co
3 5-3-10 (297.3 kg) 1110.0 Hz C# 30.50 inches (77.5 cm) 1959 John Taylor & Co
4 7-0-18 (364.6 kg) 986.0 Hz B 32.75 inches (83.2 cm) 1958 John Taylor & Co
5 9-2-9 (487.8 kg) 876.0 Hz A 36.50 inches (92.7 cm) 1959 John Taylor & Co
6 11-0-1 (560.5 kg) 825.0 Hz G# 38.50 inches (97.8 cm) 1959 John Taylor & Co
7 15-0-3 (765.1 kg) 734.0 Hz F# 43.13 inches (109.6 cm) 1959 John Taylor & Co
8 20-2-12 (1049.2 kg) 654.0 Hz E 48.00 inches (121.9 cm) 1959 John Taylor & Co

Images

  • View looking east towards the altar
    View looking east towards the altar
  • The Milllenium Window based on Revelation 22 v5. They need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever. "The sun sets on the city of Swansea but rises in the new Jerusalem"
    The Milllenium Window based on Revelation 22 v5. They need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever. "The sun sets on the city of Swansea but rises in the new Jerusalem"
  • View looking west towards the back of the church
    View looking west towards the back of the church
  • The roof of the nave
    The roof of the nave
  • Aisle and columns
    Aisle and columns
  • The Font with its steel canopy reflecting the industrial heritage of Swansea.
    The Font with its steel canopy reflecting the industrial heritage of Swansea.
  • The main door. The most impressive and best preserved part of the door of the blitzed church is the carving above where we see Jesus reigning in heaven surrounded by the four gospel writers in their traditional representations. Matthew is a man, Mark a lion, Luke a bull and John an eagle. This was carved by the notable Mr. Nicholls of Lambeth in London
    The main door. The most impressive and best preserved part of the door of the blitzed church is the carving above where we see Jesus reigning in heaven surrounded by the four gospel writers in their traditional representations. Matthew is a man, Mark a lion, Luke a bull and John an eagle. This was carved by the notable Mr. Nicholls of Lambeth in London

References

  1. ^ Swansea heritage Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
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