The Church

Over time much work has been directed to maintaining the building and increasing facilities in the Church.  The current building grew from the original 5th Century roots to its basic format and build as today from 1525, additions having been added thus:

• Bell tower 1636 containing two bells the major one being dated 1851 and a smaller bell having been recovered and installed ex St Andrews Church (closed 1997) the smaller bell being modified by the University of Glamorgan.  Both Bells are fully functional.
• The South Isle extension completed in 1974 but with stonework in keeping with the existing building.

The main body of the nave is the oldest part of the existing buildings.  It is this section of the building in particular that grants the Church its Grade II listing status.  CADW notes that the Church is in part “Probably Pre Norman” in part.

Work on the Church in the 19th Century is poorly documented apart from re-paving which took place in 1818.  The NE and central N windows of the Nave are probably early 19th Century.  

There is no known record of the Victorian restoration, but the chancel windows and the rare vaulted barrel roof are of Victorian construction.  The vents in the barrel vaulted roof (St Andrews Cross shaped) are all that remains to the coal heater formally situated in the middle of the nave this is still proved by photographic evidence in the possession of the Parish.

The main builders of the restoration were Hooper and Sons of Pontypridd.

Mr D T B Williams and his firm British Fram Concrete Construction Co. Ltd. were responsible for supplying much of the materials and also arranging for the Architects.

Members of the parochial church council (PCC) for the Parish of Llantwit Fardre played a major part in the restoration played a major part in the restoration. 

All of the Dressed Stones used for the restoration were collected by the PCC volunteers from valley Buildings and Waste TIP AT Caerphilly 

Pictures of Restoration

Apart for the registers there are very few other documents of importance. 

The interior of the church contains a number of memorials dating from the 17th century onwards.

In January 1905 Rev John Jenkins made an application for a Curate but was turned down. He tried again March 1914 with a letter to Bishop advising that in 1880 the congregation was only 3 with one service on a Sunday and the Population of Llantwit Fardre was 405 at the time. He reasoned that Communicants were now 150 with 3 Sunday Schools. Numbers on the 'books' were 406 and the population was set to increase with 2 collieries, but again, this petition was also turned down. 

In April 1914 a further letter was sent to Bishop advising that 68 Communicants attended the 8.30am service, with another 46 at the 11.00am service. In addition he held Sunday School and Evensong single handedly.  The Bishop replied noting the services, but doubted a grant would be made until population was 4,000.

Grant was finally agreed of £60 on condition Stipend was minimum of £120,   but still the Curate did not arrive until March 1916.