St Theodore's Church, Port Talbot

The Church of St Theodore is a parish church in Port Talbot, Wales; Located on the A48 opposite Maes-y-Cwrt Terrace and bordered on two sides by the Talbot Memorial Park, it is administered within the diocese of Llandaff.[2]

St Theodore's Church
DenominationChurch in Wales
Websitewww.st-theodore.org.uk
History
DedicationTheodore of Tarsus
Clergy
Minister(s)Rev. M. Williams[1]

The church was designed by John Loughborough Pearson, and it is the largest of his churches in Wales.[3] It was built with financial assistance from Miss Emily Charlotte Talbot, a local philanthropist who lived at nearby Margam Castle, in memory of her late brother Theodore Mansel Talbot (1839–1876), whose premature death resulted in her inheriting the family fortune.[4] The family was heavily influenced by the Oxford Movement within the Church of England.[5] It replaced the smaller Holy Cross Church (also known as "Chapel of Ease".[3]

The church is built primarily in the Early English style, and dressed mainly in Bath stone. The pulpit is of Portland stone. An item of interest is a memorial to Lt Rupert Price Hallowes, a Victoria Cross-winning resident of Port Talbot (killed in action in 1915).[3]

The organ was installed in the church prior to its consecration in August 1897, and was made by Charles Martin of Oxford; it was both his largest and his last work. It cost over £800 and was paid for by public subscription. The organ was completely restored in 2000, when the church itself underwent substantial refurbishment.[6]

The restoration project included the removal and replacement of all stained glass within the church, which include four works from the studio of Clayton and Bell;[7] the windows proved impossible to clean as they were badly affected by pollution from local heavy industry. The stonework was also cleaned, and a new lighting system was installed. The original iron railings outside the church were repaired. The Sanctus Bell, which had previously been removed because of the dangerous condition of the bellcote, was re-hung following repairs.[8]

References
  1. "Port Talbot St Theodore". Benefices – the Church in Wales. Church in Wales. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  2. "St Theodore's Church". Official website. Church in Wales. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  3. "Church of St Theodore, Port Talbot". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  4. Nigel Yates (15 April 2011). Guide to the Churches and Chapels of Wales. University of Wales Press. p. 155. ISBN 978-1-78316-457-8.
  5. "Theodore Mansel Talbot". Official website. Church in Wales. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  6. "The Organ by Charles Martin of Oxford". Official website. Church in Wales. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  7. "Church of St Theodore, Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot". Stained Glass in Wales. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  8. "The Restoration of St Theodore's Church 1997–2001". Official website. Church in Wales. Retrieved 15 April 2016.

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