---
title: "St Mary, Llansawel"
description: "Located in Llansawel, Glamorgan. Built 1891–92, retaining an earlier tower; site possibly recorded 1254. Diocese of Llandaff. Grade II. Gothic style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Church in Wales","Glamorgan","Llansawel","Briton Ferry","Grade II","Gothic","J. P. Seddon"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/st-mary-llansawel"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T02:09:35.025Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-07T20:33:08.407Z"
location: "Llansawel, Glamorgan"
country: "Wales"
county: "Glamorgan"
town: "Llansawel"
address: "Church Street, Llansawel, Glamorgan, SA11 2SG"
postcode: "SA11 2SG"
built: "1891–92, retaining an earlier tower; site possibly recorded 1254"
architect: "H. Francis Clarke of Briton Ferry, supervised by J. P. Seddon"
denomination: "Church in Wales"
dedications: ["Mary"]
diocese: "Llandaff"
grade: "II"
style: "Gothic"
materials: "Snecked rock-faced stone with brick dressings to openings; concrete pantile roof replacing slate; earlier rubble tower"
website: "https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/structure/church/4486/"
openingHours: "We hold open days a few times a year but access to the church can be granted at any time by contacting the warden, enquiries for access can be sent to 07804 311579."
parish: "Afon Nedd Ministry Area"
listEntryUrl: "https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/listedbuilding/FullReport?id=23301"
gridReference: "SS 735 942"
accessNotes: "Ramp or level access available on request. Non-accessible toilets in church. Level access to the main areas"
---

# St Mary, Llansawel

St Mary’s is a Grade II Church in Wales parish church on Church Street, Briton Ferry (Llansawel), Neath Port Talbot, in the Diocese of Llandaff and the Afon Nedd Ministry Area.

## Overview

Cadw records a church of 1891–92 by H. Francis Clarke of Briton Ferry under the supervision of J. P. Seddon, built at a cost of £1,800 to replace an earlier church of which the tower was retained. Nineteenth-century views show that older church in a Gothic-survival style of the seventeenth or early eighteenth century. The foundation may be earlier: the site is possibly first mentioned in 1254, and Cadw notes that the font and the base of a churchyard cross are the only features that can belong to such a date.

The present Gothic church has nave and chancel under one roof, north and south aisles under outshut roofs, a south porch and the retained south tower. Coflein describes snecked rock-faced stone with brick dressings and a concrete pantile roof replacing the original slate. The three-stage tower is probably seventeenth-century rubble with a battered base; the shadow of the earlier nave is visible on its east face. Inside, timber nave arcades run four bays on the south and seven on the north, continuous with a west church hall. Cadw lists the building for its wooden arcaded interior and stained glass, and for the earlier tower.

## Further Information

- [Cadw listed building 23301](https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/listedbuilding/FullReport?id=23301)
- [Church in Wales: St Mary, Briton Ferry](https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/structure/church/4486/)
- [Coflein NPRN 420953](https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/420953)