Church of All Saints

Church of All Saints in Porthcawl is a Grade II listed Anglican church in the middle of this South Wales seaside town. It is a Late Gothic building of red sandstone, put up just before the First World War, and it stands on a corner site close to the town's main shopping street.

Where is the Church of All Saints in Porthcawl?

The church sits in the centre of Porthcawl, just north-west of St John's Street, the main shopping thoroughfare. The surrounding streets were built up in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as the town grew into a seaside resort, and the church belongs to that period of expansion. It is surrounded by a churchyard that is not used for burials. The church is recorded as being on Victoria Avenue, in the Diocese of Llandaff. Coordinates are roughly 51.4795, -3.7059.

What is the history of All Saints in Porthcawl?

The present building is the third home of the congregation. The first All Saints was founded beside the harbour in 1866 and also worked as a school. Later a large tin tabernacle was erected on the site of today's church; sources give 1892 or 1899 for its date. It served as a temporary church until a permanent building could be afforded.

The permanent church was designed in 1909 by George Halliday, architect to the Diocese of Llandaff. It was built between 1912 and 1914, paid for by subscription, at a cost of £9,750. Wikipedia describes it as a daughter church of St John's in Newton.

What does the church look like?

The style is Late Gothic, executed in red sandstone with ashlar dressings. The plan included a tower at the south-east corner, but it was never built, which gives the building a more modest outline than its designers intended.

In the 1960s a Lady Chapel and a choir vestry were added, designed by Trevor Roderick. The east window, installed in 1927, is by the stained-glass artist Karl Parsons.

Why is it listed?

Cadw, the Welsh historic environment service, gave the church Grade II status on 27 February 1992 (Cadw ID 11372). The listing recognises it as a well-preserved example of early 20th-century church architecture in a Welsh seaside town.

Visiting tips

• The church is within easy walking distance of the shops and the seafront, so it fits well into a stroll around central Porthcawl.
• The exterior and the churchyard can be viewed from the street; check locally for service times and opening hours before planning to go inside.
• Look for the red sandstone walls and the place where the unbuilt tower would have stood.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Church of All Saints in Porthcawl built? It was built between 1912 and 1914 to a design drawn up in 1909.

Who designed it? George Halliday, Diocesan Architect for Llandaff. The 1960s Lady Chapel is by Trevor Roderick.

Is it a listed building? Yes, Grade II, listed in 1992.

Is the churchyard used for burials? No, it is not used for burial.

Who made the east window? Karl Parsons, in 1927.