Church of St Simon and St Jude

Heritage listing

Reason for designation: Graded II* as a largely late medieval church, notable for its fine panelled roofs and arcade. History: Anglican parish church, probably of C14 origins, though no datable detail pre C15. Double nave plan with S aisle apparently added in C15 to an existing nave, and then a tower added at W end of the S aisle. The tower is unusually broad, not vaulted within, such that there must be some doubt as to whether it was ever full height; it is now gable-roofed only a little higher than the church roofs. The panelled C15 roofs are particularly fine, and rare in the county. The church was repaired in 1850 and restored 1883-5 by a London architect for Howel Gwyn of Neath, who owned the Blaensawdde estate. John Norton was Gwyn s favoured architect in Neath from the 1860s to the late 1880s and may have been employed here. There were repairs in 1913. The rounded churchyard suggests a Celtic site and it seems that the 2 saints of the parish name were Potolius and Notolius, sons of a local saint, rather than Simon and Jude. Exterior: Church, rubble stone, chiefly red sandstone, with slate roofs and coped gables. Double-nave plan with added square SW block, said to be a truncated broad tower. N aisle (nave) apparently earlier, see straight joint and battered plinth, but all the detail C15 of the same type as on S aisle. Tower added last, see straight joint to S aisle. Tower has heavy cornerstones, segmental-pointed W door with hood, all C19, and signs that gable stonework is mostly renewed, C19 apex lancet with hoodmould and single bell. Gable has cross finial W while E gable has small chimney. Side walls have C19 lancet. S aisle has 2 original C15 2-light red sandstone flat-headed windows with depressed-arched heads and hoodmoulds, one C19 copy. C15 pointed doorw

From Cadw under OGL v3.