Our Lady of The Rosary Roman Catholic Church, Brecon Road,Morganstown

Heritage listing

Reason for designation: Included for its special architectural interest as a substantial late C19 church, well designed by a notable architect of the period and a rare example of his work in Wales. Good interior with some high-quality fittings. Included, notwithstanding the alterations, is the attached presbytery, important for its special historic interest in the establishment of a permanent Catholic church in the town of Merthyr. History: 1893-4. Substantial church built for the Benedictines to designs by the notable architect J S Hansom, his only Catholic church in Wales. Plan form of chancel flanked by gabled chapels, aisled nave, lower transepts, W porch. C13 Gothic style. Merthyr, like many towns in S Wales, saw rapid industrial and population growth in the early C19. Much of this growth in the Merthyr and Dowlais area was made up by migrant workers, many from Ireland, recruited to the ironworks and collieries. A mission was established in the town c1825 in a loft over a slaughterhouse at Pondside and served by Rev. P Portal from Newport. By 1839 there was a resident priest, Rev. James Carroll, and he established a school for 50 children and was holding Mass each Sunday in the town and at Rhymney. Fr Carroll was able to secure land and funds for the building of St Illtyd’s church in Dowlais in 1844-6 (Rec. No. 11517). After the Benedictines took over the Merthyr mission in 1859 plans were made to build a permanent church but they were unsuccessful. The Carmelites took over c1864 and were equally unsuccessful in raising the funds required and after they left the mission in 1878 the Benedictines returned under Fr Bernard Sanders and Fr Dunston Ross. Fr Ross produced plans for a priest house, built by his successor Canon Stephen Wade 1884-5 at a cost of 1,000 on land

From Cadw under OGL v3.