St. John The Baptist, Church Road, Llanblethian
Worship
The Church of St John the Baptist in Llanblethian is an historic church with parts of the church being of 12th and 13th Century construction. The tower was built in 1477 and restored in 1907. As with many medieval churches St John the Baptist was extensively restored by the Victorians in1896-7. The church is constructed of local stone with slate roofs, and comprises nave, chancel, south chapel and west tower.
St John the Baptist is built in the Decorated and Perpendicular styles. There is a restored late medieval arch braced roof to the nave; vaulted crypt to south chapel; medieval tub font in the chancel.
{}St John the Baptist, Llanblethian
Sub Wardens
Mrs Sue Cox
Mr Peter Davies
Sunday Service
9.15 am Eucharist
6 pm Y Cymun Bendigaid – First Sunday of the month.
Download the latest Pews News for details of services this week.
History
The pre-Norman origins of this church are obscure, but by the late 12th century the church of Llanblethian, with its three chapels of Welsh St Donats, Llanquian and Llansannor, was among the possessions of the Abbey of Tewkesbury.
In the 13th century, Cowbridge church was built as a chapel of ease to Llanblethian. By the end of the 15th century, Llanblethian was served by a vicar, while Cowbridge was served by a chaplain and a chantry priest.
Both the south chapel (or transept) and the south porch were added to an earlier building in the 14th century.
The imposing battlemented western tower was added in the late 15th century.
Upper and lower doorways in the north wall of the nave once gave access to a stone staircase leading to a rood which spanned the chancel arch. Other medieval survivals include the tub-shaped font, and, in the south chapel, a stone effigy of a civilian recumbent in an attitude of prayer, feet resting on a greyhound.
A vaulted crypt containing a large number of bones was discovered beneath the south chapel during restoration in 1896.
A simple wall tablet erected in 1763 commemorates the parents of Sir Leoline Jenkins, whose illustrious career encompassed the office of secretary of state under James II, and principal of Jesus College Oxford. Sir Leoline, a local benefactor, endowed Cowbridge Grammar School.
The church was heavily restored at the end of the 19th century. Note the multi-coloured stone pulpit designed by the architect C.B. Fowler with its preponderance of pink Penarth alabaster.
Flemingston, St Michael & All Angels
St John the Baptist, Llanblethian