We don't know when Saint John's was built. We do know that there was a priest here in 1189: his name was Glou and he was witness to a charter setting up the 'novam villam' or new town, 'y drenewydd yn notais', the New Town in Nottage, which became a small port as well. The charter is from Margam Abbey and is undated, coming from between 1127 and 1183. Glou is the last priest we know anything of until 1400: we do know that by 1330 the two parishes of Newton and Nottage had been united and the earlier, Saxon, church at Nottage abandoned. There were three manors in the parish, Pembroke, Herbert and Lougher and they presented the rectors in turn until disestablishment in 1921.
|
|
It is obvious from looking at the church that it originally had a dual purpose - designed by the Normans for worship and for defence against the Welsh. The tower originally had a flat roof and the eight corbels jutting out on the east side suggest the presence of a look-out platform. The present roofing was originally installed by Jasper Tudor of Pembroke, the uncle of Henry VII. He also extended the church, building the chancel in the fifteenth century. |
The Tower was built for defence and holds a light ring of eight bells (tenor 8¾ cwt), two originally from 1622 and two from 1689 but all recast when the original six were augmented in 1981.
The Porch was originally used as a parish meeting place and schoolroom - there are plenty of carved initials from bored children! Inside the porch door you can see the huge socket originally used to bar the church against the native invaders.
| The Font, immediately inside, is carved out of one single block of sandstone, suitable for the total immersion of infants. The bowl is octagonal, on an octagonal shaft chamfered off to rest on a square base. This rests on an older foundation and is probably dated about 1300. |
|
|
|
|
On the body of the pulpit and interfacing vine scroll decorates the cornice, below which is shown the flagellation, or whipping, of our Lord before his crucifixion. He is tied to a post with his hands behind his back and is naked apart from a loin-cloth. He is, unusually, clean-shaven, with shoulder-length hair. A soldier stands each side; in one hand they hold the end of the ropes securing the feet to the post, in the other a whip of knotted cords. The symbolism is this: The design of the angels holding the chalice represents the Latin word ECCE (behold!) The five crosses immediately below on the lintel represent the five wounds of the crucified Jesus. The vine scroll on the cornice represents the AGNUS DEI or Lamb of God. So we have 'Behold the Lamb of God' with Him shown underneath. There are signs that the pulpit was once painted; the mortar is to be chased out and replaced during the current restoration. Entry to the pulpit is only for the slim and sure-of-foot, being through a staircase within the wall.
|
|
Next to the pulpit can be seen remnants of a medieval wall painting. Uncovered when an unsafe monument was removed in the 1990s, it was itself obscured by a scriptural over-painting from Puritan times; this has now been removed and will be re-mounted elsewhere. Close to the original position of the altar it seems to be showing the Beheading of John the Baptist, the dedication of the church. |
Wall painting was extensively used for decoration and instruction, just as stained glass still is. The chancel arch is the original east end of the church, opened up for the Tudor extension. If you look up you can see two squints, allowing a view of the altar from the rood screen which once separated nave and chancel. The rood was destroyed by the protestants.
| The Altar, huge and partly obscured by the reredos, was moved here from its original position. The mensa, or table-stone is some 2½ metres long and you can just make out the five crosses once cut into its service. Stone altars were commanded to be destroyed during the reign of Edward VI (1548-1553) but somehow this one survived. |
|
Four of the Stained Glass Windows are worthy of note. The East Window showing Jesus as King of Kings flanked by Saint Peter and Saint John is by Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898). Like the pulpit the Christ here is beardless. The large 'Saint Francis' window and the 'Luke & John' window are both good 20th century work, as is the War Memorial window near the tower, a complex and colourful work by Holiday, himself a pupil of Burne-Jones.
|
|
|
| The east window | "St Francis" window |
The Church owns a chalice given by Queen Elizabeth in 1580 and a paten dated 1722, the gift of Anne Lougher daughter of Richard Lougher, Lord of Tythegstone, the last of his line. The rest of the plate is modern. The earliest register is marked number 2 and dates from 1754. Number follows and is the marriage register from 1813-1866. The name 'Porthcawl' is first recorded in the registers on May 28th 1828. All that remains of the original Churchyard Cross is the 14th century base. The Cross was replaced in 1927.
RESTORATION
A programme of restoration has been in place since 1989, the 800th anniversary. New vestries have been built along the side of the church, part of the nave roof has been replaced and so on. It is hoped to bring this all to a close in 2002 following a grant of £101,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £35,000 found by the parish. This will involve closing the church for some time during the year while the work is carried out but will enable us to continue to serve our local community and any visitors. The closure dates will be posted here; you are very welcome at any other time!
