Our weekly look back at days gone by, with Abby Bolter
READERS of the Glamorgan Gazette’s Your Memories column have helped to solve a historical mystery.
Last month we ran this picture and asked readers, on behalf of local history author Natalie Murphy, if they could tell us what was happening, where it took place and when.
It had been thought to have been a photograph of the placement of the keystone during the building of Nolton Church Hall, Bridgend, but that theory had been discredited.
After the picture appeared in our February 2 edition, Natalie was contacted by a couple of readers.
One, Malcolm Reynolds, told her it was the placement of the keystone of a church in Cefn Cribwr, known as St Colman’s Church.
This gave Natalie a good lead and she was able to find out more by diving into the Glamorgan Gazette archive at the Ty’r Ardd Local and Family History Centre in Bridgend, with the help of John Dunkley-Williams.
She found out the picture was taken on July 5, 1925, at the placing of the keystone for the new Mission Church in Cefn Cribwr. It is understood the church is now a private residence.
The sanctuary was dedicated to St Colman and cost £2,000.
A report in the Glamorgan Gazette stated: “The first notable event to follow the creation of the new parish of Penyfai (of which the esteemed vicar is Rev HR Protheroe BA) took place on Saturday at Cefn Cribwr.
“Here, on a well-appointed site affording a fine view of the Bristol Channel, there is in the course of erection a mission church for this populous and growing side of the new parish, the foundation stones of which were now laid in an impressive and dignified ceremony.
“The foundation stones were laid by Master W G Llewellyn (son of Capt and Mrs WHC Llewellyn, Court Colman) and Mrs Mary Constance Williams, daughter of Mr and Mrs Gilbert Williams of Bridgend.”
The architects were Messers Cook and Edwards, Bridgend and the builder was W S Howell of Bridgend.
The chapel was to have seating for 275 people.
Have you got a historical mystery to solve? Contact Abby Bolter on 07789 928548 or abby.bolter@trinitymirror.com