Grace Community Church is the home church of one of my best friends, pastor John Gillespie. It is…read morean independent evangelical church located on the A387 leading into Looe on the south coast of Cornwall. The church is a vibrant, spiritual place with a lively congregation of all ages. The place really feels alive and relevant to the local community and I've always received the warmest of welcomes on my visits. John and his family live right next door to the church and what a magnificent location, especially at sunrise when dawn breaks over the countryside. It makes a townie like me smile. If you're a local, this would be a fantastic church to be involved in

Tucked away to the south of Cowbridge, the prosperous village of Llanblethian feels more like a…read moresuburb of the larger market town, but in fact pre-dates it: mediaeval Cowbridge was founded within the older parish of Llanblethian. It is fitting, then, that Llanblethian has a very fine, well-preserved mediaeval church, located at the top of a hill overlooking the River Thaw. History The earliest documentary evidence for the church is a charter from the mid 12th Century, when it was a possession of Tewkesbury abbey. The current fabric dates from between the 12th and 15th centuries, the most notable additions being the tower (said to have been a gift of Anne Neville, wife of Richard III in 1477) and a substantial late-Gothic porch with pinnacles. The inevitable Victorian restoration stripped the interior of its plaster, but the interior is atmospheric and beautifully maintained. The church was originally dedicated to St Bleddian, the Welsh form of St Lupus, the 5th-century Bishop of Troyes. The church From the outside, the church presents a simple plan of west tower, nave and chancel, with a substantial south transept and adjoining south porch. The 15th century tower is reminiscent of those of Somerset, with stepped diagonal buttressing and traceried bell openings. On entering, the interior is dominated by those stripped walls, but is softened by a beautiful roof, with sturdy arched bracing, and a generous collection of wall memorials dating from the 17th century onwards. Indeed, more ancient memorials cover the floor throughout, as well as the walls of the porch. The chancel arch in the Early English style is clearly modern, but the tower arch is original, with two wonderful corbels of rather stout men in late 15th Century costume. The tower space contains a number of ancient tomb slabs with crosses, presumably from the tombs of earlier priests. The south wall of the transept incorporates a large Gothic niche containing a mediaeval effigy of a priest; investigations in the crypt uncovered a skeleton of a man - presumably a priest - holding a pewter chalice to his chest. The chalice is now in the church's possession. Other fittings of note include an ancient wooden door in the north wall and a handsome modern wooden reredos. The church is kept open during daylight hours, and will amply repay a visit; note that the roads in the village are both steep and subject to width restrictions.

Wedmore's magnificent parish church encompasses over 800 years of history and has many features of…read moreinterest. Wedmore first enters the history books as the place where, after the battle of Edington in 878, King Alfred signed a peace treaty with the Viking, Guthrum. The present church dates largely from the 15th Century, although its south door is from around 1200 and the South East Chapel and Chancel date from around 1300. The church comprises a spacious nave and aisles of 5 bays, with a south aisle chapel and north and south chancel chapels. The roofs of the South aisle chapel and North chancel chapel date from the 15th Century, the latter has the remains of some painted decoration. From the exterior, it's robust central crossing tower is a notable landmark. The church has some furnishings of interest: a 14th Century font, a well-preserved 15th Century wall painting of St Christopher; a classic 17th Century Jacobean pulpit; and some interesting memorials. My favourites were the brasses to George and Thomas Hodges of 1684 and 1583 - George depicted in a fine cavalier outfit. The church has a regular cycle of services: on Sundays the 10:30 services are delivered in a variety of styles, from traditional Eucharists to an informal cafe style church.

Tucked away almost literally - among the rolling hills of the Vale of Glamorgan is the small Welsh…read moretown of Llantwit Major (Llanilltud Fawr). Although to-day it has a sprawl of dull suburbs, serving commuters to Cardiff, the centre of the old town, with its rambling narrow lanes of stone cottages, is a delight. There's a 15th century town hall, some fine 16th century inns (I recommend the Old Swan for well-kept real ale), and at its centre, the church of St Illtud (sometimes spellt Illtyd). The church, although modest in scale, is one of the most important historically in the UK. Here, in 496 AD, the aforementioned St Illtud - a Breton by birth - established a monastery, which rapidly became a major seat of learning in Dark Ages Europe: at its height, it is reputed to have had 700 houses, 7 halls, and 2,000 students from all over the world, studying theology, poetry and rhetoric, geometry, grammar and arithmetic. Recognised as the earliest centre of learning in the UK, the ravages of Viking raids in the 8th and 9th centuries and the relative decline of Celtic Christianity saw the college peter out in the mediaeval period. Had it survived, it would predate Bologna as Europe's oldest University by 500 years. Alas, it did not; but the monastery church did, and it is a fascinating monument. The building unusually retains its form of having two churches: a western church for the parishioners, and the main eastern church reserved for the monks, which has both a second nave and a chancel. The tower and crossing separate the two. Ruins of a Galillee Chapel beyond the western part indicate it was once larger still. The western church is rather scrubbed now, but it has a lovely 15th century wooden roof, 13th and 16th century tombstones, and an important collection of 7th to 9th century Celtic crosses, commemorating the Welsh kings and saints buried here. Despite their quality and importance, these appear strangely unappreciated they were hemmed in by stacks of chairs during my last visit... The crossing itself, dating from the 13th century, is of little interest save for the large decorated Norman font, but the nave of the eastern church now the main worship space certainly is. The architecture is an astonishingly spare and primitive gothic, with pointed arches resting on square pillars, and whitewashed walls, bare of carving, presumably reflecting the relative impoverishment of the local mediaeval economy. But extensive remnants of frescoes survive, dated around 1400, including a fine (and larger-than-life) St Christopher carrying Christ, a well-preserved one of St Mary Magdalene, and some geometric decoration. There are also stone carvings and tombs from the 14th century, and in the chancel a fine 15th carved stone reredos, donated by the Raglan family. As the photographs show, the church's modern surroundings are lovely: the graveyard is beautifully maintained (more arboretum than cemetery, with yews, oaks and palms). On my last visit, the nearby cottage gardens were veritably bursting with lilac and hawthorn.

St Dyfrigs Roman Catholic |Church is situated in the Broadway is the only catholic church in the…read morePontypridd area. It is a very active community with a youth club. a parish hall that has frequent events, for example a table top sale, social gatherings , concerts, and other gatherings. There are services during the week and Fridays the church is open all day for those who wish to pray privately. The main services are held on Saturday evening at 7.30pm. and on Sunday morning at 10am It is not exclusively for Catholics but for anyone who wishes to take part is very welcome to attend a Christian service or indeed any of the simpler daily services. St Dyfrigs is served by the Rev. Gareth Leyshon a very popular priest who was ordained in May 2007 Fr. Leyshon is unusual ,and possibly unique ,in that before he became a priest he was a professional scientist with a doctorate in the study of dust in distant galaxies. Midnight Mass is a popular occasion for Catholics and non Catholics alike There is the true story of someone phoning the church on Christmas eve asking ' What time is midnight mass Father ? ' I confirm that midnight mass is at 12 midnight with carol singing before at 11.30 pm What a splendid way to welcome in Christmas now that the bulk shopping spree is over for another year ! For those who find it too late to attend at midnight there is another mass at 10am on Christmas morning However one does not have to wait until Christmas to pay a visit The Sunday morning Mass is a popular one and is attended by many students from the university of Glamorgan during term time.

I first went to Highfields Church in Roath with a friend, as it's in a area I really don't know…read morethat well at all. Immediately I felt welcomed and surrounded by a good group of people that I could easily relate to. This is an independent church with a quickly growing congregation with families, young people and older generations too. It is a very popular choice for students from Cardiff University, UWIC and Glamorgan. For these reasons there are lots of different activities going on for children, students, twenties, men and women. These range from sports and music activities to ambitious hikes up mountains. This is an outstanding church which really gives its all to the community around it.

A modern church and unique!…read more This church does not worship symbols, idols, or objects, nor do it use them to protect it's people. It has a cross at the heart of it, representing Jesus Christ and his eternal sacrifice. This church believes in Jesus Christ as the son of God, and God to be the father and the Holy Spirit and all are joined as one. They sing cheerful and heart warming songs, they have children groups, teenager groups, and adults groups. They even have Christianity Explored, suitable for the non-Christian folk. It is a massive church and the congregation is huge and possibly forever on growing. During the holidays there is a Holiday Bible club. The sermons are the best sermons I have ever had the pleasure to listen to! They are informative, and read along a passage or two from the bible. They are a missionary based church and plenty of missionaries are based around the world. Everyone is very friendly and they have coffee and tea in between the two services that take place during term time. During the summer holidays they have one service at 10:30am. The other services normally are at: 9:30am and 11:30am, there is always an evening service at 7:30pm.

Llancarfan is a delightful village in the Vale of Glamorgan, tucked away up a narrow valley (and…read moreaccessed - be warned - via some very narrow lanes). Best known for its pub, the Fox and Hounds, it is also home to one of Wales's oldest Christian sites. Here, St Cadoc founded a small monastery around 515AD. Viking raids and economic decline meant that, by the Norman conquest, the original foundation was probably a shadow of its former self, but evidence points to small Norman church having been founded on the site, rebuilt between the 12th and 15th centuries into the impressive church we see today. As well as the robust Gothic architecture, the church retains a fine mediaeval screen and Retford. But Pride of place is reserved for the substantial remains of mediaeval wall paintings, which rank among the best in Britain. For here are a superb rendition of St George and the dragon, being watched by a fine red-bearded king, his queen and the daughter (who St George is saving), with her sacrificial lamb, all watched over by the Virgin Mary. Then there is s complete rendition of the Seven Deadly Sins and a less complete depiction of the Seven Corporal Acts of Mercy. Finally there is a wonderful death and gallant, where a rotting corpse (complete with toad and worms) leads a young 15th Century dandy out of the church and into the graveyard. This is the only surviving depiction of this motif in a British church. The tower has a small Romanesque window set high up, possibly re-used from the earlier Norman church. The church still has regular services and is well worth a visit.