Restoration Work at “The Red Church”

One of the great privileges of our professional work is to be able to donate our time, knowledge and expertise to worthwhile local community building projects. In recent months, Jones Battye has been involved in a restoration project that means a great deal to us personally. Here’s what’s been going on:

St James’ Church, Llwydcoed, in the Parish of Aberdare St Fagan is affectionately referred to as “The Red Church” and is a real landmark in the area due to its striking red-brick architecture and prominent position. The Grade 2 listed church was built in 1895 and designed in the Early English Gothic style with more than a nod to the Arts and Crafts influence of the time.

Unfortunately, it has become apparent that the structure of the building needs a significant amount of urgent restoration work. Of initial concern was the oak floor which was causing a real health and safety problem.

Our preliminary inspection found that the floor of the church is made up of solid red tiled areas together with suspended wooden pew decks to the left and right of the main aisle and to the choir stalls. This oak floor was sinking away from the level of the tiles and the skirting boards, due to rotten structures beneath. Not only was it a major trip hazard but was in danger of total collapse. Over the years, various small repairs had been done to ‘patch up’ the problem, but it was now necessary for a major overhaul of the whole floor.

With no reserves for such a large, expensive project, we volunteered to apply for grants and to project manage the works on behalf of the Church Leadership Team. Over a period of 18 months the congregation has worked hard to fundraise with various activities, and grants were applied for from several different charities and organisations. The church was lucky enough to receive generous support from the Representative Body, the Welsh Church Act Fund, Allchurches Trust and the Mynydd Bwllfa Windfarm Fund. Work on the floor began in mid-February 2019 and is now nearly complete.

Firstly, after drawing up a plan of action, a specification of works, and engaging a team of conservation builders, work began by carefully removing and setting aside the oak strip flooring. You never really know what you are going to find when you lift floorboards, but in this case, it was rot of various types (wet and dry), broken pipes and poor ventilation!

All the rotten timbers were removed and replaced with new, carefully realigning the floor with the level of the tiles. The sub-floor ventilation which had become blocked over time was improved and new brass floor vents added and then the original oak strip floor was replaced and polished. Any new flooring that was required has been matched with the original and new oak skirting boards fitted. Now the floor is back to its original 1895 appearance and safe once more for the community to use.

Unfortunately, this is only the start of the restoration works needed at St James’. The next step is to replace the electrics and install new energy efficient lighting and heating to ensure that the church remains a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment to be. After that it is on to more fundraising to tackle the external structural problems including damaged brickwork and a leaky roof. The hope is that with continued support, both financial and technical, St James’ can continue to be an important part of the local area, both as a place of worship, a centre for community events and as a beautiful landmark in its own right.

If you would like to know more about what goes on in the Parish of Aberdare St Fagan and their fundraising, please see their website www.stfagansaberdare.co.uk.