St James - Churchyard - Pyle, Bridgend District, Wales, Great Britain.[ - Churchyard Cemeteries on Waymarking.com

The parish church of St James, Pyle, stands in its own large churchyard North of the village centre.

The St James Cross in the churchyard, often known as a Preaching cross, or Wayside cross, has four steps. The Cross was probably used to hold memorial services at burials in the churchyard before headstones came into popular use.

The graveyard contains several listed chest tombs which are regarded as significant examples of mid 19th century monuments.

"Known locally as 'The Upside-down Church' as it is reputed that when the sands threatened to engulf Kenfig, the old church of St James' in the town was dismantled stone by stone and re-built in 'reverse' at it's present location. An observation of the structure shows in some places small stones low down on the building supporting much larger stones above. A blocked-up priest's door on the south side of the chancel is one such element of this but another legacy of this transfer is best seen outside of the south wall of the nave. A carving on a small wooden shield on the north roof timber base indicates 1471 as the date for its rebuilding." Text Source: (visit link)

"The present St James was built on land called Grammus hill, formerly held by a Norman family called Grammus. Fortunately, it`s’ builders had the good sense to indicate the year of its’ erection—1471. This year is clearly carved on a small wooden shield seen from within the church on the northern wall-plate. Architectural features of the church are consistent with this date. However, the south nave wall shows evidence of a change of build between narrow coursed stone up to about five feet above ground level and good squared ashlar in upper courses. Differing stonework in the chancel also suggests different building campaigns. It may be that the fifteenth century work simply enlarged a much smaller and earlier building on the site." Text Source: (visit link)

The Church in Wales is made up of over 900 parishes. If you live in Wales, you will live in a parish. Each parish covers a specific geographic area and is looked after by a cleric assigned to it. Each Parish may have several church's. The parish Pyle and Kenfig, has two ancient churches.

Church in Wales - Llandaff Diocese: (visit link)

British listed buildings web site: (visit link)

"Administrative and biographical history: Pyle and Kenfig is an ancient parish situated north of Porthcawl in the hundred of Newcastle. Originally, the parish church, which was built in the mid-12th century and dedicated to St. James the Apostle, was situated in the medieval borough of Kenfig. However, Maudlam church, a chapel of ease, was built on higher ground in Kenfig around 1255 and dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, apparently to serve the needs to the people who were trying to escape the effects of the encroaching sand dunes. Eventually, the site of St. James' church in Kenfig had to be abandoned and the building was demolished and much of the building material encorporated into a new church, also dedicated to St. James, in Pyle. This became the parish church in 1485, despite Maudlam church being 200 years older." Text Source: (visit link)

Name of church or churchyard: St James - Churchyard - Pyle. Approximate Size: Large (100+)

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Date Logged Log User Rating   03/11/2014 veritas vita visited it