Church Of St Mary

St Mary’s Church stands in Coity Higher, a village in Bridgend County Borough in southern Wales. Built mainly in the 14th century, it later received major changes in the 16th century, including the tower. In 1860 architects J. Pritchard and J.P. Seddon carried out a thorough renovation. The east end was enriched with stained glass by Morris & Co. P.S. Webb designed the patterns and P.P. Marshall carved the figures. Scenes include Christ saving Peter from drowning, healing a woman, and Thomas the Doubter. The church is noted for its Grade I listing, awarded in 1963. Its octagonal font belongs to the 19th century, while the pulpit was added in 1942. The tower and nave show the 16th-century work, yet the overall plan remains medieval. Inside, the roof timbers and windows combine Gothic lines with later details. The interior keeps the proportions of a 14th-century church despite later restorations. Visitors find a quiet stone building set among houses in Coity Higher. The tower rises above the roofline, marking the church from a distance. Inside, the stained glass throws coloured light across the nave. The font and pulpit stand where they were placed long after the first walls were raised. The Grade I listing recognises the building’s national importance.