St Dyfrig's Church

St Dyfrig’s Church stands in the village of Treforest, a few kilometres north of Pontypridd in South Wales. Built in the 1920s, it replaced an earlier 19th-century church founded after Irish immigrants arrived in the area following the Great Famine. The first building opened in 1868 on Bridge Street with a school attached, but the school moved in 1884. For many years the congregation grew so large that worshippers had to sit outside the door.

The present church was consecrated in November 1927 by Archbishop Francis Mostyn after work began in 1926. In the 1930s the dedication changed from Dubricius to Dyfrig, and in the 1950s a new altar was installed. A life-sized crucifix and side-panels were added in 1999 by artist Penanne Crabbe. The building gained listed status in 2001 and remains open during the week.

Inside, the church provides a quiet place for prayer and reflection. Students from the nearby University of South Wales often attend during term time. The interior includes the 1950s altar and the 1999 crucifix with its side-panels. The building’s simple brick exterior gives little hint of the rich history gathered within its walls.