Merthyr Dyfan

  • Sunday, 09:00 — Holy Eucharist (said)

Directions

off the southern part of Merthyr Dyfan Road, Barry

Nearest post code: CF62 9TL

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Plus Code: 9C3RCP8G+V85

The Parish Church of Saint Dyfan and Saint Teilo, Merthyr Dyfan

Merthyr Dyfan church is dedicated to St Dyfan, who, tradition relates, was sent to Wales by Pope Eleutherius in 180 AD, accompanied by St Fagan. The site of Dyfan’s martyrdom came to be called ‘Merthyr Dyfan’, the burial place of Dyfan. The present church was built in the early 13th century. There was also an ancient well from a natural spring, just west of the church, called Ffynnon Mynwent (FƏN-on MƏN-went, graveyard well); it was excavated in the mid-20th century but has since become overgrown.

There is a simple, quiet service of Holy Eucharist at Merthyr Dyfan on Sunday mornings, along with a few other special services during the year.

Our ambitious plans to modernise and improve the building are underway, and we’re already proud of how much more inviting the church is. We’re always glad to welcome new people into their church.

All of our team minister at each of the four churches, but Fr Dan has special responsibility for Merthyr Dyfan.

Rectors of Merthyr Dyfan

  • 1640: Thomas Maddocks
  • 1669: Philip Hawkins
  • 1706: Lucas Thomas (also Rector of Cadoxton)
  • 1828: Roper Trevor Tyler (“of Merthyr-Dovan and Winvye”)
  • 1833: Gabriel Powell (same man as Rector of Cadoxton?)
  • 1834: Charles Herbert Jenner (also Rector of Wenvoe)
  • c. 1867 – October 1902: Richard Evans (born 1818, died in post; previously curate of Merthyr Dovan and then of Cadoxton)
  • In the 20th century, when there were often assistant priests (or curates) besides the Rector, the Rector usually took direct responsibility for St Paul’s, delegating much of the work at the Parish Church (Merthyr Dyfan).
  • January 1903 – 1925: David Weatherill (previously Curate-in-Charge for St Paul’s Barry since 1900); later also Rural Dean of Barry, called Rector of Merthyr Dyfan (Barry Docks) (died 6 June 1933) Weatherill was opposed by protestants for his ritualism: https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4608830/4608835/44
  • 1925–1932: John Alfred Bowen Jones (died 9 March 1981)
  • 1933–1938: Douglas Keith Maclean Peel, Rector of Merthyr Dyfan with St Paul’s Barry (died 20 April 1959)
  • 1938–?: W. L. Harris (also Rural Dean of Barry from 1947)
  • 1955–1966: John David Griffiths (died in post, 25 November 1966)
  • 1967 – 30 September 1984 (retired): Colin Mackie David (honorary Canon from 1983; died 25 December 1993) In early 1971, the rectory moved from the west end of Porthkerry Road to lower Buttrills Road.
  • 1985–1990: David Robert Lloyd-Richards (retired 2008)
  • 1990–2001/2: Terrence Alexander (Terry) Doherty
  • 2002–2016: Robert Charles Parrish (became Vicar in the Rectorial Benefice of Barry) Last to live in the rectory.

Vicars at Merthyr Dyfan in the Rectorial Benefice of Barry (called Barry Ministry Area)

  • 2016–2023: Robert Parrish (Vicar)
  • April – November 2023: Emma Ackland (Curate-in-Charge)
  • 2023–present: Dan Barnes-Davies SCP (Vicar)

Some assistant clergy of the Parish of Merthyr Dyfan

  • In 1893: J. Price
  • 25 August 1900 – 1903: David Weatherill (deaconed 18 December 1892, priested 18 February 1894) Curate-in-Charge of St Paul’s (previously curate of St German’s, Roath; became Rector)
  • Before 1903 – 1913: H. Morgan Jones (or Morgan H. Jones), previously of Aberdare, became vicar of Llangynwyd and Maesteg
  • 1913–?: Frank T. Picton-Warlow, previously rector of LLangasty-Talyllyn
  • ?–1918: Thomas Jones (helped at Eglwys Sant Ioan) became vicar of Abercymnoi, Aberaman
  • There was a memorial in St Paul’s to a Fr Christopher, who served at a similar time to Fr Bowen Jones
  • William Ernest Leonard Houlden (ordained 1927)
  • Edward John St Clare Perry (ordained 1931)
  • Alan Stephen Rice-Jones (died 23 May 1981) served his title at Merthyr Dyfan c. 1930s
  • Hywel Victor Evans (ordained 1938)
  • 1951–1956: Roy Meredith Owen (ordained 1945, died 2006; honorary curate of Cadoxton, 1982–1985)
  • 1959–1962: Arthur “Lloyd” Lloyd-Davies (ordained 1957; died 2013)
  • 1963–1966: David Hartley Lee (ordained 1963; died 2000)
  • 1967–1971: C. Paul A. Higginson, Curate (ordained deacon 23 September 1967, priested 26 September 1968) Lived at Highfield Road
  • 1971–1974: John Gale (ordained 1969; later Archdeacon of Knysna, South Africa; retired 2000)
  • 1974–1976: Elwyn Bernard Thomas (ordained 1971; later incumbent in Maesteg and as Archdeacon of St Asaph; retired 2018)
  • 1977–1978: Morley Roland Morgan
  • 1979–1982: Lawrence William Way
  • before 1985 – before 1991: Dennis S. R. Brown; lived at Highfield Road then Woodlands Court (retired by 1987)
  • before 1985 – before 1993: N. Griffiths; lived at Coed Mawr (retired by 1987)
  • 1987–1990: Colin James Sanderson (ordained deacon 27 June 1987, priested 3 July 1988; retired 2021); lived at Marloes Close, became Curate of Cadoxton-juxta-Barry
  • 1991–1994: Stephen Michael John, lived at Marloes Court
  • (Robert Stretton, provincial “Trainer in Evangelism” lived at Woodlands Court but wasn’t parish clergy)
  • 1995–1999: Dean John Atkins (ordained 1995; now Vicar for Butetown in South Cardiff MA)
  • 1998–2007: Elizabeth (Betty) Butler
  • 2000–2002: Richard Neil Parry
  • 2013–2017: Brian Taylor (retired; born 1961, died 2017; former Vicar of Cwmparc et al.)