Catholic Church of St Benedict, includes entrance gates and railings is a Grade II listed building in the Swansea local planning authority area, Wales. First listed on 2 February 2024. Church. 1 related planning application.

Catholic Church of St Benedict, includes entrance gates and railings

WRENN ID
upper-span-crag
Grade
II
Local Planning Authority
Swansea
Country
Wales
Date first listed
2 February 2024
Type
Church
Source
Cadw listing

Description

The Catholic Church of St Benedict, together with its entrance gates and railings, is a Modernist church built on an east-west longitudinal plan. The structure is framed with a portal, faced and rendered, and has a concrete tile roof.

The west wall is partly glazed, with a rectilinear glazing pattern on the left side, framed by heavy concrete. The right-hand section is solid. Attached to the ground floor is a semi-circular, flat-roofed entrance canopy, which is infilled underneath with an ambulatory. This ambulatory is lit by slit windows set into its curved outer wall. A triangular concrete campanile, open on its south side, rises above the southwest corner of the church. The slit windows and flat roof of the ambulatory continue along the south wall, which also incorporates a side chapel, confessionals, and a sacristy, accessed internally. The main wall of the church is set back above this level. Small, seemingly randomly arranged pierced windows are present in the upper left of the south wall. A further extension projects from the southeast corner, featuring a wide doorway in the west wall, accessed by four steps, five tall windows in the east elevation, and a concave splay to the south elevation. The east end is semi-circular, rising to a point where it meets the roof ridge. Full-height slit windows are located on either side of this eastern sweep, with reeded render in the centre panels. The north elevation, facing Sketty Road, is facetted below the eaves line and divided into three bays. Each bay features a grid of alternating small square window openings and raised panels, with blank angled panels between the bays, and a further tall, angled glazed bay on the left, which provides light to the sanctuary.

The entrance to the church is at the west end, through the curved ambulatory with a pierced full-height external wall. Inside is a baptistry, separated by a curving partition wall with full-height splits, which allows a view of the font upon entry. A chapel and confessionals are located within the south wall. The chapel is situated beneath an organ gallery at the west end and features a concrete fronted design with floating steps, a wrought iron gate, handrail, and balusters.

The nave has exposed roof framing. The church includes terracotta Stations of the Cross by David John, along with pendant light fittings (likely also by John). Timber benches are provided. The sanctuary, wider than the nave, is lit by tall slit windows on either side and raised by a single step. The windows contain stained glass. The altar rails are made of Mona marble, and a forward altar is set in place, with an inset tabernacle behind. A stone ambo and tapering font, also of Mona marble, are present alongside a large painted crucifix depicting Our Lady and St John on the east wall.

Detailed Attributes

Structured analysis including materials, construction techniques, architect attribution, and related listed building consent applications. Sign in or create a free account to view.

Matched applications, energy data and sale records are assembled automatically and may contain errors. Flag incorrect data.