St Paul's Church, Sketty, Swansea

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Awdurdod Unedol (Lleol)Swansea
Hen SirGlamorgan
CymunedSketty
Math O SafleEGLWYS
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St Paul's church is located on the east side of De La Beche Road, at its junction with Gower Road (A4118), set back within a churchyard. It was built for the Vivian family (industrialists of Swansea) in memory of the first wife of Henry Hussey Vivian (died 1848). The church has Geometrical, Perpendicular and Decorated features, to the designs of architect Henry Woodyer It was consecrated in 1850 and became the parish church in 1851. It was enlarged in 1908 and 1929 to include aisles, chancel and vestry.
The church is constructed of snecked, hammer-dressed local stone with Bath stone ashlar. It consists of tower with broach spire, nave and chancel in line - as originally built - with the addition of north and south aisles, flat-roofed vestry and gabled porch to north, and south chapel to chancel; the latter is a Vivian family burial chapel. The interior is spacious with tiled floors and open arch-braced roof to nave, aisles, and chancel. The nave has five bays, the arcade with octagonal piers with ball-flower capitals. Stained glass includes works by Hardman (1856) and Kempe & Tower (c.1923). The Vivian chapel is dominated by the standing white marble figure of Jesse Vivian (d.1848) by Pietro Tenerani.
Sources:
Extracts from Cadw Listing description; J.Newman, Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan (1995), p.617-8.

RCAHMW, 22 May 2015