St Mair’s Church Dowlais – The Melting Pot

Merthyr’s Lost Landmarks: Merthyr’s Lost Churches

In the latest of our articles looking at Merthyr’s lost landmarks, here is a pictorial look at of some of the churches in the area that have disappeared into the ether….

St Mair’s Church, Dowlais

Built 1871-74. Demolished 1963.

Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

St John’s Church, Penydarren

Built 1858. Demolished 2009.

St Mary’s Church, Alexandra Road, Merthyr

Built ? Demolished ?

St Mary’s Church, Georgetown

Built 1860. Demolished ?

St Peter’s Church, Abercanaid

Built 1911. Demolished 2015

St James Church, Pentrebach

Built 1860. Demolished ?

St Mary’s Church, Merthyr Vale

Built 1926. Demolished 1967

St Cynon’s Church, Quakers’ Yard

Built 1861. Demolished 1989.

Photo courtesy of www.treharrisdistrict.co.uk

If anyone has photographs of any other churches that are no longer with us, and there are a few I can’t find photos of, or if anyone can fill in any details, please get in touch.

A New Church in Dowlais

From the Western Mail 150 years ago today….

St Mair’s Church, Dowlais. Photo courtesy of the Alan George Archive

A Horse Walks Into a Bar…..

From the Merthyr Express 110 years ago today……

Merthyr: Then and Now

Circa 1900

2012

Looking at these two photographs, it is encouraging to see that the Guest Memorial Hall hasn’t changed all that much in about a hundred or so years. A rare survivor of of Merthyr’s heritage.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of St Mair’s Church, seen standing behind the Guest Memorial Hall in the first photograph.

St Mair’s Church (or the Welsh Church as it was known), was the largest church in Dowlais, and built between 1871 and 1874 by the Dowlais Iron Company to accommodate the Welsh speaking members of St John’s Church.

The Church closed in 1962 and was demolished the following year.