# Swansea Minster

Swansea Minster (Welsh: Mystwyr Abertawe), or formally the Minster Church of St. Mary Swansea with Holy Trinity, and formerly St Mary's Church, is an Anglican Minster church in the centre of Swansea, Wales. It is considered the civic church of Swansea. It was designated as Wales' first minster church by the Church in Wales in 2024.
There was a church on the site of St Mary's since circa 1328, erected by Henry de Gower, Bishop of Saint David's. One Sunday morning, in 1739, the roof of the nave collapsed into the church while the congregation was waiting to enter the building. The whole structure was re-built apart from the tower. 1822 saw the church being lit by gas for the first time with thirty six lamps. The church underwent complete renovation between 1879 and 1882 by Vicar Dr Morgan. In 1896, the church was flattened and rebuilt again under the designs of Arthur Blomfield by Dean Allan Smith, though some parts of the old church survived the re-development. In February 1941 the church was extensively damaged by Bombing during the Blitz. It was not rebuilt until the 1950s.
From the 1890s the Swansea Devil stood on a set of buildings facing the west side of the church, constructed by a disgruntled rival of Blomfield's, angry at the commissioning of Blomfield's designs over his own.
The church is known for its architectural features, community outreach programmes, and regular worship services that cater to a diverse congregation. St Mary's has been a focal point of Swansea's religious and cultural heritage for centuries.

## Swansea Minster

Wales saw the designation of its first minster church in 2024, as St. Mary's Church was officially granted minster status by the Church in Wales.
The dedication was part of the Church in Wales historic £10 m effort of evangelism throughout Wales, and reflects the importance of St. Mary's to the surrounding area. The dedication was presided over by archbishop of Wales Andrew John, in a special service on February 16, 2025.

## Bells

The tower contains eight bells, which were cast in 1959 by John Taylor & Co, Loughborough with the heaviest weighing 20cwt - 2qr - 12lb (1049.2 kg) in "E". Details of the bells:-
| Bell | Weight | Nominal Freq. | Note | Diameter | Year Cast | Foundry |
| 1 | 5-1-10 (271.9 kg) | 1326.0 Hz | E | 28.25 inches (71.8 cm) | 1959 | John Taylor & Co |
| 2 | 5-2-12 (285.5 kg) | 1249.0 Hz | D# | 29.13 inches (74.0 cm) | 1959 | John Taylor & Co |
| 3 | 5-3-10 (297.3 kg) | 1110.0 Hz | C# | 30.50 inches (77.5 cm) | 1959 | John Taylor & Co |
| 4 | 7-0-18 (364.6 kg) | 986.0 Hz | B | 32.75 inches (83.2 cm) | 1958 | John Taylor & Co |
| 5 | 9-2-9 (487.8 kg) | 876.0 Hz | A | 36.50 inches (92.7 cm) | 1959 | John Taylor & Co |
| 6 | 11-0-1 (560.5 kg) | 825.0 Hz | G# | 38.50 inches (97.8 cm) | 1959 | John Taylor & Co |
| 7 | 15-0-3 (765.1 kg) | 734.0 Hz | F# | 43.13 inches (109.6 cm) | 1959 | John Taylor & Co |
| 8 | 20-2-12 (1049.2 kg) | 654.0 Hz | E | 48.00 inches (121.9 cm) | 1959 | John Taylor & Co |

## Images

* View looking east towards the altar
* The Millennium Window based on Revelation 22 v5. They need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever. "The sun sets on the city of Swansea but rises in the new Jerusalem"
* View looking west towards the back of the church
* The ceiling of the nave
* Aisle and columns
* The Font with its steel canopy reflecting the industrial heritage of Swansea.
* The main door. The most impressive and best preserved part of the door of the blitzed church is the carving above where we see Jesus reigning in heaven surrounded by the four gospel writers in their traditional representations. Matthew is a man, Mark a lion, Luke a bull and John an eagle. This was carved by the notable Mr. Nicholls of Lambeth in London