About
In the 19th Century, Bridgend was mainly Protestant. An influx of Irish Catholic immigrants in the 1840’s found themselves without a religious building or a priest. Whilst there were places of worship in towns further afield such as Swansea and Cardiff, these were not ideal due to the distances involved. Often groups of men and women would gather in Bridgend to worship, particularly on major feast days such as Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. The Coach and Horses public house was used as a starting point for a weekend pilgrimage to St David’s Cathedral in Cardiff where they would hear Mass and receive Sacraments. This continued until 1852 when Fr. Charles Kavanagh started to make monthly visits to Bridgend to perform the religious meetings. These were conducted within properties on Brackla Street and Chapel Street. Chapel Street was so popular with the Irish community that it became commonly known as ‘Irish Lane’.
