St Illtyd’s Church

St Illtyd's Church is a Grade II* listed building situated below Newcastle overlooking Bridgend. It is a Victorian decorated, Gothic rebuilding of an earlier 14th Century church which is steeped in local history. There has been worship on this site for almost 900 years when the first recorded priest was Fr Gilbert in 1153. The church was originally dedicated to St. Leonard, the patron saint of prisoners. Throughout the years many battles have taken place here. In 1226 the Welsh from Afan attacked both the church and Newcastle in an attempt to regain land taken from them by the Normans. Many more attacks like this occurred, including 1404-05 where the church was severely damaged by Owain Glyndwr and his army.

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