St Augustine, Pontllanfraith

About

The church was built in 1877 with the foundation stone laid on 1st January 1887 and extended in 1910 and further extended in 1995 with the addition of a front porch it was built in the Classical style, long-wall entry type.

The church stood alongside the Sirhowy railway which once served Pontllanfraith and was crucial for its role in the industrial development of the area. The railway line was primarily used for transporting coal from the local mines to Newport docks. It was an essential part of the local economy until the decline of the coal industry in the mid-20th century. The line eventually closed to passenger services in the 1960s and to freight in the 1980s.

Now the church is approached by an entrance off a roundabout and the remnants of the railway line are covered with foliage. It has however the advantage of a large carpark and a well-appointed church hall. St Augustine’s is eucharistic centred, served by a priest who is a member of S.C.P. and the worship style is liberal catholic where vestments are worn at all Mass’s and Sunday Mass is sung with a regular organist on duty.

The ethos is welcoming and engaging with all people, inclusive, and of a Catholic evangelistic nature.