The bell has a history,it was said to have been found in a bog in Cornwall many years ago and shipped across the channel to Aberavon in Sir Arthur Pendarvis Vivian`s small yacht.The bell has an inscription with the date 1505.

In February 1945 Dewi Morgan of St.Paul`s Parsonage,Aberavon,wrote to the local Port Talbot Guardian newspaper to record a little about the bell at St.Pauls Church Aberavon.

He said that the bell is one of the most ancient in Glamorgan,and that its inscription reads " MARIA VOCOR ANNO DNI MCCCCCV "- " I am called Mary. In the year of our Lord, 1505."

It was brought to Aberavon by the late Sir Arthur Pendarvis Vivian from Manaccan,in Cornwall,where it had once belonged to a monastery.

It is posible that an illustration of this bell will be used as the frontispiece of Mr.Arthur Wright`s forthcoming book on the bells of Glamorgan.

Yours.

Dewi Morgan.

St.Paul`s Parsonage,

Aberavon,

Port Talbot.

The font is hewn from rough Cornish granite,the bowl of the font being carved out of one solid block of granite mounted on a pedestal of like material.The Eagle Lectern is a fine piece of brasswork.It was installed in memory of Glyn Vivian,Sir Arthur`s brother.The wonderfully carved oak

reredos and furnishings were given by the ladies and friends of St.Paul`s Dorcas Sewing Guild.In the Sanctuary are three stained glass windows given by Mr. and Mrs. William Tasker in memory of their only son,Leonard,who was killed in Sicily during World War Two.Also in the Sanctuary is a credence table given by Mr. and Mrs.Jones in memory of their son,Roy,who was killedin the R.A.F.Sunderland flying boat in which the Duke of Kent was also killed.During the Silver Jubilee services the Lady Chapel was furnished and dedicated by the Assistant Bishop of Llandaff in the name of St.Dyfrig as a thank-offering to the memory of Sir Arthur Vivian.A new electric lighting system was installed,half the the expence met by Mrs. [ Nurse ] Rees in memory of her late husband Mr.Thomas Rees.Many thanks to the many stalwarts of the Church for this history especially Mr.Jim M.Davies, Mr.D.Mainwaring,and that bundle of energy in the life of the Church ,Mr.Charlie T. Sheen.

Check the Aberavon Council Minutes for 1883-4 for cottage Sandfields Rd.

Extra notes by Allen Blethyn.

The Superintendent Mr.T.M.Jones was born in Bristol in 1827, he settled first at Taibach as a builder,then moved to High St.Aberavon where he was an Auctioneer and printer.

His wife Mary Griffith of Margam born 1826 could trace her family back to one Mathew Cuffe born 1612.Margam.

• Their son Lemuel Jones born 1858 at Taibach became a stationer at High St.Aberavon and was one of the men who rented the first Church cottage Sandfields Road.in 1884.