The church was built in 1835–36 at a cost of £5,000,[2] with fittings bringing the total to more than £7,000.[3] The land was donated by Sir Charles Morgan, 2nd Baronet, whose family continued as pew-holders and benefactors of the church and parish.[4] Built to seat 1000 people,[3] it was the first church in the town,[2] and became a parish church in the Diocese of Llandaff in 1839. A vicarage hall was added on the grounds of the vicarage in 1879;[3] the church closed in 1991, but after reopening and modern renovations,[5] the hall was combinable with the worship area to make a hall with a capacity of 300.[6]
St Paul's was designated a Grade II listed building on 2 May 1980.[2] In 2016, the congregation moved to a leased building on Bridge Street;[7] it later merged with St Stephen's in Pillgwenlly, in the latter's building.[8] St Paul's church was left vacant and was sold in 2018. In December 2021, an application was submitted to divide the interior into 20 flats;[9] this was rejected in February 2022 after objections from the Georgian Group and the Victorian Society.[10]
Building
The church is attributed to Thomas Henry Wyatt,[2] but the newspaper account of the consecration refers only to "Mr Wyatt" being present, and Pryce's history of the church states that the architect was Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt.[4]
Constructed of rock-faced coursed stone with ashlar dressings, the church is in Georgian Early English Gothic style, a rare example in Wales of the "Gothick" period that pre-dated the Victorian Gothic revival.[4] At the East end facing Commercial Street is an octagonal clock tower with spire.[2] The ceiling was added in 1842 and the church was refurbished in 1859 by G. Clarke of Newport, then redecorated with new porches by Habershon and Fawckner in 1888.[2]
Stained glass
Christ the Good Shepherd, the Good Samaritan and Christ Blessing Children (lancets, East end)[4]
