The Church of St Dyfrig, affectionately known as the ‘Cathedral of the Valleys’, opened for worship in 1927, replacing the nearby church of St Dubricius, now disused, which had hosted worship since 1857. The parish boundaries extend south to Gwaelod-y-Garth and Taff’s Well, north to Ynysybwl and Cilfynydd, and west through Church Village and Llantwit Fardre as far as Crown Hill. The church sits between the Treforest and Glyntaff campuses of the University of South Wales, many Catholic students make our thriving church community their home. We have a large student community many of whom are international students, which adds to the rich tapestry of our church community.

Sunday Mass is celebrated at 11:15am. We have a Children’s Liturgy group with passionate catechists, who never fail to make church exciting for the children, while they deepen their faith. Come and join us for tea, coffee and fellowship after Mass!

The church is generally open for private prayer between 10 am and 2 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays – feel free to call at the adjacent Presbytery at other times and if a keyholder is present, you can be let into the church. Mass is also celebrated on Mondays at 11 am.

There are many groups that meet throughout the week, that always welcome newcomers. There is praise and worship (a Holy Hour) at 6 pm on Fridays (replaced by Stations of the Cross in Lent) with Mass at 6.30 pm on one Friday each month. This is followed by a Bible Study or social activity led by the Student Catholic Society. We also have a Gardening Club, which meets every Tuesday 10am – 1:30pm, where the group enjoys fellowship as well as flowers – we owe our amazing developing garden and flowers to them. The Afternoon Tea group is a monthly staple which provides fellowship and fights isolation among the 50+ community in our local area!

St Dyfrig’s Community Hall, built at the same time as the church, has a colourful history. As the venue known as ‘Patsy’s’, with a sprung floor for formal dances, it has been responsible for many parish marriages, and was also frequented by a young Tom Jones. It is currently used regularly by community groups for dog training and ballroom dancing, and parishioners host a monthly afternoon tea on Fridays.

Catholic schools within the parish boundary: St Michael’s Primary School, which is about 10 minutes’ walk away, and Cardinal Newman Secondary School in the suburb of Rhydfelin.

We encourage university students in the parish to become involved with the Ecumenical Chaplaincy, and also to follow our student-focused Instagram account.

Directions to St Dyfrig’s Church, Treforest

Address

St Dyfrig’s Church, Broadway, Treforest, Pontypridd, CF37 1DB

SatNav users please note: Satellite Navigation devices may not navigate the one-way system around the church correctly. Your target postcode is Heathfield Villas, CF37 1DB.

By car, take the 4th exit from the A470 northbound after the Junction 32 of the M4. Take the FIRST exit from the roundabout and get into the right hand lane. Immediately you will see a church ahead. This is St Dyfrig’s. To access the car park you will need to follow the one-way system clockwise and make an almost complete circuit of the church. Turn right at Domino’s Pizza on to the access road (Heathfield Villas). There is parking beyond the white church hall as well as between the hall and the church.

If coming from the north, you cannot exit the A470 here; a little further north you will take the exit signposted University of South Wales, also Llantrisant A473. The road system is complex, but keep following signs for the University until you are on Broadway. You will pass the “World of Groggs”. Then look out for Domino’s Pizza immediately ahead. As soon as you go through the pedestrian crossing, get into the right hand lane and turn sharp right into Heathfield Villas at Domino’s.

By train, alight at Treforest (railcode TRF) – it will take about 5 minutes to reach the church. If your train has come up from Cardiff, you will need to cross the station footbridge. Some trains also stop at the station called Treforest Estate – do not alight there, it is not the station you need.

By bus, Stagecoach routes 90, 100, 102, 111, 112 and 120 call at stops close to St Dyfrig’s.

St Dyfrig or Dyffryn (in Latin, Dubricius) was one of the great Celtic saints prominent in the history of Wales in the 5th, 6th and 7th centuries of Christianity. The earliest account of his life appeared in the twelfth century, some five hundred years after his death. According to this account, he was thought to be the son of Eurddil, daughter of Pebia Claforwg, Prince of Ergyng, which is now part of modern Herefordshire; he was born at Madley on the River Wye.

As a child he was noted for his intellect, and by the time he was a man he was known as a scholar throughout Britain. He founded a college at Henllan (Hentland in Herefordshire) to which came great numbers of scholars, including St Illtud, founder of the great centre of learning at Llantwit Major. Dyfrig later moved further up the Wye to found an abbey. While he was abbot he was chosen to be the first Bishop of Llandaff. He laboured long and hard against the Pelagian heresy, which denied humanity’s need of God’s grace. There are strong indications that he, or his monks, went as missionaries to Somerset, founding churches and monasteries.

Eventually Dyfrig resigned his see at Llandaff and retired to Bardsey Island, with his disciples. Here he lived as a hermit until his death in about 612. His remains were translated to his church at Llandaff, to a tomb before the Lady Altar in ‘the old monastery’ which later became the cathedral church. We do not know the date of his canonisation – most likely he was recognised as a saint by popular acclaim – but his feast day is celebrated on November 14th.