:St Theodore's Church, Port Talbot

{{Infobox church

|name = St Theodore's Church

|image = St Theodore's Church, Port Talbot - geograph.org.uk - 1540349.jpg

|caption =

|denomination = Church in Wales

|dedication = Theodore of Tarsus

|minister = Rev. M. Williams{{cite web |url=http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/structure/places/benefices/?id=305|title= Port Talbot St Theodore|last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website= Benefices – the Church in Wales|publisher= Church in Wales|access-date= 15 April 2016}}

|deacon =

|organist =

|website = {{URL|www.st-theodore.org.uk}}

|coordinates =

}}

The Church of St Theodore is a parish church of the Church in Wales in Port Talbot, Wales. Located on the A48 opposite Maes-y-Cwrt Terrace and bordered on two sides by the Talbot Memorial Park, it is administered within the diocese of Llandaff.{{cite web |url=http://www.st-theodore.org.uk/saint-theodores-church/|title= St Theodore's Church|last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website= Official website|publisher= Church in Wales|access-date= 15 April 2016}}

The church was designed by John Loughborough Pearson, and it is the largest of his churches in Wales. It was built with financial assistance from Miss Emily Charlotte Talbot, a local philanthropist who lived at nearby Margam Castle, in memory of her late brother Theodore Mansel Talbot (1839–1876), whose premature death resulted in her inheriting the family fortune.{{cite book|author=Nigel Yates|title=Guide to the Churches and Chapels of Wales|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=78QmDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT155|date=15 April 2011|publisher=University of Wales Press|isbn=978-1-78316-457-8|pages=155}} The family was heavily influenced by the Oxford Movement within the Church of England.{{cite web |url=http://www.st-theodore.org.uk/the-talbot-family/theodore-mansel-talbot/|title= Theodore Mansel Talbot|last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website= Official website|publisher= Church in Wales|access-date= 15 April 2016}} It replaced the smaller Holy Cross Church (also known locally as "Chapel of Ease").

The church is built primarily in the Early English style, and dressed mainly in Bath stone. The pulpit is of Portland stone. An item of interest is a memorial to Lt Rupert Price Hallowes, a Victoria Cross-winning resident of Port Talbot (killed in action in 1915).{{cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-14160-church-of-st-theodore-port-talbot|title= Church of St Theodore, Port Talbot|last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website= British Listed Buildings|publisher= |access-date= 15 April 2016}}

The organ was installed in the church prior to its consecration in August 1897, and was made by Charles Martin of Oxford; it was both his largest and his last work. It cost over £800 and was paid for by public subscription. The organ was completely restored in 2000, when the church itself underwent substantial refurbishment.{{cite web |url=http://www.st-theodore.org.uk/saint-theodores-church/charles-martin/|title= The Organ by Charles Martin of Oxford|last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website= Official website|publisher= Church in Wales|access-date= 15 April 2016}}

The restoration project included the removal and replacement of all stained glass within the church, which include four works from the studio of Clayton and Bell;{{cite web |url=http://stainedglass.llgc.org.uk/site/345|title=Church of St Theodore, Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot|last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website= Stained Glass in Wales|publisher= |access-date= 15 April 2016}} the windows proved impossible to clean as they were badly affected by pollution from local heavy industry. The stonework was also cleaned, and a new lighting system was installed. The original iron railings outside the church were repaired. The Sanctus Bell, which had previously been removed because of the dangerous condition of the bellcote, was re-hung following repairs.{{cite web |url=http://www.st-theodore.org.uk/saint-theodores-restoration/|title= The Restoration of St Theodore's Church 1997–2001|last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website= Official website|publisher= Church in Wales|access-date= 15 April 2016}}