Image Bank
Swansea
St Mary’s Church, war damaged tomb
For people all over the world, the war changed things which had been going on for centuries. St Mary’s Church in Swansea had probably been on this site since the 1200s, and the town had grown up around it.
In Henry VIII’s time Sir Mathew Cradock was the most important man in the area, and when he died in 1540 a special extension was built for his magnificent tomb. It was still there when the church was blitzed in 1941. The roof was destroyed, and so was everything inside, except the cross from the altar – a soldier who was on leave was watching the fires and dashed in to save it.
Eventually the church was rebuilt, being formally reopened by the Queen Mother in 1958, but all the old things in the building were gone. The Cradock tomb (seen here) could not be repaired.
Activity: What's the story?
Look at the picture and read, listen to, or print the story.