The Catholic Church in Pontllanfraith was built in 1853/4. Its dedication is ‘the Sacred Heart’ although it is known officially as ‘the Catholic Church’. In 1864 it was referred to in the Catholic Directory as the church at Penllwyn and says that it was served on Sundays from Pontypool. The Presbytery was built in the early 1900’s and at the same time the church was extended to its present size. If you look carefully along the windows you can just about guess the place where the extension was added! In the 1920’s there is a record that the church was served from Ponymister and there is a story of the priest arring from there in his horse and carriage to say Mass. The mode of transport has changed, but the old relationship between the two churches has been restored; they both share the same priest! Early in the 2000’s the church and the buildings were given a ‘make-over’. The church was the first. Mass was said in the hall for about three months as the work was carried out and the church brought up to its present standard. When we moved back into the church, the hall nand presbytery had the same treatment. The grounds were then put into order and the Grotto and the memorial rose gardens were built.

The church and/or the hall are in use everyday and the hall is an excellent resource which we have been able to make available for use within the community. The church is open on a Friday from about 10.00am to 1.00pm so that people can pop in to see, to pray, or to light a candle. It is a little church with a lot of history and and lively congregation!