St. Catharine's Church was designed by Welsh architect John Prichard, an exponent of the neo-Gothic style and dedicated in 1882.

[4] Baglan railway station is on the South Wales Main Line with trains to Cardiff and Swansea.

The earliest evidence of settlement here dates back to the Bronze Age with there being a tumulus called Twyn Disgwylfa on Mynydd Dinas and a round barrow within the hillfort of Buarth-y-Gaer just outside the boundary of Baglan.

[5] There is also an Iron Age hillfort called Craig Ty-Isaf on the surrounding hill Mynydd-y-Gaer.

In the medieval period, the church (dedicated to St Baglan) was rebuilt seemingly on the same site.