Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral |
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| Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral of St David | |
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 Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral
Location in Central Cardiff
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| 51°28′51″N 3°10′26″W / 51.4809°N 3.1740°W | |
| OS grid reference | 318569_176430 |
| Location | Cardiff |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | cardiffcathedral.org.uk |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 1842 |
| Architecture | |
| Years built | 1839–1842 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Cardiff |
| Province | Cardiff |
The Metropolitan Cathedral Church of St David is a very important Catholic church in Cardiff, Wales. It is also known as St David's Cathedral, Cardiff. In Welsh, its name is Eglwys Gadeiriol Fetropolitan Dewi Sant.
This cathedral is the main church for the Archdiocese of Cardiff. It is located on Charles Street in the city centre. The cathedral is a key place for Catholic life in Cardiff and all of Wales. It is one of only three Catholic cathedrals in the United Kingdom that has a special school for its choir.
Contents
History of St David's Cathedral
The first church building was finished in 1842. It cost £2,124 to build. Money for it was raised in Wales and Ireland. Lady Catherine Eyre of Bath also gave a donation. This first church was on David Street in Cardiff. It was named after St David, the patron saint of Wales, as Lady Eyre wished.
The building you see today was designed by Pugin and Pugin Architects. It was built between 1884 and 1887. This church became the most important Catholic church in Cardiff. In 1916, it became the main church for the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff. Then, in 1920, it was officially named the cathedral for the new Archdiocese of Cardiff.
Sadly, the cathedral was badly damaged during World War II. In March 1941, bombs hit the roof and destroyed parts of it. The cathedral was rebuilt and restored during the 1950s. F. R. Bates, Son, and Price oversaw this work. It opened again in March 1959.
Music at the Cathedral
The Boys' Choir started in 1959. Over the years, the choir has grown a lot. Now, it has 65 boys and girls, plus older student singers and professional adult singers.
The young boy and girl singers from the cathedral choir go to a special school. This is the Choir School at St John's College, Cardiff. David Neville started this school in 1987 to train the cathedral's singers.
David Neville was the first Principal of the Choir School and the Cathedral's Director of Music and Organist from 1980 to 2016. He received special awards for his work with church music. He also wrote many pieces of music for choirs and orchestras. His music has been played on BBC Radio and in famous places like Westminster Abbey. In 2000, he wrote a special fanfare for a royal event. David Neville passed away in April 2016.
Under Dominic Neville's leadership, the choir performed four concerts each year in Cardiff. They also sang in famous places across the UK. These included Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral in London. The choir has also traveled to other countries. They have sung in places like Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and cathedrals in Spain and Belgium.
The choir has worked with many other groups. They have sung with the BBC National Chorus of Wales. In 2012, they sang a very complex piece of music called "Spem in Alium." The choir also sang for Prince Charles at a special event. You might have even heard them on TV! The choristers appeared and sang in a "Christmas Special" of BBC's Doctor Who. They also sang in the Hollywood movie One Chance. One of the main boy singers, Dylan Oshnoei, sang in the BBC show The Hollow Crown.
You can often hear the choirs on live radio broadcasts. They have been on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Wales.
The person in charge of music now is Jeffrey Howard. He is the Director of Music at both St John's College and the Cathedral. Before this, he worked with many famous orchestras. He also teaches singing at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Cathedral Leaders
Current Priests
The main leader of the cathedral is the Archbishop of Cardiff, Most Reverend Mark O'Toole. He is like the head pastor. Rev. Fr. Michael Doyle is the Priest-in-Charge. He looks after the daily running of the cathedral.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San David (Cardiff) para niños
