Eglwys Dewi Sant, Cardiff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eglwys Dewi Sant |
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 Eglwys Dewi Sant
Location in Cardiff
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| 51°29′06″N 3°10′27″W / 51.485°N 3.1741°W | |
| Location | Cardiff city centre |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Andrew's Church (to 1956) |
| Dedication | St David |
| Consecrated | 1 November 1956 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Prichard & Seddon, Alexander Roos |
| Completed | 1863 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Llandaff |
Eglwys Dewi Sant means St David's Church in Welsh. It's a special church building in the middle of Cardiff, Wales. This church is unique because it's the only one in the Diocese of Llandaff that holds all its services completely in the Welsh language.
Contents
Where is Eglwys Dewi Sant?
This church is located in the very center of Cardiff. It sits on a pretty, tree-lined oval green space. This green area is the main focus of a street called St Andrew's Crescent, just north of the city center.
A Look at the Church's History
How the Church Began
The area around St Andrew's Crescent was planned in the 1850s. The Bute Estate, which owned a lot of land, wanted a church to be the main point of this new space. In 1859, two architects, John Prichard and John Pollard Seddon, designed a church for this spot.
The church was finished and opened in 1863. It was first named St Andrew's Church. Later, in 1862, another architect named Alexander Roos took over the project. In the 1880s, more parts like side rooms and porches were added.
A New Name and Purpose
There was another Welsh-language church in Cardiff that opened in 1891. It was also called Eglwys Dewi Sant. This church served the Welsh-speaking community for about 50 years. However, it was badly damaged during the Cardiff Blitz, which was a bombing campaign during World War II.
Around 1954, the original St Andrew's Church in St Andrew's Crescent had fewer and fewer people attending. Many local homes were becoming offices, so fewer people lived nearby. Because of this, St Andrew's Church closed down.
The congregation from the damaged Eglwys Dewi Sant church then moved into the empty St Andrew's Church building. On November 1, 1956, the church was officially renamed and reopened as Eglwys Dewi Sant.
Special Status and Repairs
In 1975, Eglwys Dewi Sant church was given a special status. It became a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected. In 2009, the church received a grant of £100,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This money was used to fix its roof, which was getting old and leaky.
Events and Celebrations
To celebrate the church's 60th anniversary, Eglwys Dewi Sant held a lovely flower festival in June 2017. They raised a lot of money, and more than half of it (£3600) was given to Marie Curie Cancer Care. This charity helps people with serious illnesses.
