St Elvan's Church, Aberdare facts for kids
St Elvan's Church is an old and important church in the middle of Aberdare, a town in Wales. It belongs to the Church in Wales, which is part of the Anglican church family. This beautiful building was constructed between 1851 and 1852. A man named John Griffith, who was the vicar (a type of priest) in Aberdare, really pushed for it to be built. He served as vicar from 1847 to 1859.
In 1849, John Griffith explained that the old church, St John's, was too small. The town of Aberdare had nearly 14,000 people. This number was growing by about a thousand each year. But St John's Church could only fit fewer than 200 people. A new, larger church was clearly needed for the growing community.
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Building a New Church for Aberdare
A plan to build a new church in Aberdare started in 1850. A public meeting was held to discuss the idea. People were very supportive. In just nine days, £1,000 was collected from donations. By February 1851, the donations reached £2,500. This was close to the £3,000 needed for the new building.
Designing the Church
Andrew Moseley was chosen as the architect. He was responsible for drawing up the plans for the new church. His designs would shape the look and feel of St Elvan's.
Finishing the Construction
By February 1852, it became clear that more money was still needed. So, another campaign for public donations began. People gave generously again. Within a few months, the building work was finished.
Grand Opening of St Elvan's
St Elvan's Church officially opened on 30 September 1852. Special services were held, led by Alfred Ollivant, who was the Bishop of Llandaff. To mark this big event, special trains ran from cities like Cardiff, Swansea, and Neath. Many important families from Glamorgan attended the opening. Schoolgirls from Lady Charlotte Guest's school in Dowlais were also there. They were dressed in traditional Welsh costumes. St Elvan's Church was then formally blessed on 25 September 1854.
Official Website
You can find more information about St Elvan's Church online. Their official website is at https://www.stelvans.com. They also have social media pages.
