St Isan's Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Isan's, Llanishen |
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St Isan's in 2010
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| 51°31′46″N 3°11′20″W / 51.5294°N 3.1888°W | |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | c. 12th Century |
| Dedication | Saint Isan |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 12 February 1952 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | stone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Llanishen |
| Diocese | Llandaff |
St Isan's Church is an old and important church located in Llanishen, a part of Cardiff. It's an Anglican church, which means it belongs to the Church in Wales. Even though it started a very long time ago in the Middle Ages, much of what you see today was changed and updated during the Victorian and Edwardian times. It is considered a special building because of its history.
Contents
The Church's Early Beginnings
How St Isan's Church Started
Long, long ago, around the 500s, two saints named Saint Isan and Saint Edeyrn were busy in this area. They were sent by another saint, St Teilo, to set up religious places. Saint Isan arrived in what is now Llanishen around 535 or 537 AD.
He created a 'llan', which was like a special enclosed area. This 'llan' had a simple building that worked as both a church and a place for visitors to stay. It also had farming plots and was surrounded by a fence. Saint Isan didn't stay long; he passed away in 537 AD. But his short time there made a big difference.
The Names and Connections
Back then, the Celtic church used Latin as its main language. So, Saint Isan also used the Latin name Dionysius. Local people didn't understand Latin, so this name changed over time to Dennis or Denys. Later, this name was used for St Denys' Church in Lisvane.
Saint Edeyrn, who worked with Saint Isan, also has a place named after him: Llanedeyrn. There's even a church dedicated to him there.
The First Proper Church Building
The first time a proper church building was mentioned in this spot was in the 1100s. At that time, it was a smaller church, called a 'chapel of ease'. It was connected to St Mary's Church in Cardiff. Back then, Cardiff was a separate town, quite far from Llanishen. Llanishen didn't become part of Cardiff until the late 1800s.
The original church had a main hall (called a nave), a special area for the altar (called a chancel), a tower, and a porch. In the 1300s, more parts were added, like a sanctuary and new windows on the north and south sides. The tower was added in the 1400s.
Today, the medieval nave and tower are still standing. A small part of the south chancel wall is also left, and people think it's the oldest part of the church that still exists.
Changes and Growth Over Time
Victorian and Edwardian Updates
The church started to get bigger in 1854. Architects Prichard and Seddon added a new section called a north aisle and an arcade (a row of arches).
Later, after the Rhymney Railway opened, more people started moving to Llanishen. The village began to change into a busy suburb of Cardiff. Because of this growth, the 1854 aisle was taken down. In 1907 and 1908, H.D. Blessley replaced it with a new, larger one. He also added a new nave and chancel. A second arcade, on the south side, was also built to match the style of the earlier one.
Recent History and Recognition
In 1927, a vestry was added. This is a room in a church where clergy prepare for services. The church was given 'listed status' in 1952. This means it's recognized as an important historical building that needs to be protected.
In 1993, the Llanishen Local History Society planted a tree at the spot where Saint Isan's original 'llan' was believed to be. This was a way to remember the church's very old roots.
St Faith's Church
St Isan's Church has a sister church called St Faith's. It's located on Morris Avenue. St Faith's was built in the 1960s. It was needed because Llanishen's population grew a lot after World War II, and more space was needed for church services.
