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 a really old and important church in Llanishen, a part of Cardiff. It's an Anglican church, which means it's part of the Church in Wales. It's also a listed building, which means it's protected because of its special history and architecture. Even though it started way back in the Middle Ages, much of what you see today was changed and updated during the Victorian and Edwardian times.
Contents
Who Was Saint Isan?
The story of St Isan's Church begins a very long time ago, around the 6th century. Two saints, Saint Isan and his friend Saint Edeyrn, are believed to have been active in this area. They were sent by another important saint, St Teilo, to set up religious places.
Saint Isan's Arrival in Llanishen
Saint Isan arrived in what is now Llanishen around the year 535 or 537 AD. He created a special place called a 'llan'. A llan was like a small, enclosed community. It had a simple building that worked as both a church and a place for visitors to stay. There were also farming areas and a fence around it to keep it safe.
Isan didn't stay in the area for very long, as he died in 537 AD. But his short time there had a big impact! The early Celtic church used Latin as its language. Isan also used the Latin name Dionysius. Local people didn't understand Latin, so this name slowly changed to Dennis or Denys. This name was later used for St Denys' Church in Lisvane.
Saint Edeyrn's Connection
Saint Edeyrn was a friend of Isan's. The name of the area Llanedeyrn comes from him. There is also a church dedicated to him in Llanedeyrn. This shows how important these early saints were to the local area.
When Was the First Church Built?
The very first time a proper church was mentioned in this spot was in the 12th century. Back then, it was a smaller church called a chapel of ease. This meant it was a branch of St Mary's Church in Cardiff. Cardiff was a separate town then, quite far from Llanishen. Llanishen didn't become part of Cardiff until the late 1800s.
What Did the Medieval Church Look Like?
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 14th century, more parts were added, including a sanctuary and new windows. The tower was built in the 15th century.
The medieval tower and the nave are still part of the church today! A small piece of the south chancel wall is thought to be the very oldest part of the church that still stands.
How the Church Grew Over Time
The church has been made bigger and changed many times over the years.
Victorian and Edwardian Changes
The first big change happened in 1854. Architects Prichard and Seddon added a north aisle and an arcade. An aisle is a walkway, and an arcade is a row of arches.
Later, Llanishen started to grow a lot. This was because the Rhymney Railway opened, making it easier for people to travel. Llanishen changed from a small village into a busy suburb. Because of this growth, the 1854 aisle was taken down. In 1907–1908, H.D. Blessley replaced it with a new, bigger one. He also added a new nave and chancel. A second arcade was added on the south side, matching the style of the earlier one.
Modern Additions and Recognition
In 1927, a vestry was added. A vestry is a room in a church where the clergy get ready. In 1952, St Isan's Church was given its special "Grade II*" listed status. This means it's a very important historic building. In 1993, the Llanishen Local History Society planted a tree where St Isan's original 'llan' was located. This was to remember the church's ancient beginnings.
St Faith's Church: A Sister Church
St Isan's 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 kept growing after World War II.
