St John the Evangelist Church, Cardiff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Evangelist |
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St John's
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| 51°28′51″N 3°12′09″W / 51.4808°N 3.2024°W | |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | active |
| Dedication | St John the Evangelist |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 18 May 1975 |
| Architect(s) | J. Prichard & J.P. Seddon |
| Groundbreaking | 1854 |
| Completed | 1902 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Canton |
| Diocese | Llandaff |
St John the Evangelist Church in Canton is a special old church in Cardiff, Wales. It is a listed building, which means it is protected because of its history and architecture. The church is part of the Canton area's group of churches.
Contents
A Look at the Church's Past
Canton used to be a small village near Llandaff. But in the early 1800s, Cardiff grew a lot. Many people moved to the area as industries expanded. By the 1850s, the community needed its own church.
Who Designed and Built It?
The church was designed by two architects, John Prichard and John Pollard Seddon. Building St John's took a long time, almost 50 years!
- The main part, called the nave, was built first in 1854 and 1855.
- The aisles (side sections) were added a few years later, from 1858 to 1859.
- Building then slowed down. The tall steeple and the chancel (the area around the altar) were not finished until 1868 to 1870.
- Later, in 1902, G.E. Haliday made changes to the spire. He also added a new section at the west end of the church.
- Some smaller updates were done in the 1950s.
Important People and Status
The first minister of St John's Church was Vincent Saulez. He also helped start another church nearby, St Paul's Church, Grangetown. In 1975, St John the Evangelist Church was officially named a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical building that needs to be preserved.
What's Inside the Church?
St John's Church has several interesting features inside.
- It has a reredos with three gables. A reredos is a decorated screen or wall that stands behind the altar.
- There is an octagonal (eight-sided) baptismal font. This font is from the Victorian era. A baptismal font is a basin used for baptisms.
- The church also has many beautiful stained glass windows. These windows were made at different times. The newest ones were added in 1981.
