St Margaret's Church, Roath Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St Margaret of Antioch
Eglwys y Santes Fererid

51°29′34″N 3°09′17″W / 51.4929°N 3.1547°W / 51.4929; -3.1547
Denomination	Church in Wales
Previous denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	The
History
Status	Active
Founded	11th century
Dedication	St Margaret of Antioch
Architecture
Functional status	Mother church
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	19 May 1975
Architect(s)	John Prichard
Completed	1870 (tower 1926)
Specifications
Number of spires	none
Materials	Stone
Bells	1
Administration
Parish	Roath
Diocese	Diocese of Llandaff

St Margaret's Church (Welsh: Eglwys y Santes Fererid) is a historic church in Roath, Cardiff, Wales. It is part of the Church in Wales. The church is named after St Margaret of Antioch. It is also home to a special mausoleum for the Bute family.

A Look Back: The Church's History
The Bute Family Mausoleum
Churches Connected to St Margaret's
Gallery
See also

A Look Back: The Church's History

A church dedicated to St Margaret has stood in Roath since the Middle Ages. The original building was a small church with a simple bell tower. In 1800, a special burial place, called a mausoleum, was added for the Bute family.

However, in 1868, the old church was completely taken down. This made way for a brand new, larger church.

Building the New Church

The new church was finished in 1870. It was designed in a "Decorated Gothic" style, which means it had lots of fancy decorations. The first plans were made by Alexander Roos. But the main architect who designed the church we see today was John Prichard.

The church was paid for by John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute. Inside, the walls are decorated with many different coloured bricks and stones. You can see shades of red, blue, white, grey-green, and pink. The church's tall tower was added much later, in 1926. It was designed by John Coates Carter.

Wartime and New Windows

During the Second World War, a bomb blast damaged the church. The beautiful stained-glass window at the east end was destroyed. A new window was put in place in 1952. It shows Jesus going up to heaven. Around him are the special saints of four other churches that were once connected to St Margaret's.

Today, only one of these churches, St Edward's, is still a "daughter church" of St Margaret's.

Important Status

In 1975, St Margaret's Church was given a "Grade I listed building" status. This means it is a very important historical building that needs to be protected.

The Bute Family Mausoleum

Between 1881 and 1886, a fancy chapel was added to the church. This chapel became the new mausoleum for the Bute family. A mausoleum is a building where people are buried.

Inside, there are seven large stone coffins, called sarcophagi. They are made of red granite. These coffins hold the remains of members of the Bute family who were buried in the old church. Their original memorial plaques were also moved into these new tombs.

Some of the important people buried here include:

Charlotte Jane Windsor, Marchioness of Bute (1746–1800)
John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute (1744–1814)
Frances Coutts, Dowager Marchioness of Bute (1773–1832)
John Stuart, Lord Mount Stuart (1767–1794)
Gertrude Amelia Stuart (died 1809)
Lord Henry Stuart (1777–1809)
Elizabeth Penelope Stuart (1819–1822)

Churches Connected to St Margaret's

St Margaret's Church used to have several "daughter churches." These were smaller churches that were part of its parish. Today, only one church is still a daughter church:

St Edward's on Blenheim Road.

Other churches that were once connected include:

St Francis, Splott opened in 1894. It was built for workers in the local factories. It closed in 1969.
St Agnes, Roath opened in 1886. It closed in 1966. Its altar is now in another church, St Mary's Butetown.
St Anne's, Roath opened in 1887. It closed in 2015.
St Philip's, Tremorfa was founded in 1930 for a new housing area. It started as a simple hall. Later, a "tin tabernacle" (a church made of corrugated iron) was used. A permanent building was built in 1966. This church is no longer part of St Margaret's parish.