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 (known in Welsh as Eglwys y Santes Fererid) is a beautiful church in Roath, Cardiff, Wales. It was built in the 1800s and is part of the Church in Wales. This special church is also home to the mausoleum (a grand tomb) of the Bute family, who were very important people in the area. The church is dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch.

History of St Margaret's Church
- Building the New Church
- World War II Damage and Repairs
The Bute Family Mausoleum
- Who is Buried Here?
Churches Connected to St Margaret's
Gallery
See also

History of St Margaret's Church

A church dedicated to St Margaret has stood in Roath for a very long time, since the medieval period. The original church was a small building with a bell-turret (a small tower for bells) at its western end.

In 1800, a special tomb area, called a mausoleum, was added for the Marquesses of Bute family. However, the old church was completely taken down in 1868 to make way for a brand new one.

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, an architect who worked for the Bute family.

However, the main church building was designed by architect John Prichard. The powerful John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute, paid for the church. He decided to hire Prichard instead of Roos in 1868. Inside the church, many different coloured bricks and stones were used. You can see red, blue, white, grey-green, and pink colours on the walls.

The church tower was added later. It was designed by John Coates Carter and finished in 1926. John Prichard had planned for a spire (a tall, pointed top) on the tower, but it was never built.

World War II Damage and Repairs

During the Second World War, the beautiful stained-glass window at the east end of the church was destroyed by a bomb. A new window was put in place in 1952. This new window shows the Ascension of Jesus (when Jesus went up to heaven). On either side of it are pictures of the patron saints of the four churches that were once connected to St Margaret's.

In 1975, St Margaret's Church was given a special status as a Grade I listed building. 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 north side of the church. This became the new mausoleum for the Bute family. Seven large stone coffins, called sarcophagi, were placed here. They are made of red granite. These sarcophagi hold the remains of Bute family members who were buried in the older church. The original stone plaques (memorial signs) were also moved to these new tombs.

Who is Buried Here?

Some of the important people buried in these sarcophagi include:

Charlotte Jane Windsor, Marchioness of Bute (1746–1800) – She was the first wife of the first Marquess.
John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute (1744–1814) – A very important figure in the Bute family.
Frances Coutts, Dowager Marchioness of Bute (1773–1832) – The second wife of the first Marquess.
John Stuart, Lord Mount Stuart (1767–1794)
Gertrude Amelia Stuart (died 1809) – The wife of Lord Henry Stuart.
Lord Henry Stuart (1777–1809) – A son of the first Marquess and Charlotte.
Elizabeth Penelope Stuart (1819–1822) – The daughter of Lord James Stuart.

Churches Connected to St Margaret's

St Margaret's Church used to have several "daughter churches" that were part of its parish. Today, it has only one daughter church:

St Edward's on Blenheim Road.

Other churches that were once connected to St Margaret's include:

St Francis, Splott – This church opened in 1894. It was built to serve the workers in the copper, steel, and iron factories in the East Moors area. It closed in 1969.
St Agnes, Roath – This church opened in 1886. It closed in 1966. Its altar (the table used for services) is now in St Mary's Butetown.
St Anne's, Roath – This church opened in 1887 and closed in 2015.
St Philip's, Tremorfa – This church was started in 1930 for a new housing area. It began as a hall, then became a "tin tabernacle" (a church made of corrugated iron) in 1937. A permanent building was built in 1966. St Philip's is no longer part of St Margaret's parish.