St Martin's Church, Roath facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Martin's Church |
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| 51°29′34″N 3°10′15″W / 51.4927°N 3.1708°W | |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1886 |
| Dedication | St Martin of Tours |
| Consecrated | 20 October 1901 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Architect(s) | F. R. Kempson |
| Style | Neo-Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 16 December 1899 |
| Completed | 1901 |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 1 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Roath St Martin |
| Deanery | Roath St Martin |
| Diocese | Llandaff |
St Martin's Church is a special Anglican church. You can find it on Albany Road in Roath, a part of Cardiff, Wales.
The Church's Story
Early Days
St Martin's Church was first built in 1886. At that time, the area of Roath was growing fast. The first church was a simple building known as a "tin tabernacle." This means it was made from corrugated iron sheets.
The church building you see today replaced the old one in 1901. In 1903, St Martin's became its own separate church community, called a parish.
A Special Gift
The church had a special area called the Lady Chapel. During the First World War, a Belgian artist who was a refugee decorated this chapel. He did this to thank the church members for their kindness.
Rebuilding After Damage
In February 1941, during a war, the inside of the church was completely destroyed. This happened because of an incendiary bomb, which is a type of bomb that causes fires.
For a while, church services were held in a part of the church that survived, called the choir vestry. They also used a nearby church, St Cyprian's. The main church building was fully repaired and restored in 1955.
During the restoration, the fancy designs on the original windows were changed. They were replaced with simpler, taller windows called lancet windows. This change allowed more light to shine into the church.
New Additions
In 2011, a new covered walkway, called a cloister, was added to the front of the church. A special ceremony was held to mark its opening.
In 2013, a beautiful mosaic was put above the main entrance of the church. A mosaic is a picture made from small pieces of colored glass or stone. This mosaic shows Christ Pantocrator, which is a way of showing Jesus as the ruler of all. A famous church leader, Rowan Williams, blessed this new mosaic.
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Mosaic of Christ Pantocrator at St Martin's Church
