St Mary's Church, Cardiff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church |
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Welsh: Eglwys Fair
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John Speed's 1610 map of Cardiff, showing the southerly location of St Mary's Church, next to the River Taff.
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| Location | Cardiff |
| Country | Wales |
| Previous denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Church (former) |
| Founded | 1107 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status |
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| Closed | c. 1701 |
| Demolished | 1701 (Ruins) |
St Mary's Church (Welsh: Eglwys Fair) was an old Anglican church in Cardiff, Wales. It stood at the south end of what is now St. Mary's Street. The church was built in 1107 but faced many problems. After serious flood damage, it was left empty in 1701. A new church was built in a different spot in 1843 to replace it.
Contents
The Church's Early Days
St Mary's Church started as a Benedictine priory around the 1080s. A priory is like a small monastery where monks live and pray. It was founded by Robert Fitzhamon, who also started Tewkesbury Abbey.
Why the Location Was a Problem
The church was built right next to the River Taff. This was not a good spot because the area often flooded. The river also caused the land to wear away, which is called river erosion. Even after people tried to make the ground stronger, the river would sometimes wash away things from the churchyard. Because of these problems, the monks left the priory in 1211.
How the Church Was Destroyed
In 1607, a huge flood hit the areas around the Bristol Channel in England and Wales. This flood was very powerful and caused a lot of damage. It might have been a giant storm surge or even a tsunami.
The Great Flood of 1607
The 1607 flood badly damaged the base of St Mary's Church. The church slowly started to fall apart because its foundations were ruined.
Changes After the Flood
By 1620, the church was in such bad shape that people decided to make St John's Church the main church for the area. St John's had originally been a smaller church, called a chapel of ease. Even though St John's became the main church, St Mary's was still used for burials and some church services.
The Church Falls Apart
By 1678, visitors described St Mary's as being in ruins. The church's tower fell down in 1680. The last time someone was buried in the churchyard was in 1698. The very last church service was held in the ruined building in 1701. After that, St Mary's Church was completely abandoned.
A New Church and New Developments
In 1843, a new church was built to replace the old St Mary's. John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute gave the land for this new church, which is now called the Church of St Mary and St Stephen. It is located on Bute Street. People raised money to pay for building the new church.
Changes to the River and City
In 1850, the River Taff was moved to a new path. This was done by a famous engineer named Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Moving the river helped create space for the Cardiff Central railway station and also led to the creation of Westgate Street.
What Stands There Now
Later, in 1878, a theatre called the Theatre Royal was built on the exact spot where the old St Mary's Church used to be. This theatre is now known as the Prince of Wales public house. If you look at one wall of the theatre, you can still see an outline of a Gothic church. This outline is a reminder that the building stands on the historic site of St Mary's Church.
Gallery
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The outline of a Gothic church on The Prince of Wales pub, which gives a nod to the nearby site of St Mary's
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Church of St Mary and St Stephen, Bute Street
See also
