St Mary's Church, Whitchurch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's, Whitchurch |
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| 51°30′48″N 3°13′16″W / 51.5133°N 3.2211°W | |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Consecrated | 27 May 1885 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 19 May 1975 |
| Architect(s) | John Prichard |
| Groundbreaking | 1883 |
| Completed | 1884 |
| Construction cost | £3559 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | stone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Llandaff |
St Mary's Church in Whitchurch is an Anglican church located in the suburb of Whitchurch, Cardiff. This beautiful Victorian building is a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical site protected by law.
A Look Back: Early Churches
The first church in Whitchurch was mentioned way back in the 12th century. We don't know exactly when it was built or who it was dedicated to. At that time, Whitchurch was a "chapel of ease." This meant it was a smaller church that helped people attend services if they lived far from the main Llandaff Cathedral.
The first church known to be dedicated to St Mary was built in the 14th century. Over the years, parts were added to it. In the 15th or 16th century, a porch was built. Later, a nave (the main part of the church where people sit) and a belfry (a tower for bells) made of Bath stone were added.
The church also got a graveyard in 1616. This allowed people to have baptisms, marriages, and burials there. In 1810, the inside of the old church was changed. It could seat about 300 people. Even though the population of Whitchurch was growing (especially with the new Melingriffith Tin Plate Works bringing the number of residents to 696), the church was becoming too small. It took many years for this problem to be fixed. During the 19th century, other churches also started in Whitchurch, like the Whitchurch Methodist Church around 1820.
Building the Modern Church
As the 19th century continued, Whitchurch grew into a busy suburb. The number of people living there kept increasing. In 1845, Whitchurch became its own separate parish, meaning it had its own main church.
In 1876, a new vicar named Revd. J.T. Clarke arrived at St Mary's. He saw that the old church was too small and getting run down. He started to push for a brand new church to be built.
Finally, a new St Mary's Church was built in 1884. It was located about 300 metres southwest of the old one. The famous architect John Prichard designed the new church. It was officially opened for worship in 1885.
After the new church was ready, the old one was mostly left empty and started to fall apart. By the early 1900s, it was in ruins and was taken down in 1904. However, its graveyard remained. In 1973, the graveyard was turned into a public park called St Mary's Gardens, which you can still visit today on Old Church Road. The new St Mary's Church itself became a listed building in 1975, recognizing its historical value.
Church Organisation
Today, St Mary's Church is part of the Rectorial Benefice of Whitchurch. It has three other churches that are connected to it: All Saints in Rhiwbina, All Saints in Llandaff North, and St Thomas's in Birchgrove.
