St Paul's Church, Grangetown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Paul's Church |
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West facade in 2013
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 St Paul's Church
Location in Cardiff
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| 51°27′58″N 3°11′06″W / 51.46611°N 3.18500°W | |
| Location | Cardiff |
| Country | Wales |
| History | |
| Status | Ongoing renovation (2023) |
| Architecture | |
| Designated | Grade II |
| Architect(s) | John Coates Carter |
| Style | Arts and Crafts |
| Groundbreaking | 1888 |
| Completed | 1902 |
| Construction cost | £4,000 (1890) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 600 |
St Paul's Church is a special old church in Grangetown, Cardiff, Wales. It first opened its doors in 1890. This church is a "Grade II listed" building, which means it's important and protected because of its history and design.
The church was closed for a while, but exciting renovation work started in May 2023. The plan is to fix it up and make it a great place for the community again.
Contents
History of St Paul's Church
How the Church Started
Back in 1885, a kind person named Lord Windsor gave one acre of land. He wanted a church built for the new area of Grangetown in Cardiff. He also paid for the first part of the building, which cost about £4,000.
The first stone for the church was placed in 1889. The church officially opened on February 5, 1890. A special part of the church called the chancel was added later in 1902.
Unique Church Design
St Paul's Church was designed by an architect named John Coates Carter. He was known for his "Arts and Crafts" style. This style focuses on traditional craftsmanship and simple forms. Many people say St Paul's is one of his best early churches.
The church uses some very interesting building materials. The walls are made from rough stone called Pennant rubble. It also has pink Staffordshire sandstone for details. What's really cool is that it used concrete in an early and unusual way. Parts of the church are made from concrete mixed with pebbles, crushed bricks, and sandstone chips!
Because of its special design and history, St Paul's Church became a Grade II-listed building in 1975. This means it's recognized as an important historical building.
Remembering the Past
In 2015, people started raising money to fix a beautiful stained glass window in the church. This window was put in back in 1920 to remember the soldiers from the First World War. It shows scenes of battles and religious pictures. This window was kept safe even when there were plans to change parts of the building.
St Paul's Church in Doctor Who
Did you know St Paul's Church was used in a famous TV show? It was a filming location for the BBC series Doctor Who!
The church appeared in an episode called "Father's Day" in 2005. Filming happened there in November 2004. In the episode, during a family wedding, strange alien creatures called Reapers attack the church. It's a very exciting part of the story!
What's Happening Now at the Church
Challenges and New Plans
Around 2008, the church needed a lot of repairs, costing about £1 million. The number of people attending services was also much smaller than it used to be. Because of these challenges, St Paul's Church considered selling the old building.
In 2016, a new plan came about. The church decided to work with a housing group. They planned to turn part of the church building into apartments. The church gave a section of the building to the housing group for this purpose. The last church service in the main building happened on February 5, 2016. A smaller part of the church, including the old chancel and vestry, was kept for the church community to use.
Renovation and Future
The plans to turn the main part of the church (the nave) into apartments did not happen. The church building remained as it was for some time.
However, good news arrived in May 2023 when big renovation work began! Workers have been busy fixing the ground and putting in a new floor. Next, they will repair the roof and windows to make sure the building is watertight.
The church is not open to the public yet. After the current repairs, there will be more discussions with the community. More money will be raised, and more renovation work will happen. The church community still meets for services in the hall next door every Sunday morning.
