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 historic church located in Grangetown, Cardiff, Wales. It first opened its doors in 1890. This church is a special building because it is a Grade II listed building. This means it's officially recognized as an important historical or architectural site.
After being closed for a while, the church started major repair work in 2023. The community is involved in planning its future, and more fundraising will happen to help with the renovations.
Contents
History of St Paul's Church
In 1885, a person named Lord Windsor donated a large piece of land for the church. He also paid for the first part of the building, which cost £4,000. The first stone was laid in 1889. The church officially opened on February 5, 1890, with the Bishop of Llandaff leading the ceremony. A special part of the church called the chancel was added later in 1902.
Who Designed the Church?
The church was designed by an architect named John Coates Carter. He was known for his Arts and Crafts style of building. St Paul's is considered one of his best early church designs.
The building uses some interesting materials. The walls are made of a type of stone called Pennant rubble. Pink Staffordshire sandstone was used for details. The church also has some very early parts made from concrete. This concrete was mixed with pebbles, crushed bricks, and sandstone chips, which was quite unusual for the time!
A Protected Building
St Paul's Church became a Grade II listed building in 1975. This protects it and means it's important to preserve its history and design.
In 2015, people started a campaign to raise money for a beautiful stained glass window. This window was put in the church in 1920 to remember the First World War. It shows battle scenes and religious pictures. Even though parts of the church might be used for other things, this window will stay.
St Paul's Church in Doctor Who
Did you know St Paul's Church was used in the famous BBC TV show, Doctor Who? It was a filming location for an episode called Father's Day in 2005.
Filming happened in November 2004. In the episode, the church is attacked by alien creatures called Reapers during a family wedding!
Recent Changes and Renovations
Around 2008, the church needed a lot of expensive repairs, costing about £1 million. The number of people attending church was also much smaller than it used to be. Because of this, St Paul's asked for permission to sell the old building. The yearly running costs were also very high, estimated at £160,000. In 2010, the church was put up for sale for £300,000.
In 2012, someone offered to buy the church to turn it into training rooms and offices. However, this sale didn't happen.
New Plans for the Church
In early 2016, new plans were made. The church decided to work with a housing group called Wales and West Housing. They planned to turn part of the building into apartments. The church gave a section of the building to the housing group.
The last church service in the main building was on February 5, 2016. A smaller part of the church, including the old chancel and vestry, would be kept for the church community to use.
By 2018, the plans to convert the main part of the church into apartments had not happened. The church building remained mostly the same.
Current Renovation Work
Good news! Renovation work on St Paul's Church began in May 2023. Workers have been busy laying a new floor. Next, they will fix the roof and windows to make sure the building is watertight.
The church won't open right away. There will be more community discussions, fundraising, and renovation work. The church community still meets in the hall next door every Sunday morning. They also hold concerts, musical events, coffee mornings, and bingo nights for everyone to enjoy!
