Location Canton, Cardiff, Wales Denomination Roman Catholic Founded 1907 Opened 1907 | Country United Kingdom Website Church Website Consecrated 30 October 1907 Architect Frederick Walters | |
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Architectural style Romanesque Revival architecture Diocese Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff Similar St Mary's Church - Cardiff, Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral, Cardiff Centenary Walk, Techniquest, Third Floor Gallery | ||
St Mary of the Angels Roman Catholic Church (Welsh: Llanfair Yr Angylion) is located in Canton, Cardiff. It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff. It opened on 3 November 1907.
Contents
The Parish Priest is Monsignor John Maguire and he is assisted by Fr. Andrea Bord.
Church History
The church architect was Frederick Walters and was built by W. T. Morgan. The foundation stone of the church was laid on 20 January 1907 by Bishop Hedley and later that year, on 30 October, the altar was consecrated before the church opened on 3 December. The tower was added in 1916. The church is built using roughly dressed Pennant sandstone and cut Bath stone ashlar dressings, in a late 12th-century French style.
In January 1941, the sacristies and St Ann's Chapel in the church were destroyed by an air raid. 10 years on, the sacristies and chapel were rebuilt.
In 1952, the church was temporarily closed to repaint and clean the church as well as to install new lighting and amplifiers. The church was repainted again in 1962.
It became a listed building in 1975, as a building of quality by a noted ecclesiastical architect.
Mgr. John Maguire, the present Parish Priest, was appointed in 1991, after the church came under the care of the Archdiocese of Cardiff after many years under the Benedictine Community. Fr. Chris Delaney, O.S.B., a long-serving assistant priest returned to Buckfast Abbey in March 2011 after 44 years of faithful service in Canton.
The church was reordered inside to comply with new liturgical laws in 2000.
The parish is currently taking responsibility for the parish of Sacred Heart, Leckwith, Cardiff, following the transfer of the Parish Priest to Abertillery and Brynmawr.
Schools
The church is closely linked to its main Primary School, St Mary's R C Primary, Canton.
Higher Catholic Education in the area is provided by St David's Catholic College for ages 16 to 18, supported by the church.
In the news
The babies of Charlotte Church and Gavin Henson were christened in St Mary of the Angels church. Ruby Henson was christened on 28 June 2008 by Fr. Delaney OSB, who Church described as her favorite priest. Their son Dexter Lloyd Henson was christened in August 2009.
In Charlotte Church's Confessional Song, one line is "Poor old Father Delaney", referring to the St Mary's parish priest.