Edwin Montgomery Bruce Vaughan (6 March 1856 – 13 June 1919),[1] known as E. M. Bruce Vaughan, was an ecclesiastical architect from Cardiff, Wales.[2]

St James the Great, Cardiff

Biography edit

Vaughan was born in Frederick Street, Cardiff and privately schooled in the town. He was articled to local architect W. D. Blessley, studied at Cardiff School of Science and Art and won the Architectural Association medal in 1880.[1]

He was elected to the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1891, designing a large number of churches across South Wales, but also designed several hospitals and a school.[3] The building described as his "masterpiece" is St James Church on Newport Road, Cardiff, completed in 1893.[3][4]

While serving in the Glamorganshire Home Guard of the Volunteer Force he rose to the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.[1] Vaughan in later life became a volunteer and fundraiser for the King Edward VII Hospital, which he partly designed, with his work helping to fund an additional 350 beds[2] and £500,000 in funds (much donated by shipowner, John Cory).[1]

Vaughan died in June 1919 "one of the best known men in Cardiff"[2] He had a well-attended funeral at St John's Church and was buried at the cemetery in Adamsdown.[1]

Notable works edit

 
St Stephen's, Butetown

Vaughan was designer of 45 churches in Glamorgan beginning with St Mary Magdalene, Cwmbach (1881/2).[1] Other notable examples included:

 
St Jude's Church Swansea

Non-ecclesiastical works included:

  • Institute of Physiology, Cardiff University, Newport Road, Cardiff (1915) – Vaughan campaigned successfully to locate the Institute close to the hospital and appointed himself as the designer.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Roberts, Alun (11 January 2013). "VAUGHAN, EDWIN MONTGOMERY BRUCE". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Brevities". Hull Daily Mail. 14 June 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 23 December 2014 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ a b "Church of St James the Great". The Victorian Web. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  4. ^ Newman, John (1995). The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan. Penguin Books. pp. 301/2. ISBN 0-14-071056-6. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  5. ^ "St Jude's Church, Mount Pleasant, Swansea (13606)". Coflein. RCAHMW.

External links edit

  Media related to E. M. Bruce Vaughan at Wikimedia Commons