St Mary of the Angels Roman Catholic Church, Canton

St Mary of the Angels Roman Catholic Church (Welsh: Llanfair Yr Angylion) is located in Canton, Cardiff.[2] It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff.[2] It opened on 3 November 1907.[3]

St Mary of the Angels Roman Catholic Church
Map
51°28′58.83″N 3°11′47.26″W / 51.4830083°N 3.1964611°W / 51.4830083; -3.1964611
LocationCanton, Cardiff, Wales
CountryUnited Kingdom
DenominationRoman Catholic
WebsiteChurch Website
History
StatusActive
Founded1907
Consecrated30 October 1907
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade II [1]
Architect(s)Frederick Walters
StyleRomanesque
Completed1907
Administration
ProvinceProvince of Cardiff
DioceseRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff
DeaneryCardiff
Clergy
Priest(s)Rev. Canon David Hayman
Deacon(s)Maurice Scanlon
& Christian Mahoney

The parish priest is Rev. Canon David Hayman.[4]

Church history

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The church was designed by architect Frederick Walters and 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.[3] The tower was added in 1916.[1] The church is built using roughly dressed Pennant sandstone and cut Bath stone ashlar dressings, in a late 12th-century French style.[1]

In January 1941, the sacristies and St Ann's Chapel in the church were destroyed by an air raid to be rebuilt 10 years later.[3]

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.[3]

It became a listed building in 1975, as a building of quality by a noted ecclesiastical architect.[1]

In 1991 the church came under the care of the Archdiocese of Cardiff after many years under the Benedictine community.

On 11 October 2022, it was announced that the parish priest, Canon Peter Collins, was to be the new Bishop of East Anglia, in succession to Bishop Alan Hopes.[5] He was ordained bishop and installed as the fifth Bishop of East Anglia at St John the Baptist Cathedral in Norwich on 14 December 2022.

In January 2023, Archbishop Mark O'Toole appointed Rev. Canon David Hayman, the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Cardiff, and parish priest of Pontypool, as the new parish priest.

The church underwent an internal reordering in 2000.[3]

The parish has taken responsibility for the parish records of Sacred Heart, Leckwith, Cardiff.[citation needed]

Schools

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The church is closely linked to St Mary's R C Primary School in Canton, and to Mary Immaculate High School in Wenvoe.

Catholic higher education for ages 16 to 18 is provided by St David's Catholic College in Penylan, supported by the church.

In the news

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The babies of Charlotte Church and Gavin Henson were baptised at St Mary of the Angels church. Ruby Henson was baptised on 28 June 2008 by Fr. Delaney OSB, who Church described as her favourite priest.[6] Their son Dexter Lloyd Henson was christened in August 2009.[7]

In Charlotte Church's Confessional Song, one line is "Poor old Father Delaney", referring to the St Mary's parish priest.[citation needed]

Church Groups

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Church of St Mary of the Angels R.C., Riverside". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  2. ^ a b "St Mary of the Angels - Cardiff". Archdiocese of Cardiff. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Parish History and Photographs" (pdf). St Mary of the Angels Cardiff.
  4. ^ "St Mary of the Angels - Cardiff". 2 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Bishop Peter Collins".
  6. ^ "Charlotte's Ruby is christened by Mum's priest". WalesOnline. 29 June 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  7. ^ "Charlotte and Gavin christen tiny son Dexter". WalesOnline. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2013.