Christ Church, Radyr is 120 years old this year.
This year we are commemorating that first service in the Nave by holding a special service at 11:00am on Easter Day, 31st March, in the presence of the Bishop of Llandaff, the Rt Rev’d Mary Stallard. Other events are planned for this year – the list at the bottom of this page will be updated as more are announced.
History
It was in the late 1870s that the then Rector of the ‘Parish of Radyr’, Rev H J Humphreys, decided to establish a church presence in what we now know as Radyr, which was by then starting to be developed following the development of the railway and the shunting yards. (Radyr Station was not built until 1883.). He decided to get an efficient Sunday School built. And, in 1880, a ‘National School’ (i.e. a school run by the established church) was opened in Park Road. This building, to a design by John Pritchard, the Llandaff Diocesan Architect, is now the Community Centre known as The Old Church Rooms. Lady Mary Windsor-Clive gave the land and subscribed £300 on behalf of Lord Windsor. The eventual cost was £1100. In 1881, the building was ‘licensed for divine worship’ “to provide a convenient alternative venue for the remote Parish Church of St John Baptist” (in Danescourt).
The Rev Humphreys only just saw the completion of the National School as he resigned the incumbency in 1880 on his appointment to the Rectory of Llangan and was replaced by the Rev H G Williams. Rev Williams continued his predecessor’s work by acquiring the land (again from Lord Windsor) on which Christ Church now stands. In 1881 he commented in a letter “The population of the Parish is 422 and they are all poor people with the exception of two or three. The population consists of farmers, farm labourers, men employed on the Railway, quarrymen. Others are working in the Iron and Steel works”. However, he raised funds for the building of a Rectory which was completed in 1888. That Rectory was sold in 2006 on the building of the New Rectory, but still stands behind Christ Church.
Rev David Philips became the Rector of Radyr in 1892 and continued the building zeal of his predecessors. In 1896, when the School Board erected its own school (now Radyr Primary) in Park Road, the National School reverted to the Rector and Churchwardens and it became ‘The Mission Church’ and was fully equipped for services by the installation of an altar, choir stalls and three stained-glass windows in the apse.
In 1902 he started a movement for erecting a new church in front of the Rectory by holding a small sale of work, resulting in a profit of £104, which was the nucleus of the fund. A little later a committee was formed, another sale of work held, and a profit of £140 realised. From these acorns, funds started to come in from all directions and building started on what we now know as Christ Church. The building was designed by George Halliday, Llandaff Diocesan Surveyor and constructed in two stages. The Nave cost £2,039 10s 7d to build and was first used on Easter day, 3rd April 1904. A plaque commemorating the opening can be found on the West wall of the church. A Dedication service was held on Thursday, 14th April 1904, attended by local dignitaries. On Wednesday, 30th March 1910 the foundation stone was laid for the chancel and tower by the Earl of Plymouth; this can be seen on the outside wall of the chancel, below the East window. The work was completed later that year at the additional cost of £3,087 11s 8d. The peal of eight bells were commissioned and brought into service for the wedding of David Rupert Phillips (son of the Rector) and Amy Isabel Thomas on 24th August 1910. The bells were the gift of Lieutenant Colonel Oakden-Fisher (who used to live in Ty Mynydd Hose, now demolished), and are all inscribed with the names of members of his family. They were cast by John Taylor and Co., Loughborough.
This year we are commemorating that first service in the Nave by holding a special service at 11:00am on Easter Day, 31st March, in the presence of the Bishop of Llandaff, the Rt Rev’d Mary Stallard. Other events are planned for this year – look out for them in the Christ Church diary and other advertisements.
Events being held for ChristChurch120
Family Fun Day
Get Ready for Christmas
Previous Events already held for ChristChurch120
Shrove Tuesday Quiz
World Day of Prayer service
Mothering Sunday Service
Concert by orchestra and soloists of Radyr Comprehensive School
Easter Morning Eucharist
