St Peter'S Church, Roath

St Peter's Church, Roath is the oldest surviving Roman Catholic church in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. It is administered by the Rosminians. HistoryWhen the Rosminians first arrived in Cardiff in 1854, the town had a significant Roman Catholic population but only one place of worship, St David's chapel in the town centre . In 1858, a site was secured near City Road on a 999-year lease and the necessary funds were raised. Owing to Anti-Catholicism in the area, plans to extend East Grove, forming a junction with Richmond Road, were scrapped because the objectors did not want a Catholic church fronting a main street. The church was initially designed with a tower and spire, but these designs proved over-ambitious, and when the church was opened in 1861, it was without either. The early days of St Peter's were not easy. The area was much-afflicted by poverty and drunkenness, and was far away from the Catholic districts, making work challenging for early priests, and low attendance figures were often a problem. After the conversion of John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute to Catholicism in 1868, and a rigorous fundraising program, the situation began to improve, with the founding of a school in 1872. The presbytery was also added, in Gothic Revival by W. P. James. In 1883, the tower was finally added at the expense of Lord Bute . The stained glass in the sanctuary dates from 1882, each window costing £160. A statue of St Peter over the church entrance was added in 1912, and additional dormer windows were installed in 1926.

St Peter's Church, Roath is the oldest surviving Roman Catholic church in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. It is administered by the Rosminians. HistoryWhen the Rosminians first arrived in Cardiff in 1854, the town had a significant Roman Catholic population but only one place of worship, St David's chapel in the town centre . In 1858, a site was secured near City Road on a 999-year lease and the necessary funds were raised. Owing to Anti-Catholicism in the area, plans to extend East Grove, forming a junction with Richmond Road, were scrapped because the objectors did not want a Catholic church fronting a main street. The church was initially designed with a tower and spire, but these designs proved over-ambitious, and when the church was opened in 1861, it was without either. The early days of St Peter's were not easy. The area was much-afflicted by poverty and drunkenness, and was far away from the Catholic districts, making work challenging for early priests, and low attendance figures were often a problem. After the conversion of John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute to Catholicism in 1868, and a rigorous fundraising program, the situation began to improve, with the founding of a school in 1872. The presbytery was also added, in Gothic Revival by W. P. James. In 1883, the tower was finally added at the expense of Lord Bute . The stained glass in the sanctuary dates from 1882, each window costing £160. A statue of St Peter over the church entrance was added in 1912, and additional dormer windows were installed in 1926.