proud possessor
of one of the most beautiful modern churches in the British Isles,
set in the midst of a population of 8,000. This fact is recognised
by its inclusion by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government
on 18 March 1952, in the list of buildings of special architectural
and historic interest. The interior is simple in design and characterised
by clusters of slim columns carrying arches of Gothic conception.
In a spacious sanctuary the commanding High Altar has a magnificent
reredos, erected in 1922 as a parish memorial to the thirty years
incumbency of Father Ives, the first vicar, surmounted by an east
window executed in 1900 by Burleson and Grylls.
The organ was played for the first time on
1 October 1885, and is the work of William Hill and Sons, who were
responsible for the organ in Westminster Abbey; it is housed in
a loft on the south side of the dignified choir. Beneath the organ
loft is the Lady Chapel with six windows designed by Hugh Easton
in 1953. Here the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. On the north side
of the choir since 1939, is the chapel of St Agnes. Both chapels
have beautiful wrought iron screens. The Rood came from St Paul’s
Lorrimer Square, London, and is associated with the Mission conducted
by Father Baverstock and Father Sharp in 1904.
A window by Burleson and Grylls, since 1905,
has graced the east end of the north aisle, whilst at the west end
of the same aisle the font possesses a notable oak cover (this was
subsequently removed in the 1970’s and is now used as an Aubrey)
with a new Font Cover being given in memory of Jimmy Miller, the
12 year old son of the Hall Caretaker who died tragically in a swimming
accident. Amongst many features worthy
of attention are the Stations of the Cross, the statue of Our Lady
in the south aisle and the one of St German in the north aisle.
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The Clergy
House, alongside the church in Metal Street was opened and
dedicated on 24 April 1894, in the presence of Lord Halifax,
President of the English Church Union.
In 1941 the Parish Hall and Institute,
with the outside Calvary, was destroyed in an air raid, which
also caused considerable damage to the windows and doors of
the Church. In the raid, Sister Teresa was killed.
A contributory factor to the building
of the present church was the conversion by Father Puller
of the old Splott chapel into an Infants School. In 1874 he
further developed this school by building the Metal Street
School. Unfortunately this was closed in the 1980’s
and turned into flats (now known as St German’s Court). |
PRESENT TIMES
The following
is taken from the Annual Report given to the Friends of St Germans.
Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund,
Cadw (Welsh Historic Monuments) and the zeal and enthusiasm of its
current Vicar Father Roy Doxsey and members of the church, St German’s
Church has been restored to its former glory. The following work
was carried out over a 12 month period:
-
The removal
of the East Window, Sanctuary and Chancel Windows and
the two windows above the west door, all of which have
been cleaned and are now radiant
-
The replacing of all the crumbling
stonework, especially the mullions in the Sanctuary and
West Windows
-
The cleaning of the stonework in
the Sanctuary, Chancel, Lady Chapel and St Agnes Chapel
-
Restoring back to it’s original
colour of white, the whole of the interior of the Church.
It appears that Bodley only allowed the interior of his
churches to be painted white, so this should please him!
-
The sanctuary floor has been restored
and the upper step enlarged
-
The Organ Case, having been painted
over with red and green emulsion during the early 1960’s,
has been restored to its former glory, revealing the original
Latin inscriptions and the whole of its case has been
re-gilded and repainted
-
The Reredos above the High Altar
has been cleaned and the figures re-gilded providing a
magnificent addition to the glory of the restored East
Window
-
The High Altar Cross and Candlesticks
along with the seven Sanctuary Lamps have been cleaned
and re-lacquered
-
The backcloth behind the Altar
in the Lady Chapel has been replaced and two frontals
for the High Altar have all been donated
-
The whole of the lighting in the
Sanctuary, Chancel, Lady Chapel and St Agnes Chapel have
been rewired
-
The Priest and Choir Vestries have
been re-plastered and redecorated and the Vestry windows
cleaned
-
New central heating piping and
radiators have been installed, and this was no small task!
-
The guttering and down pipes on
the North and South Sides have been renewed
-
The cross on the apex at the East
end of the Church has been restored and stands out as
a beacon to our faith. A faith that we proclaim by the
whole of the restoration work
This leaves only the organ to restore
and fund-raising is now taking place so that we are able
to take this forward too. This is being taken enthusiastically
forward by our organist Mr Brian Williams.
As Father Roy reported - we undertook all this work as
an act of faith believing that if the Lord wanted us to
restore His Church, we would find the means to do so.
He emphasised that the restoration of St German’s
was taken forward as an expression of our belief that
God deserves the best and the building should express
the glory of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe
that all who enter St German’s should be spiritually
uplifted and feel that they are truly in the House of
God.
We are privileged to be the
custodians of St German’s and to have had the joy
of restoring it to its full glory. However, we must also
remember that the heart of the Church are the Word and
Sacraments that are proclaimed and celebrated by its members
both past and present and will continue, we pray, to be
hallowed by future generations for whom we have also restored
the Church.
What a wonderful expression
of spirituality St German’s is to our Community,
City and indeed Nation. My earnest prayer is that we can
draw people to come and be part of our St German’s
family and enjoy with us the richness of our faith. I
ask for your prayers that this may be so,
Father Roy.
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