St German’s Celebrates 140 Years of Faithful Witness

On 29th September 2024 St German's Church, Adamsdown celebrated its 140th Anniversary.

Father Frederick W. Puller arrived in Adamsdown in 1872 and found a parish church only capable of seating 300 people and a small chapel, converted from a barn. He knew that something needed to be done and, by September 1874, an iron building was erected in Adamsdown and dedicated to St German.

In 1881, Fr. Puller’s successor Fr. Charles Smythies knew the iron building wouldn’t last long, and wasn’t large enough so he set about raising money for a new church. Almost £5,000 was raised by 1881, enabling the eminent church architect, George Frederick Bodley (below), to begin work on the church you see today. The land was kindly donated by Lord Tredegar who, in April 1882, laid the foundation stone, which can still be seen in the north chancel wall.

The beautiful building, once described as ‘amongst the finest nineteenth century religious buildings in Wales, an extremely refined and elegant Church…’ has been serving the people of Adamsdown ever since.

Anniversary celebrations reached their peak with a special Mass, celebrated by The Right Reverend Dr Richard Fenwick. Bishop Fenwick is President of the Friends of St German's a membership group for those wishing to support the future of the Church. The service was attended by former vicar Canon Roy Doxsey, former curate Canon Richard Lowndes (Vice-President of the Friends of St German’s), Jenny Rathbone MS, and Captain Sir Norman Lloyd-Edwards (Patron of the Friends of St German’s).

To mark the occasion the church was gifted with a new Reliquary which was blessed at the service. A Reliquary is an ornate container, used to hold a relic, serving as a tangible link between the faithful and the divine. It will hold a first-class relic s of St Germanus and St Agnes, as well as soil from the Holy Island of Bardsey and Water from Mount Athos.

Fr Jarel Robinson-Brown, vicar in the Roath and Cathays Ministry Area said, “We are looking confidently to our 150th Anniversary in 2034, journeying as those full of courage and hope for the future of the Church in Adamsdown, seeking to serve God's people through faithful witness, inclusive love, and Catholic worship - not seeking refuge in the past, but holding onto the treasures we have received as we seek to show people the treasure that they themselves are.”

You can find out more information about St Germans by visiting their website.