St Patrick's Church

St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church stands in Grangetown, a district of Cardiff. It belongs to the Cardiff Deanery of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia. A smaller church had existed on the same site since 1882, next to St Patrick’s School. The present building opened on St Patrick’s Day in 1930 after a year of construction. The foundation stone was laid on St Patrick’s Day in 1929 on land once used as allotments. A Memorial Hall built in 1921 still serves the parish today. The church is worth visiting for its role in local Catholic life. It organises coach trips around Britain and an annual pilgrimage to Lourdes. Several groups meet regularly, including the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and the Guild of St Stephen. Father John Fahey led the parish for many years until 2008, when Father Bogdan Wera took over. Father Wera helped revive the community with the growth of a Polish congregation. Inside, the church contains a presbytery where parish meetings are held. The parish hall in Bishop Street is set to be replaced by a new building next to the church. The lawn will be removed to make space, while bats in the old hall’s roof prevent demolition. Nearby St Patrick’s R C Primary School holds monthly school masses in the church. The building remains a centre for worship, education and community activities in Grangetown.