St Mary of the Angels R C Church, Canton

St Mary of the Angels Roman Catholic Church stands in Canton, a district of Cardiff. Built in a late 12th-century French style, it uses Pennant sandstone and Bath stone ashlar dressings. Frederick Walters designed the church and W. T. Morgan constructed it. The foundation stone was laid in January 1907 by Bishop Hedley, and the altar was consecrated later that year. A tower was added in 1916, and the church became a listed building in 1975. The church has witnessed significant events and changes over the decades. During the Second World War, an air raid destroyed the sacristies and St Ann’s Chapel, which were rebuilt a decade later. In 1952 and 1962, the interior was repainted and cleaned, with new lighting and amplifiers installed. It has been home to notable parish priests, including Canon Peter Collins, who became Bishop of East Anglia in 2022. The church also baptised the children of Charlotte Church and Gavin Henson. Inside, visitors find a space shaped by history and community. The church houses St Ann’s Chapel, rebuilt after the war, and an interior reorganised in 2000. It supports several groups, including a choir, altar servers, and a music group. The parish also runs St Mary’s R C Primary School in Canton and supports higher education through St David’s Catholic College. The surrounding area reflects the church’s long-standing role in the local Catholic community.