The full name of this large and imposing cathedral is The Cathedral and Parish Church of Saints Peter & Paul, Dyfrig, Teilo, and Euddogwy. St Peter and St Paul need no introduction, but who are the last three? They are all early Welsh missionaries, who traveled around and evangelized south and central Wales and nearby parts of England in the 6th century. The tombs of St Dyfrig and St Teilo are within the cathedral walls.

Llandaff is today a suburb of Cardiff. (For a map, click here.) In fact, it is surrounded on all sides by the bustling capital of Wales, but Llandaff itself is a conservation area and an oasis of peace and greenery. The diocese of Llandaff in the Church of Wales includes the west half of Cardiff.

The Cathedral stands on one of the oldest Christian sites in Britain. Christian worship has taken place on the cathedral site since the 6th century, but the earliest parts of the present building date from the 12th century when a stone Norman church was built. The church grew and prospered until the time of the Reformation. It was allowed to fall almost into ruins, due to loss of income, storm damage, and neglect. (During the Civil War, for example, the nave was turned into a tavern by Parliamentary troops, and some stone taken for military purposes.) Partial restoration was undertaken during the mid-18th century, but renewed prosperity in the diocese in the 19th century allowed a fresh and complete restoration. Several artists associated with the Pre-Raphaelite movement contributed their skills to help produce a truly magnificent church building. Then the Cathedral suffered very extensive damage in World War II, followed by major rebuilding and restoration to its 19th-century grandeur.

The result is a splendid church with architectural styles and works that span many centuries, making it an impressive and inspiring place for Christians to visit.

An unusual feature of the cathedral is its lack of transepts, making it unique in Britain.

There are many beautiful features and works of art that I could post here, but space does not permit. I have chosen to focus on the Lady Chapel, which is located at the east end of the cathedral and contains some of the oldest structural parts of the church. The chapel itself dates back to c. 1280. This is also the only part of the church to have remained undisturbed, apart from decoration, from the time it was built. The photo on the left shows the chapel’s ceiling with its fine Gothic vaulting; the walls and ceiling were decorated with this stencil design in 1908.

(As always, click on photos for larger views.)

 

 

 

Below, the altar and reredos of the Lady Chapel. The reredos is largely the original 15th-century stonework. Each niche contains a gilded panel holding a flower.

 

The east window is a Jesse window, which I mentioned in connection with Cartmel Priory in an earlier post. This window was replaced in 1951 after war damage. A Jesse window represents "the Tree of Jesse" (cf Isa 11:1). Jesse is seated in the centre panel at the base of the window and from him grows the main stem bearing King David and the Virgin and Child. Seated or standing among the branches are all but two of the kings listed in St Matthew’s Gospel. They are distinguished by their attitudes: those who did the will of the Lord look toward him, those who did evil turn away, while several neither wholly bad or good have turned away but are looking back.

This collect is found on the last page of the Cathedral's official guide book:

O Lord, who didst put into the hearts of our fathers to build to thy glory this Church of Teilo; enlighten the minds and strengthen the souls of those whom thou hast charged with its keeping, that they may so wisely adorn thy sanctuary that it may speak to those who worship and visit here of the things which belong unto their peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For more photos of the cathedral, click here. A fan of Charlotte Church, who was born in Cardiff, has some pics of Llandaff Cathedral at her website. Scroll down almost to the bottom of this page.

Links to all my blog posts about British churches and Christian sites can be accessed through the box located at the top of the page.