Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

10 articles on this Page

- LLAIDAFF CATHEDRAL.!

News
Cite
Share

LLAIDAFF CATHEDRAL. [The following Address was, in substancn, prepared by the late Dean of Llandaff, a short time before his death. Various circumstances have prevented its earlier publica- tion but it is hoped that the force of this posthumous appeal will not be weakened by this unavoidable delay.] To the Laity of the Diocese of Llandaff and to the Public in general. My LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, A Considerable interval has now elapsed since I ap- pealed to the Clergy of this Diocese in behalf of an effort to restore some portion at least of our ancient Cathedral. In the address then circulated I dwelt at some length on the circumstances which gave rise to a strong manifestation of public feeling in favour of the pious undertaking, and quoted some encouraging remarks which, though delivered at a meeting convened for another purpose, contained various suggestions and pro- mises of support, offered in a spirit of the most cordial liberality. In that address I also mentioned with sincere gratifica- tion the number of intimations which had been conveyed to me on the subject, and recorded the progress already made in the restoration of the Welsh Chapel, anciently tailed the Lady Chapel This appeal to the Clergy was responded to in the kindest manner by the members of the Chapter and the Clerical body at large: the.measure of their sympathy will be estimated by the list of their names and contribu- tions, and a consideration of the very scanty revenue of the Church throughout the Diocese. HE who regards the willing mind, and accepts according to the ability rather than the amount, will surely appreciate this labour of love. From the Clergy I turn to the Laity of Glamorgan and Monmouth in particular, and to the public generally, in behalf of our attempt to restore, or at least to improve, oar venerable Cathedral. The See of Llandaff is asserted to be, beyond dispute, the oldest, as its revenues are unquestionably the poorest, in the kingdom. Touching the antiquity of this Church," says Bishop Godwin, "it is reported to have been built in the second century, about the year of Christ ISO. It is certain that Dubritius presided here in 436, and that he was instituted Metropolitan in these parts." For more than fourteen centuries of the Christian era has Llandaff existed, with various fluctuations of wealth and depression, as an Episcopal See and it may serve to shew how great has been the spoil and waste of her revenues when we state, on the authority of the same Bishop Godwin, that so much riches has been be. stowed on Llandaff, that if it enjoyed the tenth part of that which it has been endowed with first and last, it would be one of the wealthiest Churches in Christendom whereas," adds the mournful chronicle, it hath now hardly sufficient to repair itself." In the beginning of the 12th century, Urban, the thirtieth Bishop of this See, had it in his heart to rebuild this Church. At his first coming he found his Bishoprick in a very poor and miserable condition-the Church ruined almost to the ground-the revenues so confiscated that out of twenty-four canons they could now scarcely maintain two." The zealous Bishop complained thereof to the King and other authorities, and in the year 1119 pro- cured letters to the CLERGY AND GENTRY OF THIS KINGDOM, particularly of his own Diocese. By this means, having gathered great sums, he pulled down th" old Church, and began upon the 14 April, 1120, the building of the present fabric, which is, says Godwin, "a very elegant one, being 300 feet long and 80 broad, and adorned at the west end with two stately towers of great height, and a neat Chapel of our Lady-a work truly magnificent, and to be remembeied with honor by posterity," In 1478 Bishop Marshall became a gieat benefactor to this Cathedral, in "beautifying it by ftesco painting, and by an altar piece of free-stone." It is a melancholy task to contrast its early beauty with its present deformity. Browne Willis, in his prefatory epistle to his Survey of the Cathedral Church of Llandaff, writing in the year 1715, describes it as having fallen into a most deplora- ble decay within these few years and thus touchingly expresses his reasons for undertaking his work: •« Wherefore it was that after a sad contemplative test so glorious a structure as this church, honored by being "the ancientest Bishop's See in the Kingdom (as we 4* have evident authority to shew) raised, enriched, and "bcautitlfd by the piety of so many noble founders, should be utterly destroyed that I fortlnviih," &c. &c. It is to prevent the accomplishment of this anticipated evil, to stay and to repair the ravages of time that I now appeal v, ith confidence to public generosity, to individual taste, and above all, to National Piety. To that natural inquiry-" What have) au done for ''yourselves 1-How far have you put your own shoulders "to the burthen1" We answer-we have done what we could. We have, at our own capitular cost, placed a new covering of lead over the whole of the roof of the Cathedral, the aisles, and the chapel. We have raised a new ceiliug within; we have also, from our own private, as well as from capitular resources, assisted by the clergy "iDlJJ Jteadiiig.Pjersons of the diocese, effected the means. Earnestly do we hope that your liberality may enable us to effect a complete restoration of the beautiful and venerable fabric; but, should our funds prove in- sufficient for the immediate execution of that purpose, we are justified in expecting that enough may be collected, not only to execute the extensive improvements now in hand, but to carry forward its gradual restoration upon a settled and uniform plan, and in a style of architecture. corresponding with the noble remains of the ancient edifice. What may then remain unfinished may be com- pleted by the piety of these who follow us in the good work. Care being studiously taken to do nothing our- selves which they may wish undone; but, on the con- trary, to leave them an example, which shall at once guide and encourage them in prosecuting the same design 1 hat wishes and efforts having such an object in view will be met by the public with a willing heart and a liberal iiand, we entertain no doubt. We are far from reflecting upon the want of taste of our piedecessors, who, natxr a century ago, refitted the Church for Divine Service, after it had lain 30 years in ruins. They did what they could, according to the style of that age- when the tlrts and, more especially, architecture were in this country at the lowest ebb. We are anxious to remedy those defects. We appeal to an age far more wealthy and far better taught, to supply us with funds, which they way be sure will now be applied with equal zeal, but wiih infinitely better effect. VV'ecall upon the lovers of our Reformed Church to lend a friendly hand to this pious work- to help us when struggling in a good cause labouring to change a disfigured, but stiil a venerable structure, into a form worthy of its solemn and holy purposes, and corresponding with the dignity of a C.ithedial Institution. Without such aid the object Is unattainable. We shall still, indeed, make the attempt, — let it not be said that you looked on with indifference, and that in consequence of that indifference our attempt its beea unsuccessful. WILLIAM BRUCE KNIGHT. Postscript by the Dean of Llandaff. Nov, 18-15. I will not, by any addition of my own, weaken the fo ice which the above appeal must carry with it, in coming, as it were, from its author's tomb, who still, however, lives in the hearts and memories of all the members of the diocese to which it is in the first place but still I cannot feel satisfied that it should go forth unaccompanied by the declaration, how near to my own heart is the cause thus pleaded by my beloved and venerated predecessor; and what delight it will afford me to co-operate by every means in my power, in the exertions which I am sure this address will call forth. W. D. CONYBEARE. Lrsr OF TrIE SUBSCKIISISRS, BKING CLEHGY OF THE OlOTtESF. OF LLASUACF, TO THE RESTOUATION OF TAT CATHEDJIAL. £ s. d. Right Rev. Edward Copleston, D.D., Lord tiiahop 500 0 0 "Very Rev. W. D. Conybeare, Dean 100 0 0 Very Rev. W. Bruce Knight, late Dean and Chancellor 100 0 0 Ver\ Rev. J. Probyn, late Dean and Arch- peaces 50 0 0 Venerable T;wrn:¡s Widiams, Archdeacon of Llandaff 50 0 0 Ye'ieiable Urn, Crawley, Archdeacon of Monmouth 50 0 0 Rev. I! ugh Williams, Chancellor of the Dio- + Cta 10 0 0 ftev. J. M. Trahenie, Chancellor of the Cathedral no 0 0 Thomas S-acey, precentor 10 0 0 Henry Douglas late Precentor 100 0 0 W. Williams, D.D., Canon vO 0 0 It. VVatson, Canon 50 0 0 II. H. Xorris, Canon 100 0 0 J. (.aistord, D.D., Canon 0 0 I.uv. ard Ja:nes, Canon .•••• 100 0 0 W. Powell, Canon 50 0 0 1^. a 11 eh ard, Senior Vica r. 10 0 0 E. P. Thomas, Junior Vicar 5 0 0 11. L. blosse, Newcastle 10 0 0 W. Bruce, St. Nicholas )0 0 0 G. A. Biedermann, 1'1emingstolle. ;) ft 0 U. Came, Llanm.ies JQ Q o J. C. Campbell, Merthyr .10 0 0 James Coles, Michaelstone-y-Vedw ..[* 5 0 0 T. Davie?, Trevethiti 10 0 0 ".J. Davies, Shirenewton 5 0 0 W. Davies, L!m tdewy Rhydtient 2 0 0 A. Deue, St. Athan 2 2 0 J. Barnard Duvi.-s ) 1 o J. Evans, Llandough 10 o 0 R. Evans, Margam 6 0 o T. Edmondes, Llatiblethian 5 0 0 J. Edwardes, Gileston.. • ••• 5 5 0 F. F. Eihv,-tides, Gileston 5 5 0 W. Evaiii, Usk. 3 3 0 T. Evans, Gourey 4 0 0 ■" J. Heming, Llangwm 1 I Edward Griffiths, Llamaches 1 1 0 F. Gardner, )a.e Rector of Llanvetherine 5 0 0 •axried fsrwwd 1700 9 0 £ s. d. Brought forward 1700 3 0 D. H. Griiffth, Cadoxton-juxta-Neath.. 5 5 0 E. W. Gabb, Llanwenarth 5 0 0 D. Griffiths, Llanilid 1 1 0 E. Hawkins, Newport 5 0 0 J. Harding, Coity and Coychurcli 10 0 0 Daniel Jones, Caerleon 10 0 0 Evan Jenkins, Dowlais 3 3 0 W. Jones, Peterston Wentloog 4 4 0 D. Jones, Panteague 5 0 0 D. Jones, Wolvesnewton 1 0 0 R, Knight, Newton" 5 0 0 C. R. Knight, St. Bride's Major 6 6 0 « H. H. Knight, Neath 10 0 0 » E. D. Knight, Tredegar 5 0 0 W. Llewellyn, Llangeinor I I 0 Rev.F. Lewis, Llanvair 5 0 0 W. Price Lewis, junior, late Curate of Llantrisaint 5 0 0 T. Langley, Llandogo 3 3 0 Augustus Morgan, Machen 10 0 0 E. Morgan, Llantrissent 2 2 0 G. M. Maber, late Rector of Merthyr Tydfil 10 0 0 D. Morgan, Uancarvan 2 0 0 E. Dempster Miller, Skenfrith 2 2 0 J. Nelson, Peterston 10 0 0 J. C. Prosser, Devauden. 1 1 0 W. Powell, Raglan 5 0 0 W. B. C. Powell, Curate of Raglan. 110 Morgan Powell, Coedkernew 2 0 0 « E. Roberts, St. Bride's Minor 3 3 0 D. Reece, late Vicar of Aberavon 3 3 0 Daniel Reece, Aberystruth 3 3 0 G. Roberts, Monmouth, 5 0 0 E. S. Staiiley, Curate of Raglan 2 0 0 Sir Charles Salusbury, Llanwern 10 0 0 George Thomas, Llandaff Court 125 0 0 F. Tayntoii, Ystradowen 5 0 0 E. Thomas, Britonferry 3 3 0 W. Thomas, Kilybebill 5 5 0 R. T. Tyler, Llantrithyd 10 0 0 G Traherne, St. Hilary. 10 0 0 W. Watkins, Merthyr iVlawr 3 0 0 J. Williams, Mathern 10 0 0 Lewis Williams, Mounton 5 0 0 T. Williams, Trinity, Abergavenny 500 C. A. Williams, Llangibby 5 5 0 E. J. Williams 10 0 0 R. Williams, Roggiot 1 1 0 « J. Webb, Cardiff 20 0 0 J. J. Williams, Curate of Aberdare 1 1 0 H. Warrilow, Lanishen 1 1 0 J. Williams, Marcros8. 10 0 0 2091 17 0 DONATIONS OF CLERGY NOT RESIDENT IN THE DIOCESE. I £ s. d. The Tti<rbt R.pv. the Lord Ttishnn of Winches- ter ioo o o The Chapter of Winchester 50 0 0 The Very Rev. the Dean of St. Asaph 50 0 0 The Rev. W. D. Conybeare, (1st donation) Axminster 10 0 0 The Rev. W. J. Copleston, Cromhall 5 0 0 W. Dansey, Donhead, St. Andrews. 2 0 0 i Robert Jackson, Worcester 5 0 0 D. Jones, Bishopston 5 0 0 Howell W. Lloyd, Vorlas, Denbigh- shire 1 0 0 R. Prichard, Newbold 20 0 0 J. C. Robertson, Curate of Boxley.. 5 0 0 W. Rayer, Tidcomb 10 10 0 A Friend 500 268 10 0 Subscriptions received at the National Provincial Bank, Cardiff.

I-GLAMORGANSHIRE. I-

BRECONSHIRE SESSIONS.

Advertising

[No title]

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS.

Advertising

I -HIGH WATER AT CARDIFF.…

R E SIGNATTON OF THE MINISTRY.

LOCAL XNTBLUaBNOB.