“That in its beauty Cardiff may rejoice!”
(William Wordsworth)
Discover
Our Parish Life
The Eucharist is at the heart of our life together. Mass is celebrated here daily, along with other prayers and devotions
Morning and Evening Prayer, Rosary and Eucharistic Devotions form part of our prayer life, and we worship within the catholic tradition of the Church in Wales.
Butetown is a brilliant and diverse community. At one time, over fifty different languages were spoken here.
St Mary’s Church continues to thrive as a diverse congregation in the midst of this multicultural community, working together with local churches and people of other faiths and none to strengthen community life and help improve the lives of all who live and visit here.
Built in 1843, St Mary’s Church replaces the former Priory Church of the 1100s and tells the story of a thousand years.
From Norman Conquest to the Reformation, from Civil War to the Industrial Revolution, and celebrates the place that faith has played in the growth of Cardiff.
We are a parish of the Diocese of Llandaff in the Church in Wales.
WHAT’S NEW?
God’s Garden Adventure
A brilliant new project for the young – and young at heart! Are you ready to go on a journey? We won’t be going very far and there’ll be a few stops along the way. We’ll be stopping at beautifully coloured crosses hidden amongst the bushes and plants and trees. So keep your eyes peeled. There’s lots to see, and lots to think about. Ready? Let’s go! Check it out here
Stations of Creation
Whether you make this journey in our Wild Side or wherever you are, these Stations of Creation invite you to stop and ponder upon the cross of Christ, his death and resurrection, and upon our own life with him in the world. We reflect on Creation, and our responsibility to care for the world, and for all the gifts God has given us. Check it out here
WHAT’S NEW?
Coffee Morning
Our next exciting project is a weekly Community Coffee Morning on Thursdays from 11am to 1230pm. Beginning on November 25th, we look forward to welcoming you for a cuppa and great company!
Faithful Cardiff
Get under the skin of Cardiff and discover the significant part that faith and religion has played in the past and present of Cardiff. Check out our VISIT pages and discover things under your feet and all around you!
We do what we are!
We pray
Each day we live and move to the rhythm of Prayer and Eucharist
We give
Each year we pledge to give away at least 10% of our direct income
We serve
We work with others to serve the community of which we are part
We care
We are concerned about people and places and the natural environment
Visiting St Mary’s
Whether you’re looking for a church for worship and prayer, curious about the Christian life, or simply interested in history and heritage then you’re welcome!
We are open each day at different times for Mass and we’re working towards being able to keep our church open for longer each day.
If you’d like to arrange a visit outside of public worship times then please get in touch. It will be great to see you!
By the way, looking at St Mary’s Church from Bute Street, you may be given the impression that it’s closed! Actually, the large two central doors are not doors at all! They are simply a façade. Both the ‘doors’ and large windows face onto the back of a large internal apse.
At one time, the church was surrounded on all sided by streets of terraced housing, pubs and shops. The built landscape has changed so much but we’re still here!
“Community Outreach”
I love the community outreach, and how we are able to work together with so many different people in our community
Rachel
“People of all ages”
I love that our congregation is made up of people of all ages, and everyone has a place at the table!
Glyn
“Peace and quiet
I love the worship especially on Sunday but St Mary’s is also a beautiful place to experience peace and quiet in the midst of a busy city
Iris
Check out our Prayer Website, with daily posts and other resources.
Check out our Parish Blog
Latest Posts
Epiphany
On Friday we celebrate the light filled Feast of the Epiphany. Guided by a star, those mysterious figures from the East are given a revelation of profound proportions. The Magi have been identified by many as Zoroastrian priests although the term “magus” is also associated with Simon Magus in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts…
Now and in the year to come
At the final Mass of the year, the Scripture readings take us back to the beginning, and open our hearts to eternity. As we look forward to a new year, we pray for a spirit of gladness. The month of January is named after the two-faced Roman god of Janus. He was, for them, the…
The Remnants of Christmas Day
Today, is Stephen’s Day, although its more commonly called Boxing Day. In a homily for the Feast of Saint Stephen, the first Christian Martyr, whom we celebrate at Mass at noon, we ask what are the remnants of Christmas Day? Today, outside the houses of many people sits the debris of Christmas Day. The exchange…
THE SACRAMENTS
The Matter of Faith
Our life as Christians is nourished and sustained by the Sacraments. These are grace filled gifts from God. Through the use of material things, we encounter Jesus and receive his loving touch.
Within the traditional teaching of the church there are seven sacraments. Some of these are once in a lifetime (such as baptism and confirmation) whilst others (like the Eucharist and Confession) are regularly celebrated.
(For a reflection on the Sacraments follow this link: https://stmaryscf10.com/sacraments/ You can find out more about each sacrament by clicking on the headings below!)
Baptism and Confirmation
If you’d like to explore baptism and confirmation for yourself or your children then please speak to a member of the clergy after the Sunday Mass.
Eucharist
Mass is celebrated on Sundays and throughout the week, and all are welcome whether you are able to receive Communion or not. We can offer a simple preparation for receiving Holy Communion for the first time,
Confession
The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is available every Saturday after the 1130am Mass or by arrangement with the priest.
Marriage
We’d be delighted if you wanted to explore celebrating your wedding here at St Mary’s. Please get in touch using the details on our Contact page.
Sacrament of the Sick
Those who are sick may receive the Sacrament of the Sick along with Communion at home or hospital. We also celebrate a monthly ‘Mass of the Sick’ during which we offer the Ministry of Laying on of Hands and Anointing with holy oil. We pray for the sick each day at Mass.
Ordination
This is the three-fold order of Ministry in the Church of deacon, priest and bishop.
CONNECT
Donate
If you’d like to be part of what we do by making a financial contribution then please get in touch.
We encourage members of our congregation to give regularly and in a planned way (if they are able) but also welcome one-off donations either for a particular project or for our mission and ministry which includes the upkeep of the building .
Relate
We thrive on relationships and working together with others in our community to address need, bring change, and help create a better world for all of us.
If you would like to reach out to us then we’d love to hear from you either about one of our areas of activity or with a bright new idea!
Ministry Area Transition Team
The Transition Team for the emerging South Cardiff Ministry Area is working to draw the parishes of Splott, Butetown and Grangetown into one Ministry Area. Members of the Team can access their own dedicated page here. (Password Protected)
Follow us
Sign up to receive email notifications when we add new posts to our site, including links to Rejoice, our weekly online bulletin, and other great articles, blog posts, news and resources!
Social Media
Keep up to speed with us on Twitter and Facebook. We also publish a weekly e-bulletin called REJOICE (powered by Microsoft Sway)
St Mary the Virgin, Cardiff 