Author Archives: Dean Atkins

Straying saints and fast cities This screen seems solid, unmoveable, part of the fabric of the building. Yet it came from another church building now long gone, the former church of St Dyfrig. The church stood on Wood Street in an area of Cardiff once known as Temperance Town near Central Railway Station before theContinue reading “Articles of Faith 7: A Rood Screen”

The next article of faith is another letter from our archives and written to the successor of Fr Jones who retired as Vicar in 1903. The letter was sent just a year later from the rather ominously sounding “Royal Commission of Ecclesiastical Discipline” to the Reverend Gilbert Heaton. The Mystery Worshipper Pinned to the cornerContinue reading “Articles of Faith 6: Letter from 1904”

The Fabric of the Church The murals of St Margaret and St Winifred, two female saints, are part of the fabric of St Mary’s Church, a constant mark in the masonry, and a continued reminder of the work of certain women in the parish: the Sisters of the Society of St Margaret who came toContinue reading “Articles of Faith 5: Mural of St Margaret”

Between the Lines The fourth item is a simple letter, written in scribbled handwriting, sent to the Vicar at the time, Fr Griffith Arthur Jones, from the Revd J.W. Doran. Together, they were working on a Gregorian Psalter in Welsh, indicated from the outset by the way the letter is dated: “Feast of the dearContinue reading “Articles of Faith 4: A Letter of 1882”

My ships have passed away To uncover the story of this brass lectern, with its grand eagle bearing the weight of the word, wings outstretched ready for flight, we need to turn back a hundred years and more, back to 1905 and a turning point in Cardiff’s history, and the story of a life-long friendship.Continue reading “Articles of Faith 3: Brass Lectern”

In Search of Treasure at Sea! In the search for old treasures you may have Indiana Jones in mind, struggling with baddies, crawling through caves, seeking out the Holy Grail. Well, our second article is no Holy Grail although it is a chalice used at the Eucharist! It’s not the most decorated chalice amongst theContinue reading “Articles of Faith 2: Silver Chalice”

One of a series of posts allowing individual articles here at St Mary’s to unfold a story! Better Days This first object has seen better days. And I say ‘seen’ better days because this object has a face with a nose and a mouth . . . and eyes! It’s a simple, stone corbel headContinue reading “Articles of Faith 1: Stone Corbel Head”

It was an episode of Silent Witness I think, the BBC drama series which investigates crimes using the science of forensics. There is discovered the remains of a dead body, incarcerated in a prison beneath the concrete floors of a discarded factory. The body was naked, his torn clothes next to him. The psychological diagnosisContinue reading “From that place of death”

The Easter Vigil is the most beautiful and important liturgical celebration of the whole year! Although, this year, we have been prevented from gathering to celebrate it together, the rites have still been offered to God (which is his due!) for the salvation of the whole world for we have no merit except in theContinue reading “The Light of Christ!”

[A 3 minute read for Holy Saturday] I’d had a bad day, needed some cheering up. So someone who cared said, ‘Come on, let’s go to the cinema, that will make you feel happier.’   Three hours later, I emerged from seeing the movie Titanic, and jokingly thanked my friend for cheering me up by showingContinue reading “Bad Days and Happy Sailing”