History
In Cardiff Nonconformity is traced back to
1662, and even ten years earlier when the Bishop of Llandaff complained
to the King that William Erbury, Vicar of St. Mary in Cardiff and
Walter Craddock, his curate, "have been very disobedient to
your Majesty’s injunction, and preached schismatically and
dangerously to the people".
There
is evidence that John French, the medical-clergyman evicted from Wenvoe
in 1662, had acquired a licence to "preach at his own
house", and he continued to do so until he died in 1691.
Within five years there was a Presbyterian chapel at Womansby Street,
and John Archer and Ricer Protheroe became its ministers before the
arrival of David Williams in 1734, whose preaching developed from
Arminianism to Unitarianism of the Priestley school; he was followed by
his son, Thomas Williams (1784-88), also a Unitarian.
However, the long ministry of his successor, William Jones (1789-1845), led the congregation back to Calvinism.
When
Wright the missioner, came to the city (around 1816) he was saddened
"that Unitarian worship is not regularly carried on in
Cardiff", and that although there were Unitarians to be found
there they lacked "courage and zeal".
According
to the census of George Harries in 1818 there was no Unitarian minister
in the city, and the old Presbyterian chapel was sold.
Another
Unitarian cause associated with that of Cardiff was the Church of
Watford on the outskirts of Caerphilly, which was founded by a group of
seceders from Cwmyglo in 1739, with David Williams of Womansby Street
Chapel sharing his ministry with them.
Mr.
Wright the missioner, in 1816, described the congregation at Watford as
"chiefly Unitarian" and, although Daniel Davies,
who was a Unitarian, became their minister in 1826 the church began to
deteriorate, especially after it severed its link with the Cardiff
Church.
The
last Unitarian minister to serve the Presbyterian Cause of Womansby
Street was Thomas Williams, and although the actual Unitarian church
was not to be established for nearly another hundred years, there is
ample evidence that the City was not without "followers of
the faith".
As
early as 1815 Iolo Morganwg thought that there was a possible nucleus
for establishing a Unitarian church in Cardiff. He had come across
Unitarians in the district of Llanrhymney and Caerphilly including
visitors like Dr. Carpenter, who often stayed in a "house and
a large farm of Muggeridge, near Cardiff"; and according to
Iolo this Mr. Muggeridge was prepared to build a Unitarian chapel.
However
that dream was not to be realized until 1879, when the following notice
appeared in the South Wales Daily News (Dec.10): "Sir,-As to
the establishment of a Unitarian Church in Cardiff, letters addressed
to 101 Castle Rd. would meet with prompt attention". And as a
result of this notice "a few Unitarians met and arranged to
hold meeting for worship in the house of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Nicholson, at
101 Castle Rd.".
Soon
there were about "twenty people all told", and in
July 1880, having appointed lay officers and hired a room at the Great
Western Coffee Tavern, the first public devotional services were
conducted by Mr. John Hammett and the address delivered by Mr. G.
Garslake Thompson. "The Rev. Nester Williams, of Merthyr, was
the first Unitarian Minister to conduct worship for the congregation
then meeting at the Coffee Tavern".
Early
in 1881 the congregation moved to the Assembly Rooms of the Cardiff
Arms Hotel and later in the same year, together with their newly formed
Sunday School, they moved again to the premises of the Good Templers in
the Arcade Buildings, where Thomas Holland took charge of the infant
church for six months.
Holland
was followed by Hobart Clark, of Massachusetts (1882-8), and it was
during his ministry that the congregation decided to build a chapel at
West Grove, at a cost of £3,000; this building, constructed
in a semi-Queen Anne style, now grade II listed because of its
architectural importance, was dedicated and opened for worship on
August 3rd, 1887.
In
1889 a new pipe organ was built in memory of J. P. Thompson, replacing
the original instrument which was donated to the Pantydefaid chapel in
Cardiganshire. This church thrived rapidly in the Capital, establishing
a Sewing Circle in 1888, Women’s League in 1911 and Young
People’s Guild in 1912. Regular Welsh services were held in
the church.
In
2005 the congregation came to the decision to sell the building but
continue to meet at the Friends' Meeting House in nearby
Charles Street.
The original trust upon which the church is still held makes interesting reading:
"The
Church is held upon trust as a place for the worship of Almighty God,
and for the religious, moral and intellectual improvement of those
worshipping therein. "and no regulation shall at any time be
made whereby the acceptance of any creed, article or confession of
faith shall be established as a condition of Church
membership.".
Any
person who wishes to become a member of the congregation worshipping
here signifies his acceptance of this free basis, and pays a minimum
subscription of five shillings per annum. The name
"Unitarian" is voluntary, and not obligatory by
trust, but is in our opinion alone consistent with the broad principles
set forth in that trust and with the religious needs of today. The
Minister is a Unitarian, and as such is free like his congregation to
follow truth as it is discovered.
A welcome is extended to any who wish to join this free fellowship of worshippers.