Llandaff Cathedral
Recent Events and Projects
EVENTS
2025 Annual Festival June 6-8
Over 40 Friends met at The Maltsters for the Annual Lunch and were joined by Bishop Richard Fenwick and Canon Precentor Ian Yemm. It was a happy event with good food and good company.
June 7th - Day 2 began with an excellent and well attended tour and talk led by Dr Nick Lambert, Membership Secretary, on 'The Early History of Llandaff Cathedral.' The Friends heard about the nature of the Celtic Monastery, the Pre-Norman Cathedral, the building of Bishop Urban's cathedral and the Book of Llandaff.
The AGM was at 3p.m. followed by the Annual Lecture delivered by the Rt Revd Richard Fenwick, formerly Bishop of St Helena in the Province of Southern Africa. It was an enlightening and entertaining lecture entitled 'The Age of Gold? - A warning about harking back to the Good Old Days in Church.'
Festival Evensong at 5-30p.m. included Presentations to the two new Friends Choristers, and the lessons were read by retiring Trustee Dr Anthony Edwards and Friends Vice President, H.M. Lord Lieutenant Mrs Morfudd Meredith. Bishop Mary, also a Vice President of the Friends, was also present.
The Festival concluded on Sunday 8th June with Festival Eucharist when two Friends' volunteers read the lessons and Dean Jason preached.
It was a busy and happy Festival, renewing acquaintances and meeting new Friends. We hope you will diarise now June 5-7 2026 , so you can join us for next year's Festival.
GUIDED FRIENDS TOURS
Over 20 people participated in the Friends Tour on Easter Monday, led by Brian Robinson and Dr Nick Lambert
Autumn Tea 2024
Following our very successful Autumn Tea last year, the Friends were delighted that Mrs Sally Davis, Principal of Howell’s School and Trustee of the Friends, invited us to return to the Great Hall for our Autumn Tea 2024 on Saturday 16th November.
The afternoon included a short talk on the connection between St Theodore’s Port Talbot and the Cathedral from Canon Emeritus Graham Holcombe, who also led us in singing.
There was entertainment from Howell’s School pupils as well as a splendid afternoon tea. We were joined by Bishop Mary, Dean Jason Bray and his wife, Mrs Laura Bray.
This was a great opportunity to meet the Friends in a wonderful setting and to enrol new members
Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
Earlier this year, the Friends were given this portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth11 as a remembrance of her many years as Patron of The Friends. It is now displayed in the Upper Room of Prebendal House.
PROJECTS
Music
£45,000 of support for the Music Department has been donated by the Friends in 2022, 2023 and 2024, to help with the reorganisation of the boys and girls choirs.
Garden of Remembrance
Look out for the four flowering Cherry Trees, commemorating the Platinum Jubilee, part of the new Garden of Remembrance on the north side of the Cathedral. £7,000 was given by the Friends towards the garden, and the Trustees asked Chapter to consider that parishioners who have a spouse, child or parent already buried in the Garden of Remembrance on the Cathedral’s south side, may wish their own ashes interred there as well.
Sculpture of King Charles III
Also on the north side of the Cathedral, the Friends have asked Chapter to consider adding a sculpture of King Charles III alongside those of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II, both former Patrons of the Friends.
Bishop Marshall’s Throne
One of the Cathedrals greatest treasures is the medieval painting from Bishop Marshall’s Throne. The Friends have contributed £44,000 to help cover the cost of having the panel expertly restored, for the repair and replastering of the wall of the south choir aisle where the panel is now displayed, and for the cost of installation and specialised lighting. (May 2021).
Installation of an AV System for the Cathedral
The excellent response to the services which were recorded and available online during the various Covid-19 lockdowns throughout 2020 convinced the Chapter that a live-streaming facility would extend the cathedral’s ministry, both to those who cannot attend services in person, and to those who live further away from Cardiff. The facility was installed in time for the first of the Christmas 2020 services, the Christmas Eve Carol Service. Approximately half the £21,000 cost of the project was donated by the Friends, the balance coming from the Diocese of Llandaff and the Allchurches Trust.
