St Michael's College, Llandaff

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St Michael's College, Llandaff
St Michael's College, Llandaff.jpg
"Bland and uninspired", John Newman
TypeHouse / College
LocationCardiff, Glamorgan
Coordinates51°29′35″N 3°13′07″W / 51.4930°N 3.2187°W / 51.4930; -3.2187Coordinates: 51°29′35″N 3°13′07″W / 51.4930°N 3.2187°W / 51.4930; -3.2187
Built1880s-1950s
ArchitectJohn Prichard, F. R. Kempson, George Pace
Architectural style(s)Gothic Revival, Modernist
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameSt Michael's College
Designated25 January 1966
Reference no.13657
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameChapel of St Michael's College
Designated27 April 2004
Reference no.82676
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameApartments 1-3, St Michael's College
Designated25 January 1966
Reference no.81256
St Michael's College, Llandaff is located in Cardiff
St Michael's College, Llandaff
Location of St Michael's College, Llandaff in Cardiff

St Michael's College was an Anglican theological college in Llandaff, Wales. The college was founded in Aberdare in 1892, and was situated in Llandaff from 1907 until 2016.[1] Among its many alumni was the poet R. S. Thomas. The original building on the site was a house constructed for himself by John Prichard. After his death, that building was incorporated into the newly-founded St Michael's College, which was built mainly to the designs of F. R. Kempson between 1905-1907. In the late 1950s, a chapel was built by George Pace. The college closed as a residential training college in 2016 and was re-established as the St Padarn's Institute which organises theological training for the whole of the Church in Wales.

History[]

John Prichard was a noted ecclesiastical architect who undertook much church building and restoration in Wales, often in partnership with John Pollard Seddon.[2] He established a practice in Llandaff, Cardiff, becoming 'Resident Diocesan Architect' in December 1844.[3] In the mid-1860s, he began the building of a house, and attached office on the site of the future St Michael's. Following his death in 1886, control passed to the Church of England, which began the building of a residential seminary for the training of priests.[4] The main college buildings were designed by F. R. Kempson and built between 1904-1907.[5] In the 1950s, a college chapel was designed by George Pace.[6]

In 2016, following a review, A report on the future of theological training in the Church in Wales, the college closed as a residential centre, with the training of priests devolved to individual dioceses.[7] St Padarn's Institute took over the old St Michael's buildings and the mandate for training Welsh Priests and other licensed ministers at the end of 2016. The Cardiff site became the home for some residential and administration activities, but with training taking place under the name of St Padarn's Institute across the whole of Wales.[8][9]

Architecture and description[]

The architectural historian John Newman, writing in his Glamorgan Pevsner, describes the design of Prichard's office and house as "sprightly". He is less complimentary about F. R. Kempson's large-scale additions for the college, which he considers "bland and uninspired".[4] Prichard's building uses a polychromatic blend of rubble and blue brick with stone dressings, while Kempson deployed sandstone with Bath stone dressings.[5] The most highly regarding building in the complex is the chapel by Pace. Constructed to a Modernist design, Newman notes the influence of Le Corbusier's Notre-Dame du Haut.[4] The chapel is designated a Grade II* listed building,[6] while the college,[5] and a block of three apartments within it, are designated Grade II.[10]

Wardens of St Michael's College[]

  • Glyn Simon (later Bishop of Llandaff and Archbishop of Wales)
  • Eryl Stephen Thomas (later Bishop of Monmouth and Bishop of Llandaff)
  • Harold John Charles (later Bishop of St Asaph)
  • O. G. Rees
  • John Hughes (later Bishop of Kensington)
  • John Rowlands
  • John Holdsworth
  • Peter Sedgwick [11] 2004-2014
  • Mark Clavier (Acting principal) 2014-2016[12]

Principals of St Padarn's Institute[]

Deans of St Padarn's Institute[]

  • Revd Dr Manon Ceridwen James
  • Revd Dr Mark Griffiths JP

Alumni[]

See also: Category:Alumni of St Michael's College, Llandaff

References[]

  1. ^ Walker, David (1976). "Disestablishment and Independence". In Walker, David (ed.). A History of the Church in Wales. Penarth: Church in Wales Publications. p. 181. ISBN 0-85326-0-11-7.
  2. ^ "John Pollard Seddon 1827–1906".
  3. ^ Newman 2000, p. 56.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c Newman 1995, p. 258.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c Cadw. "St Michael's College (Grade II) (13657)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Cadw. "Chapel of St Michael's College (Grade II*) (82676)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  7. ^ Baxter, Christina; Pain, Richard; Paterson, Robert; Tiltman, Alan; Jenson, Philip. "A report on the future of theological training in the Church in Wales" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Church plans new Training Institute for clergy". Church in Wales. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  9. ^ "Goodbye to St Michael's College, as theological training is reinvented". www.churchtimes.co.uk.
  10. ^ Cadw. "Apartments 1-3, St Michael's College (Grade II) (81256)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Rev'd Dr Peter Sedgwick".
  12. ^ "College appoints Acting Principal". The Church in Wales. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  13. ^ "Next Anglican Bishop of Lancaster is Rev Dr Jill Duff | The Diocese of Blackburn". www.blackburn.anglican.org.

Sources[]

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