St Andrew’s United Reformed Church (sometimes known as the Scottish Church on the corner) has served the people of Roath for the past one hundred and twenty four years. During that time it has conducted worship, weddings, funerals, etc, and has been a community centre for local people and others from across Cardiff. It even acted as a canteen during the war, as well as sending parcels to the troops abroad. More recently it has been a meeting place for community groups and events which include Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, St John Ambulance, Women’s Institute, Slimming World, Cardiff Café Theatre etc. Many concerts have been performed in the Church by international stars and choirs. There was even a ‘coffee court’ open in the car park throughout the pandemic. And the past six years have seen the now infamous Dragged to Church events.

The Cardiff Theatre Cafe (in the church hall) has become a safe space for groups and organisations from all backgrounds. We pride ourselves on our acceptance and diversity of events, promoting equality and love for all. This has also allowed our hall to become a place that the local community and beyond can call their own. It’s blossomed into something truly special, deeply rooted into the area.

Recently there have been a number of structural and environmental difficulties experienced at the Church. As many of you are aware, following a recent storm, the main roof of St Andrew’s suffered significant damage. Ridge tiles were dislodged, resulting in several slates being lost—mostly on the Marlborough Road side of the building. Unfortunately, when a claim was submitted to the church’s insurers, it was declined. Since then, a great deal of work has been happening behind the scenes. High-level meetings have taken place involving the Church Leadership Team, CADW, Cardiff City Council, the insurance company, Site Manager, and the local Conservation Officer to seek permission to carry out the necessary repairs. As the church is a Grade II Listed Building, there is no quick or straightforward solution.

Throughout this process, the safety of the congregation, the public, and all those working on site has remained our top priority.

The good news is that things are now moving forward. The roof has been made secure, and Marlborough Road has now reopened. Work is expected to commence within the next week and is estimated to take six to eight weeks to complete.

We are therefore seeking financial assistance to ensure that the Church will be able to continue to ‘be there for the community.’ If you can, please help us ensure that the Church is there for the future.