The foundation stone for St Michael’s Church was laid in a ceremony that took place on 10th June 1875. The total cost was about £2,000, which is approximately £194,000 today. £1,300 had already been raised before the work began.
The Cardiff Times reported on 10th October 1874 that a Bazaar was held at Cardiff Town Hall to raise funds for the building of St Michael’s Church.
A charity bazaar, or “fancy fair”, was common in the Victorian era. The event in Cardiff included stalls, entertainment and refreshments.
*The Bank of England’s Inflation Calculator works out that goods and services valued at £2,000 in 1875 would cost £193,925.91 in 2024.
New Church at Tongwynlais
I wrote about the foundation stone ceremony, which took place on 10th June 1875.
Tongwynlais Church Building Fund
Bazaar at the Town Hall, Cardiff
The Assembly-rooms of the Cardiff Town-hall on Tuesday were graced by the presence of a large number of ladies, who, with the object of adding to the building fund of a church (St. Michael’s) which is to be erected at Tongwynlais, held a bazaar, which, in consequence of the inclement state of the weather, was not attended by so many visitors as, perhaps, was anticipated. Fancy goods were displayed in abundance at the fairy-like stalls which were arranged along both sides of the concert-room, the south end of which was occupied by a refreshment buffet. There was a “Punch and Judy” show in the ante-room, as well as a museum and fine arts exhibition, under the charge of Mr. E. S. Hill. An extra charge was made for admission to these. There were also some marionettes.
The stalls were superintended by the following ladies, who, it may be mentioned, provided their own collection of fancy articles for sale. Mrs Davis (Whitchurch); Mrs and Misses T. W. Booker (Velindra); Mrs Lewis (Green Meadow), Mr H. Lewis, Mrs J. Booker, Miss Lewis; Mrs E. S. Hill, assisted by Misses Lonsdale (2) Miss Kennedy and Mr Barber (Llandaff); Miss Lindsay; Mrs Haddock and Mr George Thomas (Heath), refreshments. The “Rhine Band” discoursed many appropriate selections of music at the entrance to the Assembly Rooms. The arrangements were successfully made by the energetic honorary secretary, the Rev. W. R. Jenkins, Whitchurch, who evinced much courtesy and attention to those who were present.
Among the visitors were Miss Wyndham Lewis, New House; Miss Page, daughter of Mr C. H. Page; Miss Blandley, Llanharren; Mrs Williams, Miskin; Misses Tyler; Miss Thatcher; Mr Charles Williams, Roath Court; Major Knight, Roath, &c. In honour of the occasion a Iine of flags was hung across St. Mary-street, from the Town Hall to the Borough Arms (Mr. Davies).
The second day’s proceedings in connection with the bazaar held at the Assembly-rooms, Town-hall, Cardiff, were very successful. There was a large and animated assembly of ladies and gentlemen present during the day, and it is to be presumed that a considerable acquisition to the funds of the proposed church followed.
