St John The Baptist Church

Though I’m a hard core planner when it comes to traveling, I try my best to be ready to change those plans when there’s reason to do so. In this case, reason to do so came in the form of a sign that said «free concert» about half an hour from the time I walked by. Plans on hold, we ducked into this exceptionally old but well-​maintained church for what turned out to be an organ concert commemorating the centennial restoration of a monstrous pipe organ that seemed to be the single limiting factor determining how small the church could be. It is as if the church exists solely to house this beast.
My pipe organ experience had until then been limited to cathedral church organ music, which consists of softly played chords designed to put you in a reflective frame of mind, and often each chord is held for so long that you start looking around the church to see if the organist is still holding that note because he has died and can no longer move his fingers.
This wasn’t like that at all. The organist was both a master musician and a master teacher, taking the time to carefully explain each piece he performed in a way that made it accessible and the themes recognizable. Then he went and played the organ in a way I’ve never heard before, coaxing remarkable depth and grace out of every note. The wide variety of music finished with the first four parts of the William Tell overture, which I’d not heard in sequence. It was the first and only time I’ve been truly excited by classical music … simply incredible. All because we happened to walk by, saw a sign, and went for it.
The church itself is plainly adorned like many older churches in the area. You might be able to guess what I think of the acoustics: Near perfection. Impressively, many of the columns from 500+ years ago remain and in near-​perfect condition. Definitely worth a look if it’s open when you walk by, and the gardens and cemetery are interesting as well. At a time when many of these sites are suffering for lack of maintenance funds, this church is in great shape. And it gave me one of the neatest concerts I’ve heard in ages right in the middle of Cardiff.

St John’s is a beautiful church yet so often its rushed by and you forget its really there. My favourite part is the little garden attached to graveyard which is a peaceful and quiet place to sit any time of the year and always has the most beautiful displays of flowers.
Inside the church itself is quite plain really, typical of many traditional Welsh churches. Its open every day and welcomes vistors as well as people wishing to pray, and for Sunday service of course.
Also worth looking out for tower open days when you can get a closer look at the spire and the views out over Cardiff. Check the website.

This is a beautiful old building situated in the very centre of Cardiff, and serving as a distinctive landmark. St John the Baptist Church is over 800 years old and has watched the rest of Cardiff grow up around it. Yet, it manages to remain just as impressive as ever.
This church is a lovely place to visit and is staffed my very welcoming volunteers. There is a small tearoom also situated in the building, and it’s a great idea to combine tea and cakes with a little bit of architectural appreciation.
My favourite time to visit St John is Christmas. Around this time they extend their visiting hours and the church itself is filled with charity Christmas cards, wrapping paper and decorations to sell. For me, this is an essential part of Christmas that cannot be missed.