St Nicholas's Greek Orthodox Church

Heritage listing

Reason for designation: Listed for its special interest as a rare Welsh example of this style of architecture and for its historical importance to Cardiff. History: Built in 1906 by James and Morgan, arhitects of Cardiff, on a site previously occupied by the Bute Dock Brewery. Cardiff has had a long history of trade with Greece and as a result quite a large Greek community had settled here by the end of C19; much of the money to build this church was raised by contributions from Greek sailors (see foundation stone). The church was consecrated in 1919; restoration, especially to the dome, carried out in 1985. New copper roofs, 1991. Exterior: Byzantine style, Greek Cross church with central lantern and saucer dome and apsidal E end; the plan includes an ambulatory and a narthex, lead roofs to the cupolas at the corners of the W front and modern felt roof to the rebuilt and tile hung dome; brick chimney stack. Mostly leaded small-pane glazing; modern 2-light dome windows. The central part of the gabled W front has segmental headed window with label and divided into 3-lights by giant order pilasters that flank the main entrance below; triangular headed tracery. 3 semicircular headed doorways each with fishscale type ornament to recessed stone tympani; panelled doors. At the gable apex is a timber bracketed bellcote - bell dated 1988 to right of entrance. Set back to either side are low, polygonal, corner towers with cupolas, tall round headed windows and toothed cornices; that to right contains gallery staircase. The side elevations have simple buttresses and round headed windows; advanced voussoir arches beneath dome; blocked doorway to N side. Stepped 3-window apse with toothed cornice; priests doorway to S. Steps to cellar on S side. Interior: The interior is in similar

From Cadw under OGL v3.