Hello!
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to Butetown for an exciting day of discovery!
There will be so much to see and do!
You may find some of the following useful as you prepare to visit Colourful Butetown.
The Betty Campbell Statue
You’ll arrive in Cardiff to see this beautiful statue which was unveiled in October 2021. It’s the first statue in a public place in Wales of a named woman. What a long time to wait!
Betty Campbell was born in 1934 and brought up in Butetown. She was the first black headteacher in Wales – at Mount Stuart Primary School in Butetown, although before this she also taught at St Mary’s Primary School.
Betty taught Black History many years before it was introduced to the rest of Wales.
As a child, she told her own headteacher that she wanted to be a teacher when she grew up. The response she received filled her with tears as she was told to get the idea out of her head as the ‘obstacles were insurmountable.’ She was referring to the colour of her skin.
But Betty overcame the obstacles.
We’ll have plenty of time to explore the statue when you visit. There is so much to see. And you can even become part of the statue too! You’ll find out more on the day!
A Black History Icon
This video, though not filmed in Cardiff, gives a snapshot of Betty’s life!
The Salvation Army
As we make our way into Butetown, we will pass the Salvation Army’s Homeless service in Butetown.
The Salvation Army is a Christian organisation and it was here, in Butetown, that it had its first base in Wales, over a hundred years ago.
St Mary’s Church
We’ll welcome you to St Mary’s Church. It was built in 1843, which was a long time ago!
At the time, this part of Cardiff was growing very quickly. The opening of Cardiff Docks meant that people were journeying here from all over the world, and so the new church of St Mary was very welcome indeed.
However, other churches and places of worship were also built to welcome other different religions and cultures.
Many people made Cardiff their home. At one time, over fifty different languages were spoken here in this small Docks community.
You’ll discover more about St Mary’s when you arrive! And we’ll share a few words of welcome. Do you know other ways of saying the word Welcome?
A Journey through Butetown
When we arrive at St Mary’s, we’ll be greeted by Betty Campbell – or, at least by an actor that plays her! We’ll watch her statue come to life!
We’ll learn more of her life and the colourful community of Butetown! And there’s chance for you to get involved too!
Refugee Week
As your Discovery Day takes place during Refugee Week, you’ll be able to enjoy the reflection spaces and Refugee Book corner.
You can learn more about how people feel when they are seeking a safe place to call home, and maybe send them a message of support.
St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
After lunch, we can take a quick look St Nicholas’ Greek Orthodox Church Church with its beautiful icons. Icons are holy paintings.
St Nicholas is the Patron Saint of sailors. It was Greek Sailors who arrived here 150 years ago and began the Greek Community in Cardiff and South Wales – and which still exists today! The church was built in 1904.
You can experience the colour and sounds of St Nicholas’ Church in the video below, as the congregation begins it’s Easter celebrations.
What else is St Nicholas famous for? Ho-Ho-Ho!
Tiger Bay
As we walk through Butetown (or as it was once called, Tiger Bay) we’ll see lots of different clues about so many different religions and cultures which exist here, side by side.
We’ll see two mosques and other churches, but there are also signs along the street and in the pavements.
Why was our community called Tiger Bay?
You’ll have to wait to discover! Perhaps you have your own ideas? Grrrr!
You’ll also discover Dominoes under your feet. I wonder what this is all about? There is so much to discover!
Noor ul Islam Mosque
Although we won’t be going inside this mosque, we will probably pass it on our journey.
It’s the site of the oldest Mosque in Wales. The first mosque was built by Somali sailors from three converted houses but it was bombed during the Second World War. Then it was replaced in 1947 by the mosque below and finally replaced by the mosque you see today in 1988.
Which building do you prefer?
South Wales Islamic Centre
Hopefully, we will be able to spend some time in the South Wales Islamic Centre.
The mosque was built in the 1970s and it has a beautiful dome and a tall minaret. It serves the Yemeni Community, but lots of other people of different heritages also worship here. Do you know where Yemen is?
Here we will meet the Imam – the spiritual leader of the mosque and learn more about the Muslim faith.
Gandhi Statue
Further along our journey, and closer to the Bay, we’ll meet this man: Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhi was born in India in 1869. He was a famous freedom activist and political leader who chose to follow the way of non violence.
He once said, “For me, the different religions are beautiful flowers from the same garden, or they are branches from the same majestic tree.’
Although the statue of Gandhi was given by the Hindu community of Wales, it’s a statue for everyone! It was unveiled in 2017. There are about 10,000 Hindus in Wales and half of them live in Cardiff.
In this video you can see the colourful procession before the statue was unveiled.
Merchant Seafarers’ Memorial
This is a memorial to sailors who died during the Second World War.
Many of them came from Tiger Bay and Butetown. Many people of lots of different nationalities sailed from here to help during the war.
Created in 1997, it shows a sleeping face in the hull of a ship. The inscription says it is:
“IN MEMORY OF THE MERCHANT SEAFARERS FROM THE PORTS OF BARRY, PENARTH AND CARDIFF WHO DIED IN TIMES OF WAR”
Amongst the many sailors who died was Betty Campbell’s father, when she was just a little girl.
Norwegian Church
Amongst the many different nationalities which arrived here in ships were people from Scandinavian counties such as Norway, Denmark and Sweden.
If we get chance, we’ll be able take a look at the Norwegian Church, where the author Roald Dahl was baptised. Do you have a favourite book by Roald Dahl?
Did you know that this church hasn’t always stood in this spot? It was moved to make way for other developments including the Wales Millennium Centre.
How would you move a church like this? How do you think they moved it?
Rugby Codebreakers
There is also another brand new statue in Cardiff Bay which tells something of the story of Butetown and other communities! And it involves Rugby!
This statue celebrates black rugby players from Cardiff who left for England because of better opportunities to be picked to play.
Following a public vote which received over 14,000 votes, three of the greatest Rugby League players in the history of the game – Billy Boston, Gus Risman and Clive Sullivan – were chosen to adorn a statue to commemorate the Cardiff Bay Codebreakers.
They encountered discrimination but it didn’t stop them from following their dreams!
You can find out more about the Codebreakers here:
We’re really looking forward to welcoming you to Butetown – or Tiger Bay – for a great adventure of Discovery!
Wear comfortable shoes for walking as there is so much to see – and remember to dress for the weather!
See you soon!
Further Resources
The following resources may provide more insight, background and resources for teachers.
Take a journey through Butetown as children of St Mary’s share their Sanctuary Alphabet poem from the Betty Campbell statue to to the Gandhi statue
The following video filmed during Refugee Week in 2023 features the Betty Campbell Play and a short interview with Kim, the actor, as well as with Fr Dean Atkins and Nicki Prichard, headteacher of St Mary’s Primary School
A Journey through Butetown
The following is a video presentation of the interactive Betty Campbell play
Butetown’s Colourful Journey
This animation was created a few years ago by children of St Mary’s School and shares the multicultural and multifaith life of the community.
Hidden Heroines
Betty Campbell teaching pack from the BBC for Key Stage 2 with activities and video links.
Rugby Codebreakers Documentary
A documentary on the ITVX platform, trailblazing rugby players, Billy Boston, Clive Sullivan and Gus Risman. Decades after breaking down barriers in sport, their work is finally being recognised.
If you need further resources then please get in touch!
South Cardiff Ministry Area 