GoFundMe page raises £1,400 to keep Roath Church House warm
OVER 80 people have helped a pilates teacher to raise £1,400 towards a new boiler for Roath Church House.
Emma Carlson, 53, has been a Cardiff resident for seven years and has spent the last three teaching Pilates at the popular community venue in Waterloo Road.
Roath Church House, built in 1914, is an important venue in the community and is also used for ballet, yoga, art, nursery, wedding receptions, quizzes and uniform groups such as Cubs and Scouts.
“It’s a beautiful place which is useful for so many different groups. It has really high ceilings and big windows, which let in lots of natural light,” said Emma.
Knowing what the building meant to so many, including herself, she decided to act when the boiler broke by starting a GoFundMe page.
Boilers in bigger, pre-World War buildings like Roath Church House are far larger than normal, domestic boilers and last between 20 and 30 years.
After 20 years of service, this boiler broke in early December which led to temporary measures being brought in such as portable heaters, much to the dismay of groups using the space.
“The portable heaters are noisy, and they don’t heat the space in the way a proper boiler does, you come into the hall and it’s freezing,” said Emma.
The page was set up on December 14 with the target of £1,400 and the money has been raised in under six weeks.
Emma had never organised a fundraiser before, but she refused to let this faze her because the issue was pressing to local residents.
“For me it’s just really nice to do my bit to enable groups who meet there to enjoy and benefit from Roath Church house for many years to come,” she said.
For the page, Emma needed a picture of Roath Church House and decided to use a painting of it by local Cardiff artist, Mary Traynor, which actually hangs in the building itself.
“It’s a really lovely painting which resides in the hall and it’s even nicer to have involved a local artist,” said Emma.
Mary Traynor’s work typically depicts Victorian and Edwardian buildings with the aim of saving them from demolition or inappropriate alteration.
Over 80 donors came forward to help the cause, with donations ranging from £5 to £100.
Brian McKenna, one of the donors, said: “It’s a great resource for the local community.”
Another donor, Janet Perry, added: “Roath Church House is such a valuable asset, I have fond memories of Sunday school, Cubs, Scouts and quizzes there.”
Other donors remembered their experiences of wedding reception functions held at the building in relation to the neighbouring St Margaret’s Church.
“I was a bridesmaid at St Margaret’s Church many years ago,” said Sue Lewis.
The effect and meaning of preserving buildings like Roath Church House in this day and age is not lost on Emma either.
“These communal halls are such valuable assets for us within the community as a place to socialise, learn and gather.
“Especially post-Covid, there are certain venues that need to be cherished and looked after. Roath Church House is no exception,” she said.
