Angelina Street Mission (Welcome Mission) Butetown, Cardiff

IDENTITY STATEMENT AREA

Reference code(s): D/DX819/1-43

Title: Angelina Street Mission (Welcome Mission) Butetown, Cardiff

Date(s): 1907 - 1994

Level of description: Sub fonds

Extent and medium of the unit of description: 43 files of papers and 24 photographs

CONTEXT AREA

Name of creator(s):

Administrative/Biographical history: Angelina Street Mission was founded in 1906 by Mr James Phillips and became affiliated with the Christian Community, London, in 1909. It was an inter-denominational society preaching in hospitals, open-air, mission halls and social welfare centres. In 1950 the mission split from the Christian Community and became the Welcome Mission led by the three daughters of the founder: Ethel, Constance and Helen Phillips. Services were held in private houses in the Cardiff docks area and at a seamen's lodging house until a new hall was found in Loudoun Place over a garage (c.1953), which became known by mission workers as the 'upper room'. By this time the residents in and around Loudoun Square were predominantly black, Asian and/or dual heritage. Fire damage in 1959 led to the Mission relocating in vacant shop premises in Bute Street. In 1972 the Welcome Mission rejoined the Christian Community and moved to a new building in Angelina Street. This was sold in 1985 to the New Testament Church and the Angelina Street Mission (now called the Welcome Mission) amalgamated with the Hannah Street Mission and moved to Pomeroy Street, Cardiff. The amalgamated mission dissolved in 1994.

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CONTENT AND STRUCTURE AREA

Scope and content: This collection comprises 43 files of papers, booklets and photographs relating to the Angelina Street Mission (later the Welcome Mission) that was founded in 1906 and located in various premises near the dockland (Butetown) area of Cardiff until it was dissolved in 1994.
The collection is divided into 3 sections:

• (1) Miscellaneous records (Reference: D/D X 819/1-9)
• (2) Photographs (Reference: D/D X 819/11-34)
• (3) Newscuttings (Reference: D/D X 819/35-43).

The miscellaneous records include hand-written letters of correspondence between the founders of the Angelina Street Mission based in both Cardiff and London during 1907, and subsequent typed notes documenting the history of the Mission, initially written by its first Superintendent (c.1906-1932) and later completed by a mission worker during the period c.1950-1994.

Important information about the numbers of Black people who were members of the Angelina Street/Welcome Mission throughout its history is documented in the collection of photographs. The earliest item is a group photograph of children dressed up for a fancy dress pageant that was held at the Angelina Street Mission Hall during the early 1920s. Of the 22 children in the picture, 7 are black and dual heritage peoples of African descent. Other photographs show key festivals and events organised by members of the Mission, such as annual harvest festivals throughout the 1950s and 1960s and photographs taken during the services held to mark the opening of new Mission premises in 1970, 1972 and 1980.

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CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE AREA

Conditions governing access: Members of the public can consult this collection in the Document Searchroom of the Glamorgan Record Office, on completion of a requisition form. Visitors are advised to contact the Office in advance to reserve a place in the searchroom. Opening hours are as follows: Tuesday-Friday: 9.30am-5.00pm (4.30pm on Friday); Late opening, by appointment, Wednesday 5.00pm - 7.00pm; Closed Mondays and Bank Holidays.

Conditions governing reproduction: © Glamorgan Record Office

Language/scripts of material: English

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids: Printed list

ALLIED MATERIALS AREA

Existence and location of originals: Glamorgan Record Office, The Glamorgan Building, King Edward Vll Avenue, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NE

Existence and location of copies:

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DESCRIPTION CONTROL AREA

Recorder's note:

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: 24 July 2001

Interest: Black

Specific group: Black and dual heritage peoples of African descent

Subjects

Interethnic relations

Ethnic groups

Christianity

Religions

Communities

Personal/Corporate names

Christian Community Welcome Mission

Places

Cardiff, United Kingdom

Butetown, Cardiff, United Kingdom