Llandaff Oratory, Catholic oratory in Van Reenen, South Africa.
Llandaff Oratory is a small Catholic chapel of red brick in Van Reenen, KwaZulu-Natal, built by Joseph Maynard Mathews as a memorial to his son. Its sober interior seats eight people, the number of colleagues Llandaff Mathews was rescuing at Burnside Colliery when he died on 19 March 1925.
The oratory was built by Maynard Mathews as a memorial to his son Llandaff, who died in 1925 during a rescue operation at a mine. This act of remembrance eventually inspired Mathews to pursue religious life.
The link to Cardiff Cathedral is a long-held belief, but no evidence supports it. The oratory's eight seats match the eight colleagues Llandaff Mathews saved at Burnside Colliery. Mass and weddings are held regularly, about once a month.
The space is very small with minimal seating, so plan your visit with this limitation in mind. Check local access information before arriving to ensure you can view the interior.
The eight seats match the eight colleagues Llandaff Mathews was rescuing at Burnside Colliery when he was fatally injured on 19 March 1925; his parents, three surviving siblings and their spouses made up the first congregation. The claim that the design copies a wing of Cardiff Cathedral has no evidence behind it.
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