Hayley Richards from Cymru Global highlights an important opportunity to get involved with the Temple of Peace – the home of ‘peace, social and climate justice’ – and shape its future.
I lived in Cardiff for nearly 15 years and walked past the Grade II listed Temple of Peace & Health almost every day, first as a student and then as someone who lived and worked in the city. I barely gave the Temple a second thought & never imagined that one day, I would be privileged to call it my office and that the building & it’s history would capture my heart.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
In 1938, the founder of the, Temple of Peace & Health, David Davies, ‘bequeathed [the Temple] to the nation’. It was opened by Minnie James, a mother from Dowlais who had lost three sons in the war and since then, it has been a centre for peace building, international solidarity and health.
This little known, often misunderstood but magical place casts it’s spell over anyone who has the opportunity to step through the doors. Today it is the headquarters of Cymru Global (formerly known as the Welsh Centre for International Affairs) and our connections to the Temple stretch back to the Welsh League of Nations Union, our parent organisation, whose 60,000 members raised funds towards building it.
THE PEACE & JUSTICE CAMPAIGNERS OF WALES
In my five years of working here, I’ve learnt that the Temple was not just built as a place of remembrance after the devastation of World War I, but to ‘drive’ a national mission for Wales to build a better world for future generations.
Even before the Temple was built, the people of Wales began working towards a future that was ‘big with hope’ and the stories of generations of peace makers and justice campaigners are now held within its walls.
THE FUTURE: CREATING A JUST WORLD
With this vast legacy, Cymru Global has big boots to fill. Our new long term 2075 strategy commits us to learning, collaborating and acting for peace, social and climate justice, building a nation of global citizens who use local action to create a just world. This work is rooted in the Temple of Peace but reaches out to people across Cymru and the world.
In 2038, we will celebrate 100 years since opening. What stories will unfold from the Temple over the course of the next centenary and what role can the Temple play in building a Wales and a world where people and planet thrive in balance? With support from the Architectural Heritage Fund, Cymru Global is exploring these questions and we need your help. What dreams could unfold if we unleash the power of our collective imagination around the future of the Temple?
WHAT DO OUR COMMUNITIES NEED FROM THE TEMPLE?
Only one of six corridors within the Temple is currently in use, offering potential for 30 unused spaces from small offices to larger communal spaces.
Is your organisation or community group looking for office space, meeting rooms or workshop spaces? Are you an artist or musician looking for studio, performance or exhibition space? Would you like to run a community café or wellbeing hub? Are you a social enterprise looking for a central venue for your business?
What do our communities need from the Temple & how can we make it more accessible and welcoming to all? We would greatly appreciate five minutes of your time to share your ideas in this short survey. We will also be hosting some face-to-face events in the Autumn so please get in touch if you’d like to participate in these.
FIND OUT MORE
If you are curious to learn more, would like to visit the Temple or arrange a chat with one of our team then please contact croeso@cymru.global and mark your email ‘Future Temple’.
In a world in which challenges can seem over whelming, can we use the Temple as a beacon of hope for the future once again? With your help we believe we can.
