History of the Temple of Peace and Health

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Wales’ beautiful and unique Temple of Peace and Health was founded as Wales’ memorial to the fallen of WW1 by David Davies, who had served in the trenches and was horrified by the carnage of war. Opened in 1938 – the eve of WW2 – by war-bereaved mothers led by Minnie James from Merthyr, the Temple has played an instrumental role in the founding of the United Nations, Human Rights frameworks and international institutions of justice and cooperation.

To this day, the Temple continues its founding mission through Cymru Global and our work on Climate & Nature, Global Learning, Heritage, Peace & Peacebuilding and Volunteering.

Our work is hugely supported by our venue hire. The Temple of Peace could be a deeply symbolic and memorable city centre venue for your own events – from meetings or conferences to weddings and even film or photo shoots. Explore this iconic venue in the heart of the Welsh capital.

Quick Links

Temple Tours and Open Days Spring 2023 - Downloadable Flyer with Dates, Times and Booking links
Visiting the Temple of Peace - Guided Tours & Archives Open Days
WCIA offer monthly Temple Tours 'open doors days' fortnightly - when you can join a Guided Tour of the building, and / or explore the Temple Library, archives and collections.
Self-guided 'Temple Tours'
Use our self-guided to tour to 'follow your phone' around the building - or even from the comfort of your armchair!
Wales' National Garden of Peace
With over 50 memorials to Welsh peacemakers today, the Peace Garden was founded in 1988 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Temple of Peace, with a mosaic laid in 1993 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the UN.
'Architect of Peace': The Story of Wales' Temple of Peace
Designed by Welsh Architect Percy Thomas at the peak of the Art Deco era, Wales' Temple of Peace is an iconic building with an even more iconic history.
Temple Archives & Collections
Find out more about the Temple of Peace Archives, Collections and displays, as well as Wales-wide sources of Peace Heritage material through partners.
Friends of the Temple & Friends of the Peace Garden
Launched for the Temple's 84th Anniversary in 2022, the ‘Temple Friends’ community brings together the Wales-wide network of organisations and individuals - far beyond just the building’s occupants - to work together, coordinate ideas and events, and have a voice in the Temple’s development and role in Welsh public life.
A New Mecca: the Story behind Wales' Temple of Peace
Writing for the IWA (Institute for Welsh Affairs), WCIA Trustee Dr Emma West delves into the history of the Temple of Peace, its legacy, and what it can mean to contemporary visitors.
The Story of Wales' Temple of Peace & Health (short film)
Watch this inspiring short documentary produced for the 80th Anniversary of Wales' Temple of Peace from Oral History interviews with people of the Temple from the last 40 years.
'Peace Wing' - The Welsh League of Nations Union, 1920-46
Beyond the old bronze letterbox proclaiming the Peace Wing occupied by the 'Welsh League of Nations Union'... In the entrance vestibule of Wales’ Temple of Peace, visitors pass two intriguing linen hangings, ‘Welsh Efforts for World Peace’ from the 1920s. Each sound almost too big to be possible; each beg the question “what’s the story?”
'Health Wing' - the WNMA and successors
The 'Health' Wing of the Temple was originally occupied by the King Edward VII Welsh National Memorial Association for the Prevention of Tunberculosis. Their work is explored in the context of the History of Public Health in Wales by Pamela Michael (2008)
The Story of Wales' WW1 Book of Remembrance
Wales' WW1 Book of Remembrance, held in the Crypt beneath the Temple of Peace, records 40,000 Welsh men and women who lost their lives in 'the war that was to end war'. It can now be searched online.
Search the WW1 Book of Remembrance
Search the 40,000 names of the fallen listed in Wales' WW1 Book of Remembrance, held in the Crypt of the Temple of Peace
Minnie James and the Mothers of Peace
Minnie James from Merthyr Tydfil opened Wales' Temple of Peace on 23 Nov 1938 - as the lead figure among 24 war-bereaved mothers of the UK and Empire
David Davies - Father of the Temple of Peace
David Davies was the founder of the Temple of Peace, and leading thinker in Welsh Internationalism. Having served in the trenches of WW1, he dedicated his whole life to involving people in the pursuit of international peace.
'Great and the Good': the Opening of Wales' Temple of Peace, 1938
Discover the story of Wales' magnificent Temple of Peace and Health, from its founding vision and architecture, to its grand opening in 1938 and role in successive generations of international affairs.
1967 - Terrorist Bombing of the Temple of Peace
Temple of Peace Heritage Interpretation Panels
Flickr Album of the public interpretation panels produced following Temple80 in 2018, to celebrate the Temple's Heritage at the heart of Cardiff Civic Centre
Digitised Archive Materials
Explore our digitised materials on People's Collection Wales and Flickr, as well as digital stories on Youtube, Soundcloud and social media
'100 Years of Peacemakers' Timeline
Displayed outside the Temple of Peace's Council Chamber corridor, produced as a legacy drawing together 'Hidden Histories' gathered by the Wales for Peace project over 2014-19 - and an infographic for the 'History of Welsh Internationalism' project of 20221.
'Wales and the Spanish Civil War' Project, 2007-11
'Wise and Foolish Dreamers' was a major WCIA HLF project 2007-11, which looked at Welsh participation in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) and its relevance to people in Wales today.
Temple80 and WW100 Events, Nov 2018
WCIA marked WW100 & Temple80 in Nov 2018 - the centenary of WW1, and 80th Anniversary of the Temple of Peace - with an ambitious programme of over 50 events celebrating Wales' Peacemakers.
Temple81, 23 Nov 2019 - 'Keys to the Past' from Descendants in the Present
In a remarkable turn of recent events, WCIA is rewriting the ‘hidden histories’ from that day following 3 incredible dicoveries linking the past to the present – through generations with ‘peace building in the blood’, quite literally. We are delighted to share these 3 incredibly inspiring stories for #Temple81.
Temple82: The Temple's Inspiration - a Welsh Historian's personal reflections
Dr Susan Davies, Lecturer in History at Aberystwyth University, reflects on the Temple's role in her family history - and inspiring over generations
Temple83 - Launch of online 'Temple Tours'
Temple84 'Descendants Reunion'
Temple85 + NHS75 'History of Health'