[3] The original church had a Norman-style tower, which was used as a navigation landmark by pilots in Bristol Channel.

[2][3] The tower caused concern during World War II because it could have been used by the Germans as a visual guide to bomb the docks at Cardiff.

"[5] The church was designed in the a spare Early English version of the then-popular Gothic Revival style with a prominent saddleback tower.

The walls have Leckwith limestone facings, bath stone dressings and bands, and red Staffordshire tiles.

The four-storey tower has a corbelled saddle, corner buttresses, and triple arcades to the lower storey.

The group proposed to redevelop it into a public park, saying that many graves have decayed, making for hazardous walking in the churchyard.

[2][13][14] Notable persons buried at St Augustine's include Welsh composer Joseph Parry.