An experienced bell-ringer suffered a broken arm after being pulled up by the rope he was holding at Llandaff Cathedral Church.
Two experienced men were carrying out maintenance work when one of the men was pulled up by the rope and came crashing down.
He was fortunate to not suffer major injuries as he came away with a broken arm.
A number of emergency services were at the scene as the man wasn't able to be brought down through spiral staircase and had to be brought off the roof via a platform fire engine.
One member of the public who was out walking his dog, said: "I was surprised to see such a large number of emergency services in Llandaff as you just don't expect it.
"I walk this route all the time and have never seen the amount of emergency services that were present today.
"The man is very lucky he only broke his arm as it could've been a much more serious incident.
"Most people were surprised to see what was going on, it was more of a shock than anything."
A spokeswoman for the church said it was an unusual incident but said the man was in good spirits.
A spokesman for South Wales Fire, said: "We received reports of an incident which requires rescue from height on Cathedral Green, Llandaff in Cardiff."
