Category: St Mary’s Parish Church News

October Church News

The Harvest Festival was held on the Sunday following the “scarecrows” and the church was full to capacity at the “all Age Service “at 9.30am. Once again the church was decorated with flowers and fruit and vegetables, and the “Pebbles” children and others from Gwenfo Primary School brought many gifts of tinned goods and dry goods for the Food Bank in Barry. The fruit and vegetables were taken to the Salvation Army in Cardiff and the loose money on the collection plates which was donated to the Christian Aid Harvest Appeal came to £214.00.

Harvest Celebrations at St. Bleddians’s, St Lythan’s. Sunday 6th October, the Harvest was celebrated at St Lythan’s in the traditional manner at 3.00 pm. There was lusty singing of the old favourite harvest hymns and the collection in aid of the Christian Aid harvest Appeal came to £159.00 with an opportunity for refreshments afterwards, a time of fellowship was a welcome addition to a time spent together with the Lord.

Work has continued in the churchyard in stabilising a number of the stone memorial crosses which had become dangerously loose, and the restored wrought iron arch is now back in place between the old and the new churchyards. This now awaits its new light fitting and will hopefully survive for another 100 years. Way back in 1930 it was removed from the original front entrance when the memorial arch and gates were installed in memory of Mrs Laura Jenner of Wenvoe Castle. Maintaining our church and grounds is a real drain on our resources, and donations are always welcomed, either by digital giving or old fashioned cheques. Alternatively, by supporting our “200 Club” or any of our fund raising events; these are the means by which we are enabled to carry out our regular repairs which are so necessary if we are to pass the building on to future generations.

Inside the church we are awaiting our conservation builder Mike to begin the plastering of the walls near the altar and at the organ console. The exposure of the historic tile flooring throughout the building has been accepted by the congregation, and we await the restorers to work their magic in bringing the tiles back to life. The acoustics within the church have been greatly improved with the removal of the blue carpeting, and in the chancel and sanctuary the tile flooring is much easier to walk on, without the risk of getting the feet caught in the edges of the carpet. We are continually being complimented on how well kept the church and grounds are, and all this comes at a cost for which we are always grateful for the support of the community at our fundraising events.

The late Ronald Sidney Thomas RIP
During the month there was a poignant occasion when the ashes of the late Mr Ronald Sidney Thomas, formerly of Walston Road were brought from Sussex to be interred in the churchyard. This was requested in his will and his niece, Sue Lindsay, came from Australia to carry out his wishes. Ron had been a faithful worshipper at St Mary’s and had made things for use in the choir, which we are still using today, and would be lost without them. He was so friendly and would do anything he could when he thought he was able to be of help. We missed him when he decided to move to Lewes, but he never forgot the happy times he and his wife Sheila had spent in Wenvoe. His funeral at the Woodvale Crematorium in Brighton had a Welsh theme with hymns “Jesu lover of my soul” to the tune Aberystwyth and “Guide me O thou Great Redeemer” to the tune Cwm Rhondda. He was generous in life and equally generous at his passing, when he remembered St. Mary’s with a generous legacy towards the upkeep of the church he called his spiritual home. Thank you Ron.

Dates for your diary during November

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY 10th November 2019
Our commemoration of Remembrance Sunday will begin in St. Mary’s Church at 10.00am with representatives from village organisations taking part, in a service of prayers, readings and hymns on the theme of “Remembrance” in this centenary year of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. This will be followed by the usual service at the Village War Memorial with the Silence and the Laying of Wreaths. The Vale Brass band will be in attendance and all are welcome with refreshments in the church hall after the service.

Christmas is coming: Foodbank and The Big Wrap  “Bring a Toy to church” Sunday November 24th.
As we begin to prepare for Christmas we ask you to remember other families in the Vale who may find this time particularly difficult. As has become our custom we will be collecting for extra Christmas food items and treats for families alongside the Foodbank. These can be donated at any time with our usual collections.

Toys and gifts for the Big Wrap, ensuring families have children’s gift items in time for Christmas, can also be donated with food items. These should be new toys and donated unwrapped (any wrapping paper would also be helpful).

The Family Service on 24th November will include a specific collection including the children bringing their gifts during the service. That will be the final date for gift donations to ensure they can be collated, wrapped and distributed in time for Christmas.

Commemoration of the Faithful Departed
This service will be at St. Mary’s at 6.00pm on Sunday November 3rd.

If there is someone you would like to be remembered at this service, please print their name on the list in church.

Parry Edwards

 

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ST. MARY’S PARISH CHURCH NEWS

September has been a busy month at St. Mary’s when we welcomed our “Pebbles” children back from their Summer break. We also had a number of new parishioners who joined us in worship and it was good to be back in harness for the equally busy time that is planned in the run up to Christmas.

The plans we have presented to the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the church extension seemed to have reached an impasse. We were asked to prepare a ‘justification statement’ on the need for the project, which they did not accept. However, we will continue to work towards the vision we have to bring all our church activities on to one site.

During the month a lot of work has been taking place in and around the church. The historical tiles in aisle and chancel are being continually mopped and are gradually looking better. They will look cleaner until the restorers are able to bring them ‘back to life’ when they start work in February 2020.

The ‘blown’ plaster near the altar and behind the organ bench has been removed and will shortly be repaired with lime plaster. In the churchyard a number of the stone crosses on the older graves were found to have a ‘wobble’ and they have been reset and re-pinned with stainless steel rods to make them safe. Lastly, the wrought iron archway leading to the churchyard extension, has been removed for restoration and will shortly be back in situ with new stone caps and rewired for a new light, hopefully in time before Winter. Donations towards the cost of all these projects are welcomed. We get no grants to help us undertake the work. Our income is totally reliant on our fund raising. Please help us with digital giving or old fashioned cheques. Thank you.

Apart from our normal services on Sundays and midweek in September, three funerals and four baptisms have taken place in St. Mary’s. We also had a surprise wedding for the guests at one of the baptisms, and the music from friends in opera and “Only Men Allowed” was especially appreciated. It is good to see the church being used to mark the milestones in lives well lived.

Did you know that during the family service at St Mary’s Church on Sundays there is a children’s group called ‘Pebbles’? We meet every week during term time, starting at 9:30 in the church hall. During this time the children engage in fun activities with the aim of promoting values for life such as being kind, caring and thoughtful to others. Children age 4+ can be dropped off at the hall and will be walked over to church for the final part of the service. Pre-school children need to be accompanied by an adult.

‘Pebbles’ is led by an experienced Primary School teacher with the additional support of a parent. If you would like to find out more you can ring Alison on 02920598313 or just turn up! A warm welcome awaits you.

The Chattery continues to meet on the second

Thursday morning in the Church Hall at 10.30, bringing old friends and new friends together for a chat and coffee/tea plus a free raffle. The cost is £2.00 and is an opportunity to get out of the house and meet up with really friendly church going and non-church going folk..

At a recent meeting of the Parochial Church Council it was decided that the loose cash and notes in the special collections at the Harvest Festival services would be donated to the Christian Aid Harvest Appeal. The fresh produce to the Salvation Army and the tinned/dry goods to the Food Bank in Barry. The money at the Remembrance Sunday service will be donated to the Royal British Legion and the collections at the Community Carol Service and ‘Waiting for Jesus’ on Christmas Eve, will be donated to the ‘Neo-Natal’ ITU Unit at the UHW Hospital, Cardiff. There will be an opportunity to bring toys and games to church during November for the appeal for toys for the Food Bank for distribution to families in difficulties in the Vale, and Christmas “Goodies” nearer to Christmas.

The Vale Foodbank: Helping People in Crisis

“The foodbank was there when we really needed it, it was an absolute lifeline.”

We don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry. That’s why we provide three days nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to us in crisis. We are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.

Last year the Vale Foodbank provided emergency help for 3,833 people of these 1,414 were under16. That was an increase of 11% on the previous year. All of the six centres continue to be busy with no sign of requests slowing down. Currently they have been able to meet all the requests; however some items have run low on occasions and much needed funds have been used to buy in essential goods.

Regular support from all three churches is much appreciated by the staff to ensure stocks are maintained. A boost from harvest festivals will be gratefully received to replenish stock for the winter months ahead. Recipients from the Foodbanks are so grateful for emergency food to help them in times of crisis. In addition staff can give advice as to where help for their individual situation can be found, whether that be housing, benefits, employment or other needs. Goods can always be left in the Church Porch or brought into church on Sundays or the occasional Wednesday morning service

Reports on the “Scarecrows” and associated events during the afternoon will be in the November issue.

Blessings to all our readers and warm welcome awaits you at St. Mary’s.

Parry Edwards

 

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Looking back to Sea Sunday we celebrated during July, the collections taken in the three churches came to £200, with the Gift Aid amount to be added to the total. This money will help to maintain the enduring and vital work of the Mission to Seafarers which has been carried out over the past 160 years.

The scaffolding still surrounds the vestry, as a major design fault was discovered in the original building when it was built in 1991. The new steel roof covering could not be sealed into the masonry because a plastic damp course had been laid when originally built. This has now been rectified with the crenulations’ removed and a lead damp course inserted which can now be sealed against the steel roofing. This has come at a cost which our insurers were not prepared to cover, and we are faced with an additional bill of £3426 for the work of restoring the original masonry back to the 1991 design.

On another page in “What’s On” you will see that we have decided to widen our building appeal through the means of digital giving, which we are calling Donate StM appeal. This is meant for use by casual visitors to the church at times of weddings and baptisms, or by those who have had a previous connection with St Mary’s over the years. Your support for this new venture will be gratefully accepted and will help us to maintain and carry out the repairs that are necessary to keep the church fabric in good order.

Due to the current wet weather season we are experiencing, the work on the boundary walls surrounding the churchyard has been delayed until next spring. The lime mortar which is used to repair the walls will not set when the conditions are not right. This has also been the reason why the rebuilding of the vestry roof parapet has also been held up for the same reasons. However it is good to report that the interior of the vestry is now watertight and re-decorated, the wooden flooring has been sealed and all looks well.

The blue carpeting in the nave, chancel and sanctuary has been removed and for the first time in almost 30 years the historic tiling has been revealed. The white marble slab in the sanctuary and partly under the altar recording the initials of the Birt/Jenner family members buried below in the family vault will cause much interest and comment, as they remind the current congregation of how important in the life of the church these earlier generations at the castle were to the parish. Work to clean the mould and salts that have built up on the tiling will now be removed, the damaged tiles replaced and the surface than sealed to protect the tiles. This will restore the church to the appearance the Victorian restorers wished to present to the parish at the end of the 19th century. Later more decorative work with the installation of the John Ninian Comper Reredos and other furnishings were to follow at the beginning of the 20th century.

The Church Extension Scheme, which has been

optimistically called “Vision 2020” continues on its very slow discussion with the Diocesan Advisory Committee. It is now almost three years since we made the decision to sell the church hall and use the money for an extension to the church, in order to bring all our activities onto one site. The most recent request was for a justification of us wanting to sell the church hall and also why we thought it was the time to think about the future and how we would see the church in the years ahead. It may be very frustrating but it is the way we have to go with the DAC having the final say in recommending the plans drawn up, at considerable cost to the church, to the Diocesan Chancellor who would then issue the faculty to go ahead. Then there is the local authority to be consulted, and not least CADW, for its input into the scheme; so many hoops to jump through, but we think the scheme is a good one and would make us more “fit for purpose” than we are for the present moment.

Looking back. The Wenvoe Open Gardens day in July, which was a great success in the numbers of people who came from far and wide to join in the activities on the day.

On Saturday 20th July the village of Wenvoe was absolutely buzzing! Crowds of people walking around following their maps to locate and admire the 12 beautiful and interesting gardens open for viewing.

The event was inspired and co-ordinated by Sandra and Brian Jones with Mike Tucker working tirelessly in the background.

Grateful thanks to everyone involved whether opening or visiting gardens, making or just enjoying tea and delicious home made cakes and giving donations to the St Mary’s building fund. Such a special happy day of fellowship with the ‘icing on the cake’ being an amazing £2,000 raised for St Mary’s Building Fund.

Fair Trade / Traidcraft: Wenvoe – After 14 years, Jude Billingham, due to other commitments has decided to close the stall she has run during that time. Way back in February 2005, after the morning service she began to offer various Fair Trade product’s and the sales that day came to £119.98. Since that time sales have fluctuated over the years but the final total over the years is £42,303, which is a wonderful achievement for a relatively small congregation and the friends who have supported her during this time. The remaining stock has been sold off, realising £420 and half of this has been donated to the St. Mary’s Building Fund in recognition of the support Jude has received during her time, as the organiser of fair trade products in the parish. The other half has been given to Traidcraft Exchange, the charity that helps to set up work opportunities in the developing world. A big thank you and heartfelt thanks to Jude and Nigel for all the time they together have spent in raising our awareness of the needs and aspirations of others who are not so well off as we are.

 

The next Messy Church will be on Saturday 28th September in Wenvoe Community Centre when the theme will be “Harvest”. These popular events bring Mums and Dads and their children together to spend a short time together with friends, there is no age barrier, in a time of story telling, craft work, exciting activities, and worship followed by a shared meal and all FREE, so please come along and meet new friends and neighbours. See you there at 3.00pm.

In the past few weeks we have seen on our TV screens that cathedrals in England have installed a mini golf course and a wonderful helter skelter in the nave of their buildings. Any suggestions of what we could install in the nave at St Mary’s should be addressed on a postcard to Vicar Jon as soon as possible.

Lastly for this month, we extend a welcome to all the new parishioners who have moved into Greenwood Close on the St Lythan’s Road, not forgetting the Scarecrow Festival on the 21st September and our Harvest Festival “All Age Service” on the 22nd September.

 

“Come ye thankful people come, raise the song of harvest home.”

 

Parry Edwards

 

 

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PLEASE DONATE

TAKE 30 SECONDS TO HELP REPAIR OUR ROOF

£3426 is urgently needed to repair our vestry roof.

All are welcome at St Mary’s but overnight on the 2nd and 3rd of March we had the most unwelcome of visits – thieves who stripped the lead off our vestry roof. Thankfully, our insurers have covered the cost of replacing the lead with a steel substitute including the underlying plywood base and ceiling insulation. Rainwater damage to the interior of the vestry was severe; the ceiling had to be replaced and the vestry required redecorating throughout. The cost of the repairs was £15,560; all but the £500 excess being paid by our insurers.

Unfortunately, whilst replacing the roofing, our builders discovered a defect in the original construction of the vestry which requires immediate remedial work if the roof is to be waterproof. This urgent remedial work isn’t covered by our insurers and we need your help to raise the £3426 to pay for the repairs.

Thank you for your support.

TEXT/SMS – ROOF to 70191 to give £10

ROOF to 70970 to give £5

WEB – easydonate.org/ROOF

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