Category: St Mary’s Parish Church News

August Church News

August Church News

Greetings to you all from the congregation at St. Mary’s Church.

A warm welcome awaits you at our service on a Sunday morning at 9.30 am, but if you cannot make it log on to our website https://www.ipcamlive.com/stmaryschurch. We know many far and wide do log on, including our friends in the Glenburnie Care Home, and we consider this as a part of our mission to spread the Good News of Jesus in the world. Give it a try. You will be pleasantly surprised.

July has been a relatively quiet time in church with many enjoying their holiday at home or abroad. That does not mean our door is closed. We have hosted three funerals during the month. Each one was different to the other in many ways, but the same message is preached, that of hope. For Christians death is not the ending of a life but a beginning to a new life in the glorious heavenly kingdom that Jesus told us all about. It is natural to grieve for the departed, but a new day dawns and life goes on. Think on the words of this well-known Easter hymn

The strife is o’er, the battle done;

the victory of life is won;

the song of triumph has begun.

Alleluia!

The powers of death have done their worst,

but Christ their legions has dispersed.

Let shouts of holy joy outburst.

Alleluia!

Our dearly departed are not forgotten. Week by week we remember their passing a year after the event. We understand that a formal church funeral is not for everyone, and that Direct Cremation is gaining in popularity. Vicar Lyndon is only too ready to advise during difficult times when decisions have to be made to say farewell to a loved one.

The month may have been a quiet one, but there are always housekeeping jobs to be carried out. We have a very large safe in the Tower vestry that holds all our records. These comprise Registers of baptism, marriage and burials for Wenvoe and St. Lythans, service registers, and other misc. documents relating to church activities over the years. Many are facsimile copies of original registers deposited at Glamorgan Archives, and copies provided for use in the parishes. They have now been listed giving the years they cover dating from the 16th century. Parish registers are fascinating records of events many years ago and were authorised by Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s chief minister in 1535; there was a great deal of suspicion that Cromwell was bringing in a tax for his master on the sacraments of the church.

Registers began to be compiled for every “wedding, christening and burying” as the Act states. At the beginning the priest or churchwarden obtained a sheet of paper and ruled it into three columns for the three records to be written up. In 1597 a scheme for a “more careful keeping of parish registers” was introduced with entries now made on parchment, and copies were to be made of the old register previously written on paper. Our Wenvoe register appears to have been copied at this time. These loose sheets were then folded and placed in the parish chest, where over the years they were often attacked by mice and damp. Soon these loose sheets were bound into books and later legislation saw the introduction of preprinted register books which are much easier to read. For family history buffs they are an excellent source of historical facts.

Visitors to the church often ask when it was built, and who built it. The stock reply is we do not know, but we can safely say that there was a church on this site back in the 13th cent. Which means that the people of Wenvoe have worshipped here for 800 years and that the ancient Yew Tree possibly predates the building. At some point in time the church was financed by the introduction of a Church Rate levied on the landowners, on individual cottages or fields, the ale house and every farm in the Parish. The actual rate was fixed at the annual Easter vestry meeting and in Wenvoe we have records from 1829 -1870 when the amount of a penny farthing – 5d was levied. The amount raised was used to pay the parish clerk, see to the purchase of candles and coals for the stove, washing the surplice and the purchase of bottles of wine for the communion. Even the killing of polecats appears in the expenditure items. White liming of the interior was a regular feature, as were repairs and cleaning of the churchyard. The amount on the collection plate was not used for the church but went to supporting the poor and aged of the parish. The priest’s stipend came from the Tythe also levied on the parish or from his private means. The church Rate was finally abolished by an act of parliament in 1868, to the great satisfaction of the non-conformists who objected to paying a tax when their own chapels were self-financed by their own membership.

From the Wenvoe record of church rates, one year of 1860 stands out when the amount collected was increased by subscriptions from the wealthier parishioners to £64, 16 shillings, 10d and a farthing. Was that the year that the soaring Gothic chancel arch was raised, to replace the old crude low arch similar to the entrance to the tower?

More news next month of solar panels, alternative means of heating the church and renovations in the Church Hall.

Parry

 

July Church News

July Church News

Greetings to you all from the congregation at St. Mary’s Church.

A decade ago under the guidance of our then Rector, Revd. Jon Ormrod we set out a bold plan to extend the church building with an extension on the north side of the nave, to include toilet facilities, a kitchen, storage spaces, a meeting room and a large hall to replace the ageing Church Hall, all to be accessed by an opening from the church in the north wall. At that time many churches were encouraged to make their buildings more “fit for purpose” in providing on site toilets and to offer hospitality. Little did we realise the number of hoops we would have to jump through to get the necessary planning permissions.

Our vision then was to rehouse the flourishing “Pebbles” children’s group away from the church hall to avoid crossing the road in all weathers, to the new and exciting prospect of having them all on one site and we decided to call the project THE ST. MARY’S CHURCH CENTRE.

From the outset we had to convince the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) that the need was there. Then we wanted to breech the wall of the church to allow access to the new building. Site meetings were held with the DAC, Cadw The Victorian Society and Local Authority. Our church architect produced plans, visual drawings of how the new work would look, the bills were mounting, and progress was slow. We held a public meeting in the Community Centre to test the response of the village to our plans, which was positive, if that was what he church wanted then it was their business, although there was some reservation of disposing of the church hall, formerly known as The Reading Room” gifted to the church and community by an earlier generation of the Jenner family.

The first application for planning was turned down by the DAC, Cadw and Local authority as too large and too bulky. The years pass bye, another meeting with the DAC finally allowed us to breech the wall, so a fresh outline application was made to the local authority, another site meeting was arranged and the decision many months later was “NO” our plans were still too large and would affect the historical nature of the site situated in the Wenvoe Conservation Area.

A recent meeting of the Church Council considered this rejection and great saddened to see our plans and hopes for the future use of the church so greatly diminished. However, the church council decided to proceed with a much-reduced extension. again, on the north side to provide toilet facilities and a small kitchen on the site of the present boiler house. The church hall to be retained and refurbished to make it more fit for purpose. We need your help, tell us what you would like to see to improve what we have at present. Any ideas and help to give the hall a new look will be welcome. We invite you to write down your suggestions and ideas, place them in the secure post boxes in the church porch and church hall and make our church hall more welcoming and friendly

CHRISTIAN AID APPEAL OF 2015 The final result of this year’s appeal came to £3775.26 (including Gift Aid) which is an astounding amount raised in these difficult financial times, so THANK YOU to all who contributed, THANK YOU to those who organised the various money raising events, to those who collated the figures together and did the banking. A truly wonderful response to the needs of those who are not as well off as we are. Well done.

We are now in the season of TRINITY, a turning point in the church calendar. The liturgical colour is Green for the altar frontal and priest’s vestments. Our morning services are well attended and being streamed live on Facebook are watched by many including the residents of the Glenburnie Care Home. Join in at http://www.ipcamlive.com/stmarys church

A recent afternoon concert by SIAN’S singers with a singalong of WW11 songs was greatly enjoyed and will be returning in the autumn for an encore afternoon concert. More details later.

The Church Clock has been having a rest in recent weeks, and time has stood still while we decide what action is needed to get it going. Will it TICK will it TOCK will the hours be struck. The clock was donated in memory of Capt. R.F.L. Jenner in 1880 and has kept time in the village since that time so long ago. Those living near have you missed the chimes? Would you like to see them restored? We need to investigate whether the clock mechanism can be converted to an electric winding system,like us all our volunteer clock winder is getting older and climbing the ladder might not be an option. So we thank Martin Williams and Co for their sterling efforts week by week in winding the clock up.

It’s almost holiday time, school will break for the Summer holiday soon, why not send us a postcard from somewhere you have visited. Address it to St. Mary’s Church, Old Port Road, Wenvoe CF56AL Have a safe journey and return home refreshed

God Bless and see you in church or watch on line.

Parry

 

Christian Aid Week 11th To 18th May – The Results!

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 11TH TO 18TH MAY – THE RESULTS

 

This year we have been really excited by the response to Christian Aid Week. We had concerns that our target of £3,000 (including gift aid) may be beyond what was achievable in one week. How wrong we were!

This year you joined in with the challenges, gave your time and donations. These included:

  • Donation envelopes circulated throughout the village, which were returned to the designated collection points accordingly raising £1604 (including gift aid).
  • The Sponsored silence challenge for adults with some undertaking this in Gwenfo library raising £482 including gift aid.
  • Gwenfo school raising the sum of £700.95 (including gift aid) by taking part in the sponsored silence and a non-uniform day. A truly magnificent effort.
  • The Cake, Cake, and More Cake event was as popular as usual, raising £422.17. I am sure the calorie intake in the village that day was also raised!
  • Sully contributed by collecting donations and selling hanging baskets raising £411.14.
  • The collection at the Maundy service of £145 was donated, and
  • An additional £10 donations brought the total to £3775.26 (including gift aid)

 

And so, many thanks to all the envelop deliverers, bunting and poster hangers, photocopiers, those keeping silent and the teachers who helped in the school, the bakers and those who served refreshments, those who cleared up and the counters of all the money raised. We couldn’t have done it without any of you.

Also, remembering all of who gave cakes or money, or came and took part in the events.

Thank you,

Jude Billingham

June Church News

June Church News

Greetings to you all from the congregation at St. Mary’s Church.

The weather forecasters have said recently that this year the month of May has been the sunniest and warmest and driest for many, many years. The rainfall has been light and soon there could be calls to use our precious water carefully to conserve supplies. The churchyard is looking lovely this year with the flowering hawthorns showing an abundance of bright red flowers outside the church porch. However, we are missing the large cherry tree in flower. It is now the site of a carving of a leaping salmon, carved from the trunk by our ever-resourceful Mike who looks after the grounds so wonderfully. We get many complements on how well kept both the church and surrounding grounds are, and St. Mary’s is a real treasure in our village. Shortly we shall be working on the roof to replace some slates that have slipped and also replacing the ridge tiles on the Transept roof. These minor defects were reported in the recent Quinquennial inspection with other works needed to maintain the church fabric in good condition.

VE80 celebrations took place in the church and village over the Early Spring Bank Holiday, more commonly known as the May Bank Holiday. The longest period of peace in our country, was celebrated with the same joy that marked the ending of WWII in Europe in 1945, with prayers and hymns in church on the Sunday, a time of reflection at midday on Thursday, followed by the pealing of the church bells in the evening and the lighting of the Beacon of Hope at the village War Memorial at 9.30pm.

The Village Plant show brought the proceedings to an end, and we have to thank both Glenys and Mike Tucker for how well they organised, with their many helpers, a day marked with lovely warm sunshine. Events like this that make our community such a good place to live, a chance to meet up with other Wenvonians to chat about current news and reminisce over past times.

We continue the VE80 theme with an afternoon concert by the Sian’s Singers on Sunday 8th June at 3.00pm at St. Mary’s Church which will include a singalong of WWII songs. Sian’s Singers are a very talented group, and we are pleased to host them at this time. There is no admission charge but donations to church funds will be welcome, and there will be refreshments in the Church Hall following the performance. All are most welcome as we once again remember with gratitude the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces and the members of the civilian population during the years of 1939 – 1945.

The other big event taking place as I write is the Christian Aid Appeal organised by Jude Billingham and her team of helpers. The climate crisis is ravaging the farms of indigenous communities in Guatemala; your financial support

will help fund vital tools and training so farmers can support their community to escape hunger. Many events took place in the village during the week of the 11th May, the results will be reported in next month’s news.

St. Bleddian’s Church update: Those of us with large gardens know how difficult it can be when the lawn needs mowing, the edges trimmed and the weather can often be against you, well imagine the problem of keeping the churchyard at St. Lythan’s in a pristine condition.

Thanks to volunteers from the Friends of St. Lythan’s the maintenance of the churchyard has seen the grass cut, and a general tidy up done in recent days. The church is not being used for regular worship and is used as a festival church to mark those times of the year when special services are held to commemorate the great days in the church’s calendar. So, a big thankyou to all who have helped while the search for a more permanent gardener is made.

We are so grateful for the regular donations to the Vale Food Bank which appear in the collecting boxes in the church porch week by week. Due to your generosity, we are able to take a considerable amount every Thursday morning, thanks to Jude and Nigel, to Barry, and the staff are so pleased that our contribution to those in need, comes each week on a regular basis.

The items most needed at present are tinned potatoes, rice puddings, tinned fruit, meat products and carrier bags. Thank you, thank you! Your gifts are most needed. Alternatively a cash contribution is also welcomed to save carrying heavy items to the collecting boxes. Please place in an envelope clearly marked “Food Bank”.

It is good to have an opportunity to share the St. Mary’s news with the community. You are all held in our Sunday prayers, and if you need advice and help on family matters, please contact Vicar Lyndon on 029 2280 6018 (confidential phone).

Every Blessing to all readers,

Parry

 

 

Christian Aid Week

Christian Aid Week

 

Sometimes the simplest things can make a world of difference: every year, people in Wales and all around the UK come up with all kinds of fundraising activities to support Christian Aid. The appeal gives us seven days to make a difference to people in the most vul-nerable countries around the world.

Our global neighbours are also amazing at transform-ing their lives. This is Aline’s story. Aline Nibogora is 35 and lives in Burundi. She was married young and when she was 14, she gave birth to the first of her six children. Her husband was violent and beat her regularly – one day it got so bad, she fled.

“He would often jeer that he would kill me and bury me without anyone knowing,” Aline said.

Forced to leave her children behind, Aline wandered the streets trying to stay close by, asking anyone for a place to sleep.

“Those who showed me kindness would let me stay for two or three days, but it was difficult,” she ex-plained. “People would insult me and treat me with contempt. They forgot I was a human being. It filled me with sorrow.”

In a patriarchal society where men dominate in al-most every aspect, life is particularly challenging for women. They’ve been conditioned to be dependent on and dominated by men. But Aline found the strength and determination to push back against the injustices she was facing. Every gift, every action helps transforms lives; sometimes the simplest things can make a world of difference. Aline went to a three-day community workshop where Christian Aid-funded trainers taught people about village savings and loans associations.

“I came out of it with amazing knowledge and skills. During the training, I stayed focussed and was deter-mined to not miss out on anything at all. I really liked the teachers’ methodology; they restored in me a sense of hope and energy to take on initiatives. From then on, I started working hard, so I would not be dependent on anyone.”

With a small start-up loan, Aline began trading avo-cados and peanuts locally; then used her profits to buy a bicycle to transport greater quantities of goods to markets further afield. She is now a grocery whole-saler; she’s been reunited with three of her sons and lives on her own plot of land in a village in Kayogo-ro, in Makamba Province. She is planning to expand the business and is building a home for her family – she hopes she’ll one day have all her children with her.

“I bought some solar panels,” Aline added. “We now have electricity and the children are able to see to do their homework in the evenings. It’s true there’s a shortage of food at the moment, so there’s no lack of problems, but I’m doing what I can to get by, before we are able to harvest. I enjoy spending time with my children, who are my favourite people in the world”.

Aline is also now the chairperson of her own village savings and loan association and has helped 25 other families. She finds it important to be able to give

back and train others for the further development of the community as well as her country. Aline says the support of Christian Aid has made the whole commu-nity feel comforted and empowered. They feel they are not alone in their initiatives. Without your support we could not go further,

“You empowered us by changing our living condi-tions. Before, we couldn’t see opportunities around us. Now we can see positive and significant changes in our lives”.

This Christian Aid Week in Wenvoe

This year in Wenvoe we are busy planning money raising activities to continue to support the work of Christian Aid. We invite you to take part and to en-joy the week with us.

Our activities include:

  • Distributing ‘Delivery Only envelopes’ throughout the village giving details of how you can contribute to the appeal
  • On Wednesday 15th Assembly at Gwenfo school
  • On Wednesday 15th a ‘Clothes Swap’ (girls and women only) from 7pm at Alison’s home at 52 Wal-ston Road, where you can take pre loved items of clothing to donate or swap with others. No charge, but donations welcomed! Fizz and nibbles included!
  • On Friday 17th Big Brekkie and non-uniform Day at Gwenfo school
  • On Saturday 18th ‘Cake, Cake and More Cake’: in the Church Hall, Port Road from 10 – 12 30. No charge for refreshments, but donations welcomed, and, there will be a cake stall for take aways from one slice to whole cakes!

 

We look forward to seeing you during the week.

Jude Billingham:

 

Christian Aid Week in Wenvoe – 12-18 May 2024.

 

May Church News

 

May Church News

Greetings from the congregation of St. Mary’s, eager to welcome new faces to join them in worship at 9.30am on Sunday morning. Gone are the days when we could number the faithful for three services on Sundays, with extra chairs placed out in the aisle for the Sung Eucharist service. The earlier service at 8.00am also had a strong attendance and to cap it all Evensong at 6.00pm with the adult church choir was a meaningful end to the day. Many things have contributed to a decline in attendance numbers over the years. Despite all that has gone before, St. Mary’s door is still open, the bells ring out the call to worship, a welcome is given to all, and the church looks better now, than it has for many a year.

In recent weeks we had the church building and grounds inspected for the “Quinquennial” inspection. This takes place roughly every five years by a qualified architect to examine and report on any defects found within the structure which needs remedial action. This work maintains the building fit for purpose and takes into account any health and safety issues discovered. This responsibility is for the church council and officers under the direction of the Parish Priest, to ensure that our insurers are content that all is well and maintained to the highest standards for an ancient building to function safely. In addition the heating system, the lighting system, the lightning conductor and the church clock have to be checked to make sure that the building in our care is handed on for future generations to worship in. The raising of money to fund the maintenance is reliant on fund raising, (weekly or monthly giving, the 200 Club donations and legacies) and it is a constant battle to cover the everyday expenses, and our church treasurer does a superb job in keeping us in the “black” . so we appreciate any help to keep us solvent.

This Eastertide at St. Mary’s, we had ceremonies for Palm Sunday with a procession into the church from the church hall complete with donkey (two. in fact. called Vest and Knickers), kindly brought by Emily and Mathew from Vishwell Farm. This was the beginning of Holy Week and led up to the events of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Day. These days are the most important and meaningful days of the Christian Year, and there would be no church without the Resurrection of Jesus from the grave. Alleluia Christ is Risen, Yea He is Risen indeed.

Easter Sunday – the day of Resurrection. A full church awaited the arrival of the new light, kindled at an earlier service at St Lythans for the lighting of the PASCAL candle at St. Mary’s. Sitting in the darkened church with the Spring sunshine streaming through the stained-glass windows, glowing like so many jewels, heightened the expectation of Resurrection of light coming into a dark world. With the candle placed on its stand in the chancel, the church lights blazed on and the organ played the great Easter hymn “Jesus Christ is risen today. Alleluia”. The service included a renewal of our

Baptism vows with a sprinkling of water from the font, much to the amusement of the younger members of the congregation. So, we go forward into the 50 days of Easter in the company of the risen Jesus, renewed and empowered to carrying his teaching to all who will listen, bringing the truth of His presence in the world…..Alleluia, alleluia Christ is risen.

Support for the Vale Food Bank continues with weekly collections from the items left in the church porch. In addition, the donations of chocolate Easter Eggs was most welcome, plus the cash given in place of food items is always well received by the Food Bank staff to purchase groceries to cover any shortfall. Thank you for the contributions, and to Jude and Nigel who work so hard to get the offerings to Barry.

We will be supporting the Christian Aid Appeal events (see page 5) including Cake, Cake and More Cake. We hope to see you all on Saturday 17th May at the Church Hall from 10.00am-12.00 midday.

St. Mary’s Church is joining in the Commemoration of VE80 Day. During the morning service on Sunday 4th May there will be suitable prayers and a period of silent meditation in thanksgiving for the longest period of peace in the country while acknowledging the great sacrifice made by so many in the armed forces and the civilian population during the conflict.

Every blessing to all who read the church news.

Parry Edwards

Christian Aid Is 80

CHRISTIAN AID IS 80

 

Christian Aid is 80 this year. It all started after World War II when people were coming to terms with losing loved ones or supporting those who were injured. The country was financially in a difficult position and rationing was still widespread. Even so, a group of people recognised the need of others, especially the millions around the world who were homeless and rootless. It was here that Christian Aid was born. In that first-year people raised £26,000, equivalent to 1 million pounds in today’s money.

Since then, Christian Aid has responded to many emergencies, and their work has expanded. The organisation works with partner agencies in many countries who share their values and aims, and gives help to all people regardless of age, faith, gender, nationality or race. Staff and volunteers at home and abroad have Hope. “We believe in the unstoppable power of Hope and that with Hope Change is possible”. Hope is central to this year’s challenge, describing achievements, needs, and ‘Hopes’ of people in rural communities in Guatemala.

In Central American Guatemala has the largest population of 17.6 million. It has an indigenous population of 43%. 55% live in poverty. 1 in 2 are malnourished. Human rights defenders are often criminalised.

Within a small community in the Alta Verapaz area, in the Northern Central Area of Guatemala we find Aurelia living in a community suffering from drought and land exploitation. The water hole nearby has dried up and they have to walk 3 miles there and back twice a day. What crops they managed to grow failed in such dry conditions. Congcoop a partner with Christian Aid has undertaken work with residents in the locality. It is here Aurelia gained ‘Hope’. She undertook various training including, knowledge and skills in agriculture working against climate change, chocolate making, and pricing and marketing skills to enable her to sell her goods. She shared this knowledge within her community and together they also learnt of solar hydration and water collection.

To raise money for similar projects during Christian Aid week (11th – 18th May.), we will be:

  • distributing donation envelopes
  • undertaking sponsored silences challenging adults, and children in Gwenvo school (look out for adults undertaking their ‘silences’ in the library on Monday 12th May)
  • leading the assembly in school explaining to the children what they are raising money for, and,
  • holding the annual ‘Cake, Cake, and Cake’ event in the Church Hall on Saturday 17th May from 10.00am until 12.00 midday. Coffee/tea and cakes to eat or to purchase to take away.

 

We look forward to seeing you during the week.

Jude Billingham

 

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