Category: St Mary’s Parish Church News

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2022 REVIEW

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On behalf of Vicar Lyndon and the Wardens Carol and Sandra and the congregation we wish all readers of “What’s On” a very Happy New Year.

Looking back into 2022 we knew that the year was going to be a difficult one. The advertisement for a new priest was in the press and on-line and we were trying to build up the congregation after the lockdowns in the COVID pandemic. The good news is that we survived. We welcomed Vicar Lyndon and his wife Chris into our community and we continue to spread the Good News, bringing the love of Jesus to all in the Ministry Area of De Morgannwg.

There have been a number of changes within the church. We were formed into a Ministry Area, called De Morgannwg, which brought nine churches together; how this will work is still being worked out. Bishop June has retired and the Electoral College will shortly be meeting to elect her successor. They have a new Dean at Llandaff Cathedral, our old Area Deanery of Penarth and Barry has been combined with that of the East Vale Group of churches, and we will now be in the Archdeaconry of Margam with a new Archdeacon to work alongside. So 2023 is full of possibilities for growth in fellowship and growth in each congregation getting to know each for the better. Where there is a fifth Sunday in the month, St.Mary’s, St Bleddians and St. John’s will hold a combined Eucharist service at 10.00 am and the first of these will be hosted by St. John’s in Sully on January 29th.

The Season of Advent has been well attended, with the lighting of the Advent Candles, Sunday by Sunday to mark the progression towards Christmas. The Toy Sunday brought a huge range of toys for donation to the Barry Food Bank, together with lots of Christmas Goodies alongside the gifts of more basic items requested by the Food Bank as they try to relieve the many difficulties families are facing during this winter.

The Advent Light up Your windows has been another great success for the variety of themes chosen to bring light into our streets during these dark cold nights. Congratulations to the organisers and thanks go to those who have created some amazing displays, especially the Wenvoe Primary School for their illuminated gazebo and star plus the School Choir singing in the cold frosty air. The last “window” on Christmas Eve in the churchyard was followed by a short service in a warm church with yet more carols and readings enjoyed by children, their mums and dads and grandparents alike.

Our Christmas programme of Carol Services began on Sunday afternoon the 11th December at St. Bleddian’s church which despite the cold freezing weather, was a warm friendly event, so appreciated by those who came and the mulled wine and mince pies were very welcome following the service. The Community Carol Service at St. Mary’s on

Wednesday evening 14th December in candlelight and lower levels of our LED lighting system, brought the representatives of organisations in the village together for the Nine Lessons and Carols followed by mulled wine and mince pies courtesy of the Wenvoe Community Council. A collection was taken during the service for Ty Hafan, the children’s hospice at Sully which came to £425.25, a wonderful response for a very worthy cause. The First Eucharist of Christmas was celebrated at St. Mary’s at 7.00 pm with Vicar Lyndon presiding, and was well attended in candlelight and using one of the settings on our LED lighting system.

During December there has been a renewed interest in the Ancient Yew tree in the churchyard. It really is ancient in the number of years it has been growing and leaning towards the side of the road. Whilst it is difficult to assess the age by the normal methods used to age trees, the tree is thought to be in the range of 700-800 years old and, among the many treasures we have, this is our only living treasure, and could well pre-date the building of the first stone church. The first mention we have of the tree, is of a survey carried out in 1833 when it is recorded that it was leaning towards the road but surrounded by a low stone wall. It is a healthy tree bearing its red berries year by year and well deserves the respect which countless generations over the years have given it.

Looking ahead into 2023, the main event will be the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the 6th May and St. Mary’s will play its part in the village celebrations on that Bank Holiday weekend. No plans being made at the moment, but watch this space.

The Chattery will be meeting on January 12th at 10.30 am in the Church Hall with coffee/tea, posh biscuits and a FREE raffle. A warm place to enjoy each other’s company and catch up on news for a modest £2.00. All welcome.

Looking back at our Remembrance Sunday service, the collection taken in church came to £353.57 which was donated to the work of the Royal British Legion for the relief of suffering for our armed services as a result of war injuries.

With every good wish for the year ahead from everyone at St. Mary’s

Parry Edwards

 

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November2022 News Update

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November is often said to be a solemn month. It is certainly a month we remember those who have died in the two world wars, as well as our loved ones who we see no more. So, yes, in so many ways, it is a solemn month, and this has been reflected in our services in church during the month.

Our service of Calm and Reflection on the evening of all Souls Day was a very emotional one for those who had lost a family member during the COVID pandemic, as well as other reasons. The church was in semi-darkness, using the varied settings of our new lighting system. Candles were lit in memory of those whose names had been submitted. These were duly called out. Readings, prayers and singing, accompanied by the skilful playing of our organist, provided a balm for any troubled soul.

Then came Bonfire Night, a noisy celebration of an event long remembered in our nation’s history with the old mantra “Remember, Remember the Fifth of November, Gunpowder Treason and Plot” as told on the front cover of last month’s edition of “What’s On”. This is not an event the church remembers, but during the 17th century the day was marked as a “Deliverance of The King’s Majesty from his enemies” in churches throughout the land.

Armistice Day on the 11th of the month, was marked at 11 o’clock with a short service at the War Memorial, with the top classes from Wenvoe School in attendance. The men from Wenvoe who served in WWI and did not return, were remembered by the names read from the carved inscription on the towering stone taken from the Alps Quarry over 100 years ago.

Remembrance Sunday, in line with similar ceremonies throughout the country, was marked with a service in church, after a break of three years due to COVID. The church was very full, and together with a large contingent of Scouts and Beavers, tributes were offered to all the members of the armed services who fell in battle during WWI and WWII. Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth was also in our thoughts for her sense of duty as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for over 70 years, together with the thousands of civilian casualties who are so often overlooked in this national commemoration. A collection was taken to further the work of the Royal British Legion as they continue to look after the survivors of all the wars that have taken place over the years since.

Following the church service, the congregation led by the Choir and Scouts assembled at the Village War Memorial for the formal Act of Remembrance, the Silence and the Laying of Wreaths. Many more people were there and together the solemn nature echoed the ceremony which was taking place at Whitehall at the Cenotaph in the presence of King Charles and other members of the Royal Family. Refreshments served in the Church Hall after the dismissal were very welcome thanks to the ladies of the Social Committee.

At the end of the month a session of Messy Church was held in the Church Hall. It was good to see families getting together with craft work and activities based on the season of Advent; and yes, if they did get their hands dirty, it was all good fun. Vicar Lyndon held a short service in church and then they all had a tea party in the church hall. A good turn out and very happy faces as they returned home.

The November Chattery was noisy being full of chat, mince pies and mini stollen on offer plus of course the FREE raffle with excellent prizes. This monthly gathering is open to all for the low cost of £2.00 with plenty of coffee/tea refills if needed. The next date will be on the 8th December at 10.30am.

The Community Carol Service will be on December 14th at 7.00pm, when members of our local organisation have been invited to take part. The service will be following the Nine Lessons and Carols made popular by the TV broadcasts from Kings College in Cambridge. A collection will be taken to support the work of Ty Hafan hospice for children at Sully. Refreshments will be available afterwards in the Church Hall. The St. Lythan’s Carol Service will be on December 11th at 3.00pm.

The Advent Windows is set to go live on December 1st and windows will be lit up to bring light into the darkness at this time of the year. We are surrounded by much doom and gloom in the country as well as here in Wenvoe. There is much talk in the press and on TV that this year due to the high cost of energy, many will not be able to afford the running costs, and this includes the civic displays in many towns and cities. So, here we are showing to all that we will be seeing all manner of displays and ideas, that bring joy and happiness through the medium of light. So well done everyone for joining in and thanks to Jude Billingham for organising. The last “Window” will be at St. Mary’s Church at 5.00pm on Christmas Eve followed by an All Age Service in the church, which will be warm and full of light. See you there in great numbers. A collection will be taken for Ty Hafan, the children’s hospice in Sully.

As you will read elsewhere in What’s On, our Christmas Services are taking a different pattern to that of previous years. The midnight celebration of the Eucharist has been brought forward to 7.00pm so that the more elderly among us, can attend together with those who have felt in past years that the later timing is not for them. Please support us at this earlier time to hear and sing the True Story of the Saviour’s Birth at Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago. Unlike the baby Jesus whose parents Mary and Joseph could find no room at the Inn, there will be room for you in St. Mary’s. On Christmas Day the only service will be at St. Lythan’s Church at 9.30am with a celebration of the Eucharist with carols.

All that remains is to wish you all a Happy and Blessed Christmas.

Parry Edwards

 

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October 2022 News Update

October continued to be a busy month, following on from September that saw things pick up after the summer holidays .The Harvest Festival at St. Bleddians was very well supported with the largest numbers in the congregation for some time. The sun shone and the refreshments were able to be taken outside, thanks to the hard work by Pam and Ann not forgetting Terry in the background. Vicar Lyndon was able to meet and chat with new faces as he settles in with the congregations for which he is responsible.

St Mary’s in October, we had in addition to the Sunday Eucharist services, the church was able to host, Baptisms, a Wedding and a Funeral, a good indication that after the trauma of Covid we are gradually getting back to some kind of normal. Not all things are back in place yet, such as a collection taken with the plate being handed around, sides persons are not able to bring up the Offertory as was once the practice. Vicar Lyndon has enhanced the reading of the Gospel for the day with a Gospel procession and the dismissal at the end of the service takes place at the Font in the body of the people before the choir retire to the Tower vestry for final prayers. Little touches like these help to make worship at St. Mary’s more meaningful and thoughtful of what we are about when we gather to hear the Word of God and to celebrate the Eucharist.

All Saints and All Souls are very important festivals in the church’s calendar, and on November the 3rd at 6.00pm a Service of Calm and Reflection will take place to remember all who have died during the COVID crisis and were not able to have the funerals they wanted, together with a remembrance of loved ones who have passed into greater glory in recent years. Names of those who wish to be read out and prayed for are requested, please use the letter boxes in the church porch or the Church Hall, with names clearly printed or hand to one of the two Wardens, Carol or Sandra. All are welcome to attend, and an invitation to non-church members who have lost a loved one are invited to be part of the service..

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY November 13th

This year after a break of three years a Community Remembrance Service will begin at 10.00am in church with representatives from organisations from the village taking part in the readings and prayers, to be followed with the Act of Remembrance at the Village War Memorial. The Vale of Glamorgan brass band will be in attendance and a procession led by the Cross bearer and choir and the congregation will be in place in good time for 11.00am. Refreshments of tea/coffee/soft drinks and biscuits will be available in the Church Hall following the proceeding, all are welcome.

A date for your diaries THE CHATTERY will be meeting on November 10th at 10.30am in the Church Hall for coffee/tea/posh biscuits and a chat of course, to catch up on what has been happening around us at home or in the world at large. It’s very friendly and informal and it’s good to come out and meet up with people you may not have seen for some time. For

some it is a warm place in these days when the weather is getting colder, a great welcome to all for the little cost of £2.00, and plenty of coffee refills plus free raffle.

A session of MESSY CHURCH is planned for November 26th with an ADVENT theme in the Church Hall. This is open all families to share some quality play time with each other and to meet up make new friends, so let’s get busy and let’s enjoy each others company.

ADVENT WINDOWS has had a good response and will take place as advertised during the dark nights of December. This is a St. Mary’s initiative for the village, Free to enter, just light up your windows when your evening is allocated, the theme can be Christmas or any alternative that will give pleasure to the onlookers, the final “window” will be at St. Mary’s on Christmas Eve..

COMMUNITY CAROL SERVICE will take place at St. Mary’s on Wednesday December 14th at 7.00pm. Representatives from village organisations are being invited to take part and will follow the traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and carols made popular over the years, broadcast from King’s College, Cambridge.

The JOINT CHURCH COUNCIL met on the 26th October in the Church Hall under the chairmanship of Vicar Lyndon for the first time. Apart from a “catch up” on what has taken place since the previous meeting in June, the budget for the church was discussed and approved. In accordance with Church In Wales practice each of our nine churches in the Ministry Area of De Morgannwg has to produce a budget for next year. Estimating the amount of income is a difficult one to assess, Expenditure is subject to the cost of inflation raising prices of goods and services and similarly to our own budgeting at home, the end result can be very uncomfortable in making ends meet. However, any budget is but a guide to the future and good housekeeping practises will keep St, Mary’s in good shape in the year ahead.

Thank you for reading what has been happening and what is being planned at St. Mary’s.

God bless and peace

Parry Edwards

 

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September 2022 News Update

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Death of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral Castle

The lowering of the flag to half-mast on the church tower announced to the village the sad news received on Sept. 8th at 6.30pm. Our new, King Charles III spoke most emotionally of the Royal Family’s loss of a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother in his first address to the nation that same evening. He ended his address with the most memorable words: “May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

Looking back, September was a busy month. The work on the Tower has been completed and it is looking much improved. The church grounds have been cleared up of the builders debris. The church clock is back ‘tick-tocking’ away, keeping time and striking the hours, much to the satisfaction of neighbours who are used to hearing the hours struck during the day. The clock face and hands have been affected by the heat waves we have experience this Summer so for now, no further expense needed there.

Plans to welcome our new priest into the Ministry Area of De Morgannwg were placed on hold until a definite date could be agreed on. Eventually the service to License Lyndon was led by the Archdeacon of Llandaff the Rev. Rod Green on Sunday 18th September at 3.00pm. In the meantime Vicar Lyndon and Chris have been settling in and took the opportunity of a holiday break in Mid Wales before they enter into the busy life of the M.A.

The Licensing service for Lyndon was a very splendid uplifting service with superb singing of both Welsh and other hymns. Our three churches were represented with invited guests and clergy from within the Ministry Area. Well done everyone.

Our Harvest Celebration was held on Sunday 25th September and was the first occasion that our new Vicar has officiated. The decoration of the church was markedly different this year to previous years as we decided to use all the contributions to the Barry Food Bank to fill the windows with, dry goods, tinned vegetables, tinned meats etc which the food bank have asked us for. This year they are finding the need is greater than ever due to the rocketing living costs and rising food prices in the stores. So in place of fresh vegetables and flowers we had the appearance of a food store, knowing that there is no waste and all the goods will help those who are not so fortunate as we are. We also held a retiring collection for the Christian Aid East Africa appeal which is ongoing as they face the most disastrous famine in that part of the world.

In the afternoon a BYO picnic in the church grounds was arranged with activities for the children, to give an opportunity for Lyndon and Chris to meet up with as many people who wished to greet and welcome them into our community

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Live Streaming of our Services

Further work on the camera system in church has now resulted in 24/7 streaming of a live feed which can be accessed on ipcamlive.com/stmarywenvoe This will mean that the church building is covered should we have an intruder in the premises outside of service times, and that anyone can log in to our services on a Sunday morning. Lyndon’s licensing can now be watched by his family in Canada which will be of great comfort and assurance to them. Some reservations have been raised and further work on the system will try and give the assurances needed to make the congregation comfortable in its use.

Vicar Lyndon has said that he intends to keep the same pattern of services as they are at present, as he tries to get a ‘feel’ of what each congregation needs. However, that is not to say that there won’t be any changes in the future.

Harvest Celebrations at St. Bleddian’s will take place on Sunday 2nd October with the usual morning service at 8.30 am followed by a Harvest Festival Service at 3.00pm.

Thank you for your time reading this. You are most welcome to join us and our new priest Lyndon at any of our services.

God Bless and peace

Parry Edwards

 

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