Category: News

Church Festivals

harvestscarecrow

Looking back to the Scarecrow Festival and Harvest Festival Weekend at the end of September, the weather was dry but with always the threat of rain, the afternoon was a great success and enjoyed by all. The entries were numerous and the judging by the people was not made any easier due to the high standard of entries. For the children there was dressing up as a living scarecrow, competitions and delightful mouth-watering refreshments provided by volunteers from our Social Committee and friends.

The write up in our NEW joint Parish Magazine with Sully is well worth quoting here “Great attention to detail had been given to all the entrants in the competition and difficult choices had to be made to find the winners. Tin Beake welcomed us to the party from his orbit around the Yew tree. The Vicar of Dibley was offering bribes in the form of Quality Street whilst the Buxom wench fluttered her eyelashes and the Traidcraft entry outrageously touted for business. Peppa Pig was there along with Mr. Potato Head and a Minion, not to mention a whole cast from James and the Giant peach, very topical. Blodwen, the Welsh Scarecrow watched quietly from her corner while Fireman Sam encouraged us to be fire alert, and Down Town Abbie looked down her nose at the other entrants. The Cubs appeared to be growing little people in a night garden and the Scarecrow who slept through it all last year was wide awake on scaring duties this year”.

The winners were….

Best Individual (Child) Poppy for the Minion

Best Indiviaual (Adult) Mike and John Tucker for Tin Beake

Best Organisation was a tie between Down Town Abbie by Tuesday Group and James and the Giant Peach by Gwenfo School

People’s Favourite – Tin Beake

Da Iawn. well done and see you all next year.

The Harvest All Age Eucharist the following morning was well attended with Wenvoe School choir singing the Harvest Samba, and our Pebbles Group gave us a Harvest Presentation, which with the use of our new radio mike, enabled everybody to hear what they had rehearsed. A contribution from the morning collection and the evening Community Harvest Praise collection has been sent to Christian Aid.

The NEW joint Parish Magazine has been well received and being now a monthly magazine the items can be topical in content. The magazine is available in church on the first Sunday of the month at 50p a copy.

“Messy Church” with the theme of “Jesus the Light of the World”, was once again well attended on Saturday Oct 1st. with parents and children enjoying the activities and the meal at the end. A big thank you to all the volunteers and to the Vale Church for the help that is needed to stage this weekend event.

The Barn Dance on Saturday Oct. 15th in the Village Hall was enjoyed by all with a comment that it “was a great family night out". The main luxury hamper was won by Sandra Davies and the financial

result will be available in the Weekly Newsletter.

Traidcraft and Fairtrade. Tradecaft goods are now on sale in Sully and Wenvoe at the after church coffee and the Chattery meetings, The Christmas Range has now been launched with an increased range of goods suitable for the coming festive season. Look out for the “Real Advent Calendar, with chocolates and the real Story of Christmas Booklet plus many other gift ideas and a good range of Christmas Cards. Fair trade means that the person who produces the food and other items get a fair price for their work, and all these can be seen at Jude Billingham’s home when she and Nigel stage an OPEN DAY on November 18th at Church Rise in Wenvoe. The invitation is open to all and a warm welcome awaits, with refreshmentspoppies01-1-of-1 available.

Looking ahead the “Christmas Chattery” will be held in the Church hall on Thursday 10th November between 10.30 – 12.00 with a selection of Traidcraft and other goodies for sale.

Remembrance Sunday is on the 13th of November with a Community Remembrance Service at St. Mary’s at 10.10am followed by the service at the War Memorial at 11.00am. A contribution from the collection at church will be given towards the work of the Royal British Legion.

The year is moving on at a pace, the short season of the Kingdom is now with us, to be followed by the solemn Season of Advent. The colours used at the altar and vestments will change to Red and then Violet, as we prepare for the Christmas Celebrations. This year we shall be sending a Christmas card to every home in Wenvoe and St Lythan’s, designed by the children of “Pebbles” giving a suitable greeting and the times of all the Christmas Services.

With every Blessing and see you in church

Parry Edwards

 

 

 

September’s Events

church01The return of our “Pebbles” group after their Summer break, brought the usual joyous hustle and bustle when they joined the congregation during the communion. It is lovely to see new children attending for the first time and also the mums and dads joining in the worship. It is due to the expertise and encouragement of their leaders during the short time they are in the Church Hall. In what they are taught through the medium of play and crafting, that they are able to tell us what they have been doing and learning about the theme of the Gospel readings for the day. Well done and may it long continue.

It is has been a busy time, during the month for the smaller congregation at St Lythan’s. Apart from a meeting of their PCC on the 14th of the month, the Cadw Open Day on Saturday 17th which brought a response from people who had not visited the church before. The idea of opening our churches is a good one, but needs to be staffed with church members to explain details of the building that they may not be aware of. September seems to be the month in which many buildings not normally open to the public are invited in to see for themselves the treasures contained inside. In any village or hamlet with a church many centuries old, these buildings are a constant reminder they have weathered many a storm during their lifetime and would not exist today but for the care and attention by the worshippers who Sunday by Sunday come together to praise and worship Almighty God and Jesus his son. On Sunday 18th there is a Pet Service at St Lythan’s hoping to build on the success of last years’ service, when many people brought their pets to be blessed.

At long last our builder Mike has made a start on the work in and around St Mary’s church, which was highlighted in the last Quinquennial Inspection of the church’s fabric. Mike comes workman01highly recommended and is a skilled craftsman in the restoration of old buildings and structures. The work is outside repairing some of the boundary walls of the churchyard, the flooring in the porch has to be regrouted and the barrel ceiling to be replastered and painted. The steps of the Churchyard Cross are to be repointed to prevent rainwater entering and so avoid frost damage during the winter months. Stonework on the outside of the Vestry has perished and new stone set in place, and recently it was discovered that a piece of the corbel on the roof of the Transcept had fallen away and this also will need to be replaced. Looking after the fabric of church buildings is a major item in our budget, and this is helped by the 200 Club which has been able to fund a lot of the work

We are looking forward to a repeat of the success of the Scarecrow Festival in St Mary’s on the 24th September, which is combined with the Cadw Open Door programme between 2pm and 5pm. This is followed by our Harvest Festival on the following Sunday with the normal morning services and Harvest Praise at 6.00pm. A report of these events will be in next months “What’s On”.

Looking ahead Messy Church in the Community Centre on Saturday 1st October at 3.30 – 5.30 pm when the theme will be “Light of the World”. Barn Dance in the Village hall on October 15th, Tickets from Sandra Davies.

 

With every Blessing and see you in church

Parry Edwards

 

 

 

Letters

pen01Letters to the Editor

 

Village Show

 

Congratulations and thanks to all involved in the Village Show – another very successful day where villagers could mingle and admire each other's skills.

Anne Bennett

 

 

Church Hall Sale.

 

I was surprised to read in What's On that St Mary's is planning to sell the Church Hall and build an alternative facility within the church.

The Church is in the centre of the village and any changes to the facade facing the street would almost certainly spoil an essential part of the conservation area.

The hall is a village amenity as well as a church hall, it is hired by several groups regularly and of course it can be used after funerals and the like. Will the proposals also fulfil this need of the community?

I can appreciate that a room within the church may be easier to administer but is it really going to make that much difference?

I have heard a number of people disagreeing with the plan so thought I should write to What's On.

Name and address supplied

 

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Twyn yr Odyn playing fields

Thank you for publishing my letter in last months “Whats On" magazine when I accused the Council of “Double Standards”. I have received a response and as promised I write to update you of their reply

I QUOTE – “No Analogy could reasonably be drawn between the two applications.

The BBC had already decided on their filming when

they approached the Council for assistance.

Had the Council refused to assist then this could have been viewed by residents as a failure by the Council to act to help alleviate possibly foreseeable problems arising for the residents."

From this reply can we therefore infer from this that any decision the BBC make with regard to filming has to be accommodated by Local Councils?

Originally the Council refused my application to place my Wedding Marquee in the field on grounds that it would “Set precedent and possibly damage the field”. Surely on that Sunday the BBC and others driving their vehicles in and out of the field were more likely to cause damage than my marquee?

At No point did I request to park cars in the field, which could have damaged the ground. I supplied the Council with contingencies for parking, rubbish disposal, H&S, Public Liability Bond etc etc…….

I remain disappointed and in my view “whats good for one is good for another” even if they are the prestigious BBC !

Therefore, I conclude that my original accusation of “Double Standards by the Council” remains unchanged.

Diane Stokes, Twyn-yr-Odyn

Twyn yr Odyn playing fields

The Community Council was quite right to refuse permission for a marquee for a wedding party in the Twyn yr Odyn playing fields. THIS WOULD HAVE SET A PRECEDENT.

I understand the BBC asked to use the field for the morning whilst filming and of course the public was not denied access. You cannot compare this with a wedding party, guests cars and of course the noise.

Ann Miller, Goldsland Walk

Parking tip

I was returning to my car which I had parked in a side street in the Cathays area of Cardiff‘. It was one of a few streets where there were no restrictions on parking. So I was surprised to see a Parking Enforcement Officer stride up to the car in front of mine and issue a ticket. Then the PEO crossed the road and issued a ticket to another car.

I was intrigued as there were no obvious reasons why these two cars should be ticketed when all the other cars in the street had not been punished. So I asked politely what was so wrong that both cars had a ticket.

He pointed to the ground and uttered two words – 'Dropped kerb'. Then he walked off.

I passed my driving test nearly 40 years ago, so I must admit I had forgotten that rule.

With help of google, I found several articles which indicate this is a recent change.

The Traffic Management Act 2004 (section86) was introduced to protect dropped kerbs from parked cars. It also covers places where the carriageway has been raised to meet the level of the footway for the same purpose. (The pavement at dropped kerbs and raised carriageways are usually distinguished by different coloured paving slabs and usually with a textured surface for the assistance of partially sighted or blind persons.)

Furthermore, during 2008, the Department for Transport deemed it unnecessary for the use of road markings or road sins to illustrate a prohibition for parking across a dropped kerb. (It is for this reason that yellow lines, it there any, stop and start either side of a dropped kerb.)

This offence applies to all motorists, including

Blue Badge holders

Motorcyclists

Permit holders

So, next time you park, look at the kerb.

R.Clark Heol Collen

St Mary’s Parish Church News

August Review

The month of August is often called the “Silly Season” often due to fact that nothing of great import happens during this month. Our School closes for their summer break, parliament is in recess, and the country slows down while we bask in long lasting sunshine. However life in the church keeps going, often against the odds, and while we miss having “Pebbles” with us, they are always in our thoughts and prayers that they and their leaders enjoy their break and will return once again in September, when they will be back in church on the 4th September.

The long awaited work on the sound system in church has been carried out during the month, and the difference between the old and the new is there for all to hear. We have installed new speakers in the nave and transept, and also one in the porch. Plus we now have the facility to provide an outside speaker for any overflow of people during large funerals or outside services or events. In addition a microphone has been installed on the chancel screen to pick up the vows being made between bride and groom at their weddings, so that the congregation can hear. And the work doesn’t stop there, for we also have a mobile microphone so that we can hear the children when they make their contribution to our services on special occasions. This is a wonderful asset to have in the church and even more wonderful it has been gifted to the church in memory of wonderful parents. Many of the things around us in St Mary’s are there because in the past they have also been gifted to beatify the building, in providing new hymn books, the pew Bibles and so much more. When the current building programme gets going and the planning of the proposed extension at the west end of the church is granted and completed we will have a church building that is more than fit for purpose. As the words of the hymn has it “We love thy place O God, wherein thy glory dwells” so we are looking forward in hope for all these things to come about. So to all the generous men and women who have donated, not only their time, but the money, both in the past and the present we say THANKYOU.

At the recent united service of the Ministry group at

St Lythan’s Church, it was distressing to see that, a large wall monument in the Button Chapel had detached itself from the wall and crashed to the floor. Luckily there was no damage other to the top stone panel which was shattered in pieces. And upon examination, it seems the iron fixing had become corroded with the amount of water and damp within the walls. The memorial is to John Sproson aged 6 years the son of Richard and Mary Sproson of the City of London who died in 1809. The only other record we have is the burial of Mary Sproson in 1826 when place of abode was given as Dyffryn. St Lythan’s church, like St Mary’s has a problem with damp and water infiltration in the walls, and the proposed remedy is to create around the base of the outside walls a “French Drain” which means digging down a metre or so and refilling with crushed stone, plus drainage pipes to take the rain water away from the building to soakaways. This causes all sorts of problems when you start digging in graveyards, with archaeologists being called in to supervise, make reports and decide which way the work has to proceed. This was the remedy at St Mary’s, some years ago, when the walls around the base of the tower, had a “French Drain” installed, and has solved the problem we had of damp, and as a result the walls are now dry.

September will bring a new surge of life to St Mary’s with the “Scarecrow Festival” on the 24th/25th, the Harvest Festival Services on Sunday 25th, including the Community Harvest Praise at 6.00 pm. The launching of the combined Parish magazine with the parish of Sully and with Jon refreshed from his holiday visiting the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe events, who knows what delights we have in store during the Autumn and Winter months.

 

With every Blessing, see you in church

Parry Edwards

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