Month: August 2025

September 2025 Church News

September Church News

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

Traditionally September is known as the season of mists and mellowness. This year, autumn seems to have arrived earlier with the trees already shedding their leaves. September is also a time of change for our young people as they change schools or move up to another school year. It can be a very unsettling time for them, leaving old pals behind and making new friends, very often far from where they are living. It is all called “part of growing up” and we as a church wish them and their teachers well, knowing that they will come to enjoy the new school year.

The month of August has been a busy one for those of us connected to St. Mary’s. We are so often complimented on how well looked after your church and grounds are kept. Mike keeps the grass cut, the paths swept and bushes removed. Before you enter the church, you know that great care is taken of this jewel in the community. Inside our visitors are again amazed at how well presented the interior is. Our lighting scheme plays a part in this, highlighting certain parts – the wall monuments to the Thomas family of Wenvoe Castle, the Rood Screen, the reredos at the altar. We opened the church on Saturday afternoons in August for visitors to explore our church. Numbers varied, but the volunteers who were present, reported the appreciation shown by those who came. There will be more opportunities for OPEN CURCH during September.

Church Hall with a New Look

The report in last month’s “What’s On” of the refusal of the local authority to support our application to extend the church, has spurred us on to look afresh at the Church Hall, known locally as the Reading Room. Money that had been kept in reserve for the church extension has now been released to refurbish the Church Hall to “make it fit for purpose” for today’s use. So far, the lighting has been renewed in the lobby, the toilets and main hall. The reveals of the windows have been repaired and painted. The damp in the Gent’s toilet will be eradicated and the fittings etc. refitted when the building work is complete. Hot air hand dryers have been fitted in all three toilets.

This current work has also been possible due to some generous donations received. The most generous response is the offer to decorate the hall and exterior woodwork. The kitchen area will have a revamp to bring it in line with today’s food preparation regulations. Finally, it was time to tackle the store cupboard/room which had over the years become a dumping ground for all sorts of things. Many black bags later, the space is now usable for the things that are needed. So, thank you everyone – you did a great job. Thank you also to those who donated towards this phase of the refurbishment, knowing that there are other works that are planned, which will need local authority agreement.

The Church Hall is sited, in a most prominent part, of the centre of the village and has been greatly enhanced by the development of the garden around the bench seat by Mike Tucker and will be the setting for the Village Show on September 6th. The hall has been valued in the community ever since it was given to the church by the Randolph family for use in the then parish, having been provided by Mrs Laura Jenner of Wenvoe Castle for her tenants to read the newspapers, warm themselves by the fire, chat to each other and generally as a place to meet and relax. Our long-term plan is for this to continue to be a place for hire for family occasions, parties and other meetings.

VJ80 A Day of Solemn Reflection

This took place on August 15th. HM the King paid tribute to all who suffered greatly under their captors and moving ceremonies were held around the UK. The main ceremonies took place at the National Arboretum away from London, though a lone piper played a lament at the Cenotaph in the early morning in Whitehall. The war ended by the dropping of two atom bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a tremendous loss of life and injury to the Japanese people. Their suffering is still present in the population to this day and many retold how their current ailments are related to those terrible events of 80 years ago.

There have been two funerals at St. Mary’s during August. On the 14th Barbara O’Grady was laid to rest in the community cemetery. The church was full to support her grieving family, and our condolences go to Mike and his children. The congregation was saddened to hear of the passing of Ian Moody after a short illness. Ian’s funeral was held on the 26th August and he was buried with his late wife Carole in the community cemetery. Ian was a well-respected and active member of the community and our condolences are sent to Kim and her family.

Dates for your Diary

Ministry Area Barbeque will be held in Rhoose on September 6th

Harvest Thanksgiving is on September 28th

An afternoon concert by Sian’s Singers will be at 3.00 pm on October 19th.

For those of you who may be unable to attend church in person, all services at St Mary’s are live streamed at http://www.ipcamlive.com/stmarys church

Thank you for reading,

Parry

Cheesy Pumpkin Toastie & Plum Cake

Pumpkin season is in full swing so a great way to use up leftover Halloween Pumpkin. Any surplus plums left try a plum cake….

Cheesy Pumpkin Toastie

Ingredients

  • 350g pumpkin, deseeded and cut into wedges
  • Vegetable oil to drizzle
  • 20g unsalted butter
  • 20g plain flour
  • 1 tsp English mustard powder
  • ½-1 tsp cayenne pepper to taste
  • 100ml whole milk
  • 100g mature cheddar, coarsely grated
  • Dash Worcestershire sauce
  • 8 slices bread
  • 4 slices ham (optional)
  • 250g camembert or brie, sliced

Method

Heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6. Put the pumpkin wedges on a tray, drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 40 minutes until tender. Once cool enough to handle, peel off the skins, then squeeze the flesh to remove any excess liquid.

Put the flesh in a blender and whizz until smooth or mash with a potato masher. If the purée is still quite wet (it will depend on the variety of pumpkin you’re using), cook it in a dry pan over a medium heat for 5-10 minutes.

Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat, then add the flour, mustard powder and cayenne. Cook for a few minutes, stirring the mixture to a paste. Add the milk gradually, stirring well between each addition, until smooth, then stir in the pumpkin purée.

Bring the mixture to a simmer and allow it to bubble for a few minutes, then stir in the cheddar to melt. Remove from the heat, season with salt and pepper, then add the Worcestershire sauce.

Heat the grill to medium-high. Toast the bread under the grill on both sides. Spread half the cheesy pumpkin mixture onto 4 slices of the toast. Divide the ham (if using) and camembert or brie between the slices, then top each with a second slice of toast. Coat the top with the remaining pumpkin mixture.

Put the sandwiches back under the grill for 1-2 minutes until golden, bubbling and melted

 

Plum Cake

Ingredients

• 175g butter
• Butter for greasing
• demerara sugar
• plums or you can use raspberries

For the cake

• 175g butter
• 175g dark muscovado sugar
• 140g golden syrup
• 2 eggs beaten
• 200ml milk
• 300g self-raising flour
• ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tbsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp mixed spice

Method

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the base of a 23cm square cake tin with baking parchment. Butter the paper generously and sprinkle with the demerara sugar. Halve the plums and arrange in the base of the tin in 1 layer, cut-sides down.

For the cake, melt the butter, muscovado sugar and syrup in a large pan over a low heat, stirring until smooth.

Cool for 10 mins, then stir in the eggs and milk. Sift in the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices, then mix to a smooth batter. Pour the batter into the tin, over the plums, and bake for 45-55 mins until firm to the touch. Cool in the tin for 10 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool.

 

Report from the Hub September 2025

WENVOE COMMUNITY HUB

Tel: 02920 594176 – during opening hours or wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Like and follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/WenvoeCommunityLibrary

For general enquiries you can email us at wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Report from the Hub

September 2025

JULY 2025 IN OUR COMMUNITY LIBRARY / HUB

NEW OPENING HOURS

We are now open Monday, Tuesday and Wednes-day 10 am – 4 pm and Saturday 9 am – 1 pm.

New Books

Romance: Medanie Matisse by Sophie Haydock.

“An intoxicating and evocative read.”

Crime: Murder Below Deck by Orlando Murrin.

One superyacht, One dead guest, Who will be next?

Non-Fiction: A Calorie is a Calorie by Keith Frayn.

The Inescapable Science that controls our body weight.

Children’s: Pinocchio by Michael Morpurgo.

“I’m more than just bits of wood and string.”

Why “A Cuppa with a Coppa” Matters: Keeping Wenvoe Informed and Safe

Each month at the Wenvoe Library Hub, our local Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) hosts A Cuppa with a Coppa – a friendly drop-in session offering updates on local crime, safety tips, and practical advice. While it may seem like a casual chat, these sessions are proving to be a quiet but powerful tool in keeping our community connected, informed, and protected.

A Friendly Face – And a Vital Service

Wenvoe is fortunate to be a relatively crime-free village, with low levels of reported incidents compared to urban areas. The close-knit nature of the community, combined with active local groups and vigilant residents, plays a big part in maintaining this safe environment. However, staying informed is key to keeping it that way.

For many in Wenvoe, especially our older residents, the ever-changing world of scams, online fraud, and rogue traders can feel overwhelming. Criminals are becoming more sophisticated, targeting people through phone calls, doorstep visits, and increasingly through digital means. It’s no longer just a matter of “don’t answer the door” – it’s about recognising the signs of financial fraud, identity theft, scam emails and more recently scam letters.

That’s where A Cuppa with a Coppa comes in. These relaxed, informal sessions are designed to make important safety information accessible.

More Than Just Crime Prevention

It’s not just about staying safe – it’s about staying connected. For some, these sessions offer a valuable social opportunity: a chance to share concerns, get to know our village PCSOs by name, and feel more confident navigating local services. For others, it’s reassurance – knowing someone’s looking out for the community.

The sessions also help bridge the gap between older residents and a changing world. With scams moving increasingly online, having trusted officers who can

explain things clearly, answer questions, and point people toward further help is invaluable.

Why You Should Come Along

Whether you have a specific concern or just want to stay informed, A Cuppa with a Coppa is a simple but effective way to protect yourself and your neighbours. Next Session: tbc

Look out for future talk dates from September onwards at the Hub.

 

 

A Thriving, Sustainable Community

WENVOE FORUM

Considering Tomorrow Today

Wenvoe – A Thriving, Sustainable Community

Nestled in the heart of the Vale of Glamorgan, Wenvoe is a shining example of what it means to be a sustainable and connected village. Here, community spirit and environmental care go hand in hand, creating a vibrant and welcoming place for all ages.

Wenvoe boasts three vibrant village halls, each a hub of activity throughout the year. From fitness classes and arts and crafts to community meetings and seasonal celebrations, there is always something happening. Children and toddlers are well catered for too, with opportunities such as dance sessions, Scouts, and other youth activities. These welcoming spaces bring people of all ages together, helping to keep the village lively, inclusive, and full of community spirit.

The Library Hub, not only provides books and resources but also houses a friendly community café. Regular events include a Toddler group; a Wellbeing Group, visits from our PCSOs and much more. Local talks, and day trips are organised from the Hub, helping residents to stay connected and engaged.

Sustainability thrives through the work of the Environmental Group, who care for public spaces, and the Wildlife Group, which manages a nature reserve, four community orchards, and an orchid field, a community woodland plus a wildlife garden in the school grounds. From conservation work to wildlife walks and foraging events, they encourage everyone to connect with and protect local biodiversity.

The Wenvoe Forum acts as a hub for community dialogue and practical action on climate and environmental issues. It brings together residents, organisations, and volunteers to explore sustainable living, share ideas, and shape a greener future for the village. The Forum worked closely with the Community Council during the preparation and launch of the Wenvoe Council Community Plan. It played an active role in promoting the plan to residents, ensuring that as many people as possible were aware of its aims and proposals.

The Wenvoe Hops Group is an initiative where residents grow hops in their gardens and allotments. Each autumn, these are harvested and collected to be brewed into a special village beer in partnership with a local brewery – a symbol of both community collaboration and sustainable, local enterprise.

Education and inclusivity are key pillars of Wenvoe life. Gwenfô Church in Wales Primary School nurtures every child’s talent within a caring, Christian environment where happiness, safety, and respect come first. St Mary’s Church also plays a central role, welcoming all to its Anglican services and village events.

For everyday essentials, the village shop and post office offer a warm welcome and a range of services, while several pubs, restaurants, and the golf club – complete with a thriving croquet membership – provide places to relax and socialise.

The community calendar is always full, with annual village fetes, Christmas fairs, plant sales, a monthly farmers’ market, and a repair café, all of which support sustainability and local enterprise.

To keep everyone informed and included, the monthly What’s On magazine is delivered throughout the village, packed with news, upcoming events, and stories from local groups – a testament to Wenvoe’s commitment to strong communication and a shared sense of place.

What makes Wenvoe truly special is that most of these initiatives are run by volunteers, demonstrating a collective dedication to caring for both people and place. With its mix of nature, culture, and community spirit, Wenvoe is not just a village – it’s a model of sustainable living.

Forum Group

A challenge – When the above article was offered as our regular contribution we felt pleased to live in such a nice place, full of activities and more conscious, on the whole, of the need to adapt to Climate change in small and large ways. However there are no doubt, gaps that could be filled. Let us know what!

Are there any activities that you would like to join in that are not available in Wenvoe, that might be easy to put on. Or is there some service that would make life easier for you or perhaps a practical course that you would like to do. Send us your suggestions. Gwenfo.forum@gmail.com

Attention Hop Growers

It is likely that along with many other crops the hops will be ready early. Simon, the brewer at Pipes has moved the hop picking and collecting dates forward a week to the 5th and 6th of September. Sian and Steve will be at home ready to receive your hops and then just make one environment friendly trip to take them into Cardiff. Many thanks to them for their work in coordinating this every year.

To join our Facebook group, please ‘friend up’ with the GwenFo account @ https://www.facebook.com/gwen.fo.1 and then jon the Wenvoe Forum @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/635369267864402

Some further information and updates, blog site https://wenvoeforum.wordpress.com/. Any Wenvoe community member is welcome to join the Forum meetings, via Zoom, which are normally held 19.00 on the second Thursday of each month. E-mail gwen-fo.forum@gmail.com if you wish to join

Abbey Dore

Abbey Dore

Abbey Dore

This walk took us to Herefordshire, where we parked outside Dore Abbey. Crossing the road a footpath went south across quite a steep field and signposts indicated that we were on the Herefordshire trail. Ewyas (pronounced you us) Harold Common presented us with a plethora of footpaths through dense, high bracken. Woodland areas have a tree canopy which is mainly English oak, silver birch, ash, sycamore, field maple and wych elm.

The common covers 50ha on a plateau above Herefordshire’s Golden Valley. Parts of the common are bounded by ancient sunken lanes, and other parts by medieval parish boundaries. All the common British reptiles have been found here including slow-worms and common lizards. A spring that rises on the common, through limestone outcrops, is known as St Martin’s well and it supplied water to many generations of people living close to the well. Several old boundary stones mark the border between Ewyas Harold and other parishes.

Emerging onto a hard track we could hear a horse and were surprised to see a lone horse with no rider trotting down the track. It seemed to follow us, but in a while the rest of the herd were spotted grazing on the common and the puzzle was solved.

We had views of the surrounding hills and the rolling English countryside. We passed through Ewyas Harold village where the primary school displayed a colourful wall of tiles created by the school pupils in 2017. The village boasted two pubs, a butcher, post office and other businesses. Outside one house ‘the old malthouse witch no. 29’ made from twigs, stood guard and fruit, vegetables and flowers were for sale with an honesty box.

Just outside the village a noticeboard declared that we were at the remains of Ewyas Harold Castle, which is believed to have been built by the Saxons before the Norman conquest. Today only earthworks remain. Nearby ‘Old King Street farm’ has holiday cottages where it is possible to walk with llamas.

Now we walked west and came across clusters of unusual fungi on large old trees. Herefordshire boasts a high concentration of ancient oak trees due to a combination of historical land management practices and the favourable conditions for oak growth in the region. Specifically, the Norman Conquest in 1066 led to the establishment of deer parks and royal forests, which, while intended for hunting, inadvertently preserved ancient oaks. These areas with their woodland and grazing practices, provided ideal habitats for oaks to thrive and reach great age.

The day had heated up and as we approached a trough, Misty – a spaniel decided it was time for a dip and instead of just taking a drink jumped into a trough. She gave us all a laugh.

We passed Dulas Court, originally a 16th century house; it was rebuilt in the mid-19th century and incorporates some of the original house – oak panels, Norman doorway. The original church was demolished and the site cleared to make a lawn! It is now a care home.

There is a dilapidated church down the road (closed and barriers surround it) where we stopped for lunch. The churchyard had a row of identical gravestones each of which was dedicated to a musician. They all died in the 1980s in their 80s and 90s; we wondered about their story. A military 1940s grave of someone from the Hereford regiment is pristine.

Now we entered a nature reserve and found ourselves climbing over some very high, slightly rickety, ladder stiles. After walking across open grassland, we realised why as a herd of deer ran in front of us!

A brief walk along the road past Abbey Dore Court brought us back to the beginning of our walk and the highlight of the day, Dore Abbey. There is free access, and we spent some time exploring the magnificent church. Established in 1147, it was founded by Cistercian monks from Morimond, France. The Abbey was dissolved in 1536, but Dore is the only Cistercian Abbey in the country still used for worship as a Parish church. The original medieval altar was found on a local farm being used for salting meat and making cheese. The Abbey expanded its land holdings, particularly through the acquisition of good quality farmland granted to them by King John in 1216. This enabled the Abbey to become wealthy especially through the sale of wool. It is well worth a visit.

A return to Ewyas Harold by car enabled us to enjoy refreshments in one of the village hostelries after a satisfying day.

Walk 6.7m 915ft Map OL13

 

Ian Moody And Gwenfô Gynt

HISTORY GROUP AT THE VILLAGE SHOW

Many thanks to everyone who expressed interest in the Gwenfô Gynt – The Wenvoe History Group table at the Village Show and who purchased a publication there, the Wenvoe Millennium Map, Wenvoe Past and Present and Wenvoe at War, publications that the late Ian Moody had played a major part in. If anyone couldn’t get to the village show and would like one of the publications and/or join our discussion group, please contact me on skjo@btinternet.com There was a great deal of interest at the Village Show, and as always a great event thanks to Glenys and Mike Tucker, I was pleased that we also made a small financial contribution to the expenses of running the show through the sale of the millennium map.

Some expressed interested in not just continuing with the recording of our local history but also in raising awareness in our environment through recognition of the heritage we have in the village, the buildings and connections with local people, and to guard against any erosion of what we have. I fully support this and agree it is an important activity that is also a continuous process of bringing village heritage to the attention of newcomers and new generations. As we were outside the Church Hall and close to the wheelwright’s shop, I was reminded of a book I had read many years ago called, The Wheelwright’s Shop by George Sturt. Originally published in 1923 it gives a vivid insight into traditional craftsmanship at the turn of the 20th century and the life and labours of a wheelwright in a small English village. A picture similar to that of Wenvoe where wheel-making was practised and in which village life and the rhythm of the rural countryside was impacted by change through industrialisation (a preview of this book can be seen on google books). Mike Tucker has also provided a view into this past through his displays of village farm machinery and tools.

At the Village Show, I talked about investigating the possibility of an historical panel in the village and will pursue this and in order to keep the momentum and discussion going intend to keep in touch through a What’s App group, with those who have given their contact details, and of course through Wenvoe What’s On.

Stephen K. Jones

1 2 3