August News Update
August News Update
The church has not reopened as the decoration and repairs to the wall plaster has taken longer than anticipated. However, we can report that the work is of a very high standard and the interior will look amazing when all is restored to its rightful state. The organ has been removed to the back of the church and the large speaker cabinets re-sited high on the West wall of the nave. The sound quality is superb, and when we can get back to singing the congregation will notice the difference. The previous position of the speaker cabinets on the chancel arch wall was disfiguring in a medieval church so heavily restored in the late 19th century. Do please come and see and hear for yourself. You are all very welcome as this is the parish church for the community, not just for the regulars who attend St. Mary’s.
During this period of upheaval we have hosted a funeral and a wedding, which meant interrupting the work of painting, to get the church back into some semblance of order and cleaning the furniture and floors. Thanks to the hard working team who set to present the church as well as we possible could under very difficult circumstances. When we do reopen we still have to comply with the 2m. distancing, the wearing of face masks, sanitising the hands and booking a place in the week preceding the Sunday services.
The times of services have been slightly altered from the previous pattern. The Bishop had already told Jon to reduce the number of services he was taking on a Sunday morning. The pattern for a trial period of 3 months will be:
8.30 am Said Eucharist at St. Bleddian’s Church
9.30am Said/Sung Eucharist at St Mary’s Church
On the 1st Sunday of the month, Evening prayer at 6.00pm and on the 3rd Sunday a service of Said Eucharist.
On Wednesday morning Said Eucharist at 10.00am
St. Mary’s has been the focal point in the community for many hundreds of years. We will continue to be that focus for Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals for all in the community and being one of nine churches in the new Ministry Area of De Morgannwg, will not make any difference. We have a wish list for St. Mary’s to open our doors to visitors at a set time, with volunteers to be on hand to greet people. More of that later, so watch this space.
Preparations for setting up the decree to merge the parishes of St Andrews Major, Michaelston Le Pit, Sully, Wenvoe, St. Lythan’s together with Porthkerry, Rhoose and Penmark are going ahead, now that most of the contentious issues have been settled. Financially all churches will continue to control their own affairs, but will come under the overall guidance and control of the Ministry Area Council. At a recent meeting of the Wenvoe PCC such agreement was voted on. In all the discussions that have been taking place, we have made sure that the Ministry Area will work in ways that are suitable for the differing range of churches in the group. Some are large, some are small, but each will have an equal voice, with representatives appointed by each church to bring to the council the concerns and aspirations of their individual congregations.
CHRISTIAN AID 2001
Together we STOP this Climate Crisis
Making Steps Matter!
Well done everyone. That includes those stepping out, those sponsoring the walkers, those donating and those who helped with the counting.
I am writing this just a couple of hours after our final count and checking the money brought in via Christian Aid Appeal.
This was the first year we undertook a project (the sponsored walking) rather than a street collection. There were 11 sponsorships with lots of interest throughout the month, as to how they were progressing. There were representatives from the three churches, with different combinations and methods people took to succeed in their walking. One couple took up the challenge in competing against each other, two people joined forces to combine their miles, one continued with an injured foot, another combined walking with steps while playing golf. Dog walking featured and everyone took care to include each step during everyday activities at work or at home. I included every step up and down stairs, each time not grumbling that I had forgotten anything, as I usually do!
The most steps an individual did was made by Steve Robbins who recorded 440,445 steps. Most made over the 300,000 target recommended by Christian Aid. However, I was pleased to reach 243,104 which exceeded my personal target of 200,000.
The total of sponsorship income was £1,760 (with an additional gift aid sum of £397.80). Further donations came to £558 (gift aid adding £86.25), and Gwenfo School raised £279 with their Big Brekkie and non-uniform day. This made a grand total of £3,081.27, including gift aid. Indeed, this was our best year!!! Well done everyone.
It now gives me the pleasure of sending this off to Christian Aid to help in this year’s challenge to address climate change and to support those women waiting for an earth dam to stop them walking six hours a day to collect water. Many thanks and well done all.
A final word – please support the Wenvoe Tower Appeal (see page 4). Many thanks to all who have already donated.
God bless and continue to keep safe.
Parry Edwards