News Update for February
The Inaugural Service of the Ministry Area of De Morgannwg took place on the afternoon of Sunday 6th February, with Bishop June presiding at St. Peter’s church in Dinas Powis, with the congregation made up from representatives of the nine churches present. The MA Lay Chair, Mr Howard Rees, was commissioned to lead the new charity forward, bringing the nine churches into one to support the mission and the ministry of the church. Then followed the Licencing of the Reader and the Clergy. The first meeting of the MAC (Ministry Area Council) will now meet with the representatives from each of the nine churches together with the MAC Treasurer, to discuss how the Local Church Councils will be formed. Here in Wenvoe, we will have a Joint Church Council as St. Bleddian’s church at St. Lythan’s have decided to join with us, as we lay plans for the years ahead.
St. Mary’s remains in the care of the Area Dean, Rev. Andrew James of Dinas Powis until a new Vicar is appointed for Wenvoe, St. Lythan’s and Sully. The advertisement has appeared in the press and on line and the applicants have been short listed for a selection panel on the 9th March. The successful applicant will then need to give three months notice where he/she is at the moment, so we should be able to see a new priest installed sometime in the summer. In the meantime, Kevin, our curate, has been ordained and celebrated his first Eucharist with us on Sunday 6th February. This means that we will see fewer visiting priests at our Sunday morning services as Kevin will lead us until the new Vicar is in post.
The Welsh Government COVID regulations have been relaxed and there is now no need to book for attendance at our worship on Sunday mornings. Gradually we are getting back to as near a normal pattern of worship as we can. Attendance numbers in church are improving and our “Pebbles” children group, recommenced following the Half Term break in the church hall, and were welcomed back into joining in the worship. Singing is now allowed, and we have welcomed a new organist, Gareth, to the team, and it is wonderful to have the opportunity to sing the hymns that reflect the times of the year.
Good news on the tower, we can now close the appeal having reached our target figure of £61,000
It is with grateful thanks to the wonderful response to the Tower Appeal from our congregation and friends of St. Mary’s who have raised over £25,500 with contributions from the “Tucker stones for the Tower”, Funeral Offerings for two of our well respected church members, and many other most generous gifts from those who wish to see St. Mary’s kept in good repair for future generations. We are very thankful for the help from the grant aiding bodies, ie. The Representative Body of the Church in Wales, the Pantyfedwen Trust, the Welsh Church Act, the Garfield Weston Trust and Breedon Quarrying
We have a start date for the work on the tower with Taliesin Conservation for March 1st. Scaffolding will be in place with security fencing etc. There will still be full access to the paths in the churchyard, and the work is scheduled to last for 16 weeks, with completion in mid June. Work to remove the “snail creep” mortaring within the porch will be carried out at a later date as part of our general planning to improve the stonework of the fabric of the church. There should be no inconvenience in the use of the church during this time for Sunday services. The faculty for the “Church lighting Scheme” has been granted and we have a provisional start date of May 9th from the contractor as to when the work will begin. The cost of this work will be covered from the Ron Thomas Bequest made to the church and will be a lasting tribute to the great affection he and his wife had for the church during the time they lived in Wenvoe.
We continue to support the Barry Food Bank with items collected from the porch on Thursday mornings. The need for food and other items is greater than ever with the increasing cost of energy bills and foodstuffs in the shops, and again thanks to Jude Billingham, who organises this work, we are reaching out to those in greater need at this time.
H.M the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Plans are being made to celebrate this event with an open air service around the preaching cross in the churchyard, on Friday June 3rd with games for the children and a “bring your own picnic and chairs”. This is a community party to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne and is open to all. More details to follow, and suggestions and offers of help would be appreciated.
Christian Aid Week
Begins on week commencing 15th May, and we are hopeful of having a house to house collection this year, as in previous years before COVID 19. More news of this event will be published in “What’s On” nearer the appeal week.
Lent 2022
The observance of the solemn season of Lent has not been finalised at the time of writing. Ash Wednesday on March 2nd marks the beginning of the observance for six weeks before Easter. Please refer to the notice board in the church porch for any further details.
Look forward to see you in church. You are all welcome
Parry Edwards