Category: St Mary’s Parish Church News

October Church News

October Church News

Greetings from the congregation at St. Mary’s to the community of Wenvoe and St. Lythan’s. If you are unable to come to church at 9.30 on Sunday, please join us online at ipcamlivecom/stmarywenvoe

We are going to visit Brecon Cathedral on October 24th. The coach will be leaving Sully at 9.15am with a pickup at Wenvoe at 9.25am. We stop for coffee/tea break at the Brecon Mountain Visitor Centre then on to Brecon for lunch (optional) at the Pilgrims Café in the cathedral grounds. The Cathedral has recently been awarded a grant of over £2 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for essential repairs and the installation of a new west entrance. It is a very interesting building with much to see when we have our guided tour with Cynthia Lewis in the afternoon.

Wenvoe 200 Club

St. Mary’s 200 Club is a great way for you to support the work of the church whilst having a bit of a flutter. Simply buy a membership number and you will be entered in our monthly prize draw for a chance to win a prize of £50 or £10. The cost of a single share is £12, and you can purchase as many as you wish. Contact Sandra or Carol for more details. Application forms are available in church and are open to church goers and the wider public alike.

As a result of the recent appeal for share renewals, there has been a favourable response, with increased take up and new people joining. Over the 20 years since the 200 Club has been going, many thousands of pounds have been raised for maintaining the fabric of the church and we wish to thank all new shareholders and those who have increased their shares. Will you be a lucky winner at the next prize draw? Having more shares means you have a better chance of being a winner.

The Chattery

The second Thursday of the month sees the Chattery meeting in the Church Hall at 10.30 am. This is a warm safe place to meet up with friends old and new, to enjoy each other’s company and to catch up with the latest family news and much else. For the sum of £2.00, coffee and biscuits, plus a FREE raffle, makes a pleasant opportunity during the coming winter months. All are welcome.

Our Fund-Raising Appeal

It is difficult to talk of money at the best of times especially when the cost of living is as high as it is. We are all affected by the increase in fuel for heating our homes, running our cars and the ever-increasing cost of putting food on our tables. In last month’s What’s On we set out the current position on St. Mary’s finances. It is good to report that there has been an increase in support from the congregation and elsewhere. St. Mary’s is a special case and needs more funding if we are to continue to provide a church which offers a mission of worship, care and mission to the community of Wenvoe and St. Lythan’s. To have a functioning church within our community, open to all for the Sunday service at 9.30am and occasionally on a Wednesday morning at 10.00am, is the aim of Vicar Lyndon and curate David and they in turn need the support of the congregation and the wider community if we are to be available for family events. We are always here in joy and sorrow; we offer hope and joy at baptisms and sorrow and consolation at the time of bereavement. Please consider how you can help us keep the building fit for purpose, that is warm and welcoming and available at any time when the need arises.

Harvest celebrations

At our Harvest Festival the emphasis this year was to use the produce from our own gardens to decorate the church as we give thanks for the bounty we receive from God’s own hands. The generous contributions to the Barry Food Bank, used in combination with lots of sunflowers, provided a suitable setting to give thanks. Many thanks for all the help received by willing helpers to prepare the church for this important service in the calendar. Harvest will be celebrated at St. Bleddian’s Church on October 11th at 3.00pm, followed by refreshments. This gem of a medieval church is not used for regular services but is always used for major events in the year and all are welcome. Our thanks to all who prepare the church for these events.

St Mary’s Autumn Quiz Night

This will be on Saturday 10th October at 7.00pm in the Church Hall. Tickets on sale in St Mary’s and St John’s at £6.00 each. Bring your own drinks and nibbles! To reserve a Team Table for 6 people, please contact Ray Harris 07976788434 or ray.harris1001@gmail.com

Upcoming Dates

Harvest Sunday St Lythans – 11th October at 3.00pm.

All Souls Service – 1st November at 2.00pm.

Remembrance Sunday – 8th November at 8:30am in St Lythans & 10.00am in Wenvoe.

Advent 1 – 29th November at 11.00am. A joint service in Sully.

Lessons & Carols – 16th December 6.00pm in Wenvoe

(Note Time Change) & 20th December 3.00pm in St Lythans.

Thank you for reading the Church News.

Every blessing,

Parry.

 

September Church News

September Church News

Ah September… tis the season of mists, mellowness and harvest. Although, 2026 will be remembered for heatwaves, drought, terrifying wild fires and poor harvest yields.

The congregation at St. Mary’s send greetings to the wider community of Wenvoe with St. Lythan’s and invite you to join online at ipcamlive.com/stmarywenvoe

First the good news. The recent collection for the Christian Aid Appeal from the churches in Wenvoe and Sully for the victims of the earthquakes in Venezuela, came to £570.75 including Gift Aid. Thank you everyone.

Now the not so good news. At a recent meeting of the Church Council, the members were apprised of the current financial position of St. Mary’s that gave a worrying situation that we are not paying our way. Our income has fallen behind the expenses for keeping the church open. We are grateful to all who attend regularly at St. Mary’s and contribute to the funds to keep the church functioning, but the time has come for a rethink of how we value the work of the church with a fresh look at how well we support the church here in Wenvoe with our weekly or monthly donations. It is always difficult to talk about money, but the facts are staring us in our faces. For example, “As of 30 June 2026, St Mary the Virgin, Wenvoe has recorded a deficit for the half year in excess of £6000.”

In recent years, our income has been impacted by the deaths of some regular and generous donors. This has put a great strain on our cash flow. We, the JCC, (Church Council) have therefore agreed to take the following steps:

  1. To SHARE the current financial situation with St Mary’s, Wenvoe congregation.
  2. To INFORM the De Morgannwg Ministry Area that, as of 31st August 2026, we will be unable to submit our share to the Common Fund for the remainder of 2026. (This money is sent by the Ministry Area to the Diocese of Llandaff primarily to cover the cost of clergy.)
  3. To ASK that any who are able please consider increasing their donation to the church. Additionally, if you are not already doing so, please sign up for Direct Gift transfers from your bank account. Forms are available in the church or online. When you tick the Gift Aid box, the church receives the 25% Gift Aid without any further administration. If you also choose the CPI box, your donation will be increased each year. You may, of course, change the amount or cancel at any time. These automatic monthly donations are a great help in keeping our finances stable.
  4. To PROVIDE a monthly update of our income and expenditure for the year so far beginning this month.
  5. To ASK the congregation to hold the JCC in its prayers as they navigate these difficult financial times. So, to recap and explain the figures, these are the figures for the first six months of 2026.

Income: £19,452. Expenditure: £25,641. Balance (deficit) £6,189.

Steps have already been taken to reduce our outgoings. The Common Fund payable to the Diocese of £2,759 each month has been cancelled. Other expenses are being looked at. We are facing the winter period when our gas bills will be high, so expect a slightly chillier church than you would like.

The church in Wenvoe has a reputation of responding positively and generously to external charitable appeals such as Christian Aid, The Royal British Legion and Ty Hafan. Now St. Mary’s is such a charity and needs a positive generous response from its members and an appeal to the wider community who wish to see the church flourishing when the call is there for St. Mary’s to host a baptism, a funeral or a wedding. Is this the time for setting up an ad hoc Friends of St. Mary’s in the wider community in bringing an extra income stream to maintain the church in our midst?

Looking ahead we will be celebrating Harvest on September 27th at 9.30 am. Our farmers have had a most difficult time with the weather. Let us come together with a sense of thanks in sharing what God has given us, while calling to mind the challenges of this dry season for our farmers and so many others enduring wild fires in Wales and elsewhere.

Food Bank: Out thanks to Jude and Nigel Billingham for the tremendous work they have undertaken with the Food Bank. They have decided to step back, and Judith Jessop has kindly agreed to take on the task of taking the food donated to the warehouse in Barry. Please keep the donations coming; the need is greater than ever.

The Ministry Area BBQ takes place at 6 Milson Close in Rhoose CF62 3EJ at 2.00pm on Saturday 5th September. Soft drinks and sides provided. Bring your own meat/fish for grilling on the BBQ. RSVP to denisemaud@cinw.org.uk

Thank you for reading the church news. Asking for money is difficult at the best of times. It has not been easy to write, but if you wish to contact Vicar Lyndon Tel 02922 806018 he will be pleased to hear from you when he returns from Canada on the 4th September.

God Bless

Parry

August Church News

August Church News

Greetings from the congregation of St. Mary’s to the wider community of Wenvoe and St. Lythan’s. We invite you to join us online at ipcamlive.com/stmarywenvoe

The Church Clock
You may have noticed that time is standing still in the centre of Wenvoe with the church clock being silent. The clock installed in the tower of the church was gifted in memory of Capt. Robert Francis Lascelles Jenner who died on 8th May 1882. As an expression of the great esteem in which he was held by the parishioners it was decided that a clock was to be provided in his memory. A public subscription raised the money necessary, and the well-known public clock maker Smith of Derby was duly instructed with the order to proceed. The clock winding gear was installed within the tower on the first level, then the movement was arranged with cogs, gears and couplings to the second level, through the wall to connect with the hands on the face of the clock. It sounds simple but you can be assured that it is complicated and needs attention in addition to the annual service by an engineer from the original company who installed it in the mid-1880s. The problem in recent years is due in part to climate change, and the heat waves we have been experiencing. To put it mildly the mechanism is old and does not like the heat when the metal expands and so is ‘out of gear’. This is the present situation we find ourselves in.

The annual service was undertaken earlier this year, and all was well, but now the clock is far from being well. Church finances do not allow for expensive callouts, and the clock will remain silent for the time being. Unless a donor would come forward to cover the costs in memory of a loved one, or even a few donors to spread the costs. The church management team with Vicar Lyndon are willing to discuss any interest shown in this appeal to get the clock ticking away and the bell striking the hours. There is a well-known saying ‘If you don’t ask you don’t get’. We need help to get the clock going. Are YOU the person who will help us to get things all tickety-boo?

Christian Aid Venezuela Appeal
We have all seen the harrowing destruction as the result of the earthquakes in Venezuela, where many lives, homes and communities have been destroyed. A collection was arranged with Christian Aid in both our churches during the month. The amount raised will be known at the end of the month. Once again, we must thank Jude Billingham for organising this at short notice in supporting the provision of aid to those stricken by the disaster.

Hospitality in the Christian church.
Every week ‘LLANDAFF MATTERS’ is published online and reports on events and happenings within the diocese. Bishop Mary takes great care in relating her experience as a Christian pilgrim as she visits events within the diocese and elsewhere within the church in Wales. This week her theme was that of

the hospitality she experienced in North Wales whilst on a pilgrimage exploring the writings of Ann Griffiths nee Thomas 1776 – 1805. Ann was a Welsh poet and writer of Methodist Christian hymns in the Welsh language. Her poetry reflects her fervent Christian faith and thorough scriptural knowledge. Following the death of both her parents, she married Thomas Griffiths a farmer from the parish of Meifod and an elder of the Calvanistic Methodist church. However, she died in childbirth in August 1805 at the age of 29 and was buried at St. Michael’s church in Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfga.

The Ann Griffiths Memorial Chapel in Dolanog, Powys, is named after her and has a carved corbel head based on contemporary descriptions of her. Bishop Mary visited the chapel, and a photograph of the carved corbel was included in the account. It was here that Ann Griffiths lived and composed her poetry that we now sing as hymns.

It was a result of a day spent visiting the chapel that Bishop Mary commented on the hospitality of tea and abundance of cakes in the community hall. She was astonished to receive messages of thanks from those who had welcomed them, their hosts expressed their gratitude that they had been to visit them. Mary the Christian pilgrim returned home with a stronger understanding of Christian hospitality, faithful prayer and generous service.

Welcoming God, thank you for everyone who shows us your way of love. When we have an opportunity to welcome others fill our hearts with gratitude for the gift of friendships. Help us to be attentive to opportunities to serve you in small acts of generous kindness and care. Help us to find our place in your Kingdom of love, In the name of Christ our friend. Amen.

Here at St. Mary’s our small, dedicated catering team provide such hospitality at the bimonthly Eucharist service on a Wednesday morning, the monthly Chattery on the second Thursday of the month and following the morning service on the fourth Sunday of the month. Also following the Joint Eucharist on the fifth Sunday of a month.

Looking ahead in August we will be honouring the Blessed Virgin Mary at our Matronal festival service on the 16th August at 9.30 am. All are welcome.

Thank you for reading the news.

Parry

July Church News

July Church News

Greetings from the congregation of St. Mary’s to the wider community of Wenvoe and St. Lythan’s. We invite you to join us online at ipcamlive.com/stmarywenvoe

The world in which we live, has during the month of June been taken up with all the trials and tribulations of the FIFA World Cup taking place across the pond, in the USA, Mexico and Canada. Who will win the Cup remains to be seen and President Donald J. Trump will exploit the occasion to the full.

The main event in the church was the occasion of the Ordination of the Revd. David Harrison to the priesthood, at Llandaff Cathedral on 20th June. David and other Deacons were blessed by Bishop Mary in a service that was both solemn and joyful. We wish David and all the other candidates every blessing on their ministries ahead of them. A coach conveyed congregations from Wenvoe and Sully to the Cathedral to support David and his family at this important stage in his life. We look forward to his first celebration of the Eucharist on June 21st.

Christian Aid: Jude Billingham has issued a preliminary report on the fund raising activities (page 5). Jude and her dedicated team are to be congratulated on the result. Fund raising is never easy these days when the cost of living is high. So thank you to all who have helped in any way to and of course thank you to all who donated so willingly to help those who are not as well of as we are. The final amount raised came to £2,840.29 including Gift Aid. Well done and thank you.

The month of June, we are told, has been one of the wettest of times with gales and strong winds causing many problems. There was some damage to the laurel trees in the churchyard. Thankfully Mike Tucker was able to clear up the damaged branches and create a semblance of order in this hallowed ground. During the month, as part of the Valeways programme, we had a number of parties of walkers asking to visit the church and grounds. They are always very impressed with how well kept the church and her surroundings are. We are fortunate that we have a small band of volunteers, including Mike, who work so hard to give that good impression of St. Mary’s that visitors leave with.

Food Bank: A steady flow of donations to the Food Bank continues to be received in the collecting boxes within the church porch. The food warehouse in Barry readily acknowledges that the St. Mary’s collection point is one of the most regular contributors to their stock and always greatly appreciated. It is a sad reflection of the times we are living through that things like the Food Bank have become a necessity for so many families so that they can put food on the table. We thank all donors for the items they bring each week; please consider donation of money or cheque which can be safely deposited in the secure post boxes in the porch and church hall to save you the time and effort in bringing your gifts to the church

Chattery: On the second Thursday of every month at 10.30 am, the Chattery meets in the church hall for coffee and a chat. This is arranged by church volunteers to offer a safe space to meet and catch up. All are welcome whether you come to church or not. The free raffle is a riot of humour and hilarity.

This is not the only opportunity in Wenvoe for older folk to join in with others for a time of fellowship and company. In the Hub during opening hours, a Welsh group meets in two sessions on a Monday morning. A men’s group meets on Tuesday morning, On Wednesday afternoon the Golden Girls get together, often with cakes and tea or coffee and attempt to put the world to right. On Friday morning, out of hours, the Silver Foxes come out of their dens for a time of natter about any subject under the sun. We meet as friends and leave as friends even though we do not always agree with the topic under discussion. We know that this is a privilege given to this group and so we always make a donation to the running costs of the Library.

Liturgical Colours: What are these you may well ask? The answer lies with the history of our earlier Jenner rectors who were greatly influenced by the Oxford Movement in the 19th century. Wenvoe to this day has always been a church with colour in the vestments worn by the priest, the frontal at the altar and the Pulpit and Lectern falls. The rotation of which colour is in use is governed by the Lectionary the church produces year by year to set out the readings and any commemoration of the saints.

At present we are in green; the season is Trinity. The colour green is in line with growth in the natural world, and in the church is associated with the growth of the early Christian church following the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus and how Saint Peter was the rock on which the church was founded. So which colour the priest wears is not at the whim of him or her but set down universally in all Anglican churches. The other colours are white/gold, red and violet. We also possess a throw over Laudian Frontal called “All Seasons” which has all the four colours incorporated into the design of the brocade fabric. So there you have it. When you see a change of colour that should alert you to the fact that something has changed since the previous week.

The holiday season is upon us. Let us hope for fair weather. Wherever you travel, keep safe and God Bless.

Parry

June Church News

June Church News

Greetings from the congregation at St. Mary’s to the wider community of Wenvoe and St. Lythan’s. We invite you to join us online at ipcamlive.com/stmarywenvoe

By the time you are reading the church news, let us hope that Summer may have finally decided to stay with us and the cold winds of the Spring have moved away.

The month of May has been a busy time for the church in Wenvoe. On Sunday May 3rd a Confirmation Service was held when candidates from Wenvoe and Dinas Powys were presented to Bishop Mary. It was a lovely service filled with love and friendship, and we congratulate Maddie, Rebecca, George, Ada, Pheobe and Helledd in making their commitment to Christ with all the family around them. The service was followed with a reception in the church hall, kindly provided by their families. Well done everyone who helped to make this an occasion they will remember for years to come.

The Quiz Night was a sell-out on the evening of May 9th. The evening was entertaining and thought provoking and was enjoyed by all. The event was hugely successful thanks to the organiser Ray Harris who was ably assisted by Alun Jones as scorer. Thanks to all who arranged and to those who supported the quiz which raised the grand total of £515.00. This is earmarked for new chairs for use in the hall.

Rogation Sunday on the 10th May saw the congregation in procession around the centre of the village, when the water in the stream was blessed together with the plants and flowers in the garden. Rogation means “to ask” and so on this occasion a blessing is asked for a good harvest in the fields, sustainable fishing in the seas, looking after the good earth not exploiting the riches, and a fairer sharing of the world’s resources.

Christian Aid Appeal 10th-16th May: This year the appeal was centred around the situation in Nairobi. We were introduced to Fridah, a hard-working mother and grandmother, deeply committed to her family and her faith. Intense urban poverty in Nairobi is challenging her ability to provide for her family. But, with her unstoppable resolve plus skills training from CA’s partner Beacon of Hope, Fridah is growing vegetables in space saving vertical containers. Now, she can put healthy food on the table and sell her excess produce to cover school costs for her children and grandson.

Our team of volunteers to aid the appeal, led by Jude Billingham, ensured that every household in the village had the opportunity to support the fund raising. This will be put together with the amount raised at the Agape Supper earlier in the year, the Gwenfo School’s fundraising and the Cake, Cake

and more Cake coffee morning in the church hall on the 16th of May. Collating all these different streams of fundraising including the contribution from St. John’s in Sully can be quite a task and Jude is to be thanked for the encouragement she is able to pass on to all who expressed their wish to be involved. The total amount including Gift Aid will not be known for several weeks, but we hope that the community of Wenvoe and Sully will have been as generous as the results from last year’s appeal.

The Chattery continues to meet in the church hall on the second Thursday morning of the month at 10.30. The drawing of the FREE raffle is always a time of great hilarity. The wide variety of prizes are all donated, often very varied and the winners take their time in choosing their unexpected good luck. All this for the modest sum of £2.00 …. a real bargain for an opportunity to meet up with old friends and catch up with all their family news. The money raised is allocated to the Church Building Fund. There have been many comments recently about the fresh appearance and pleasant atmosphere following the refurbishment of the church hall last year.

The Food Bank: Due to the high cost of fuel to transport the items to the warehouse in Barry, the deliveries are now made twice monthly. The contributions we receive are most welcome and the donations are so generous and needed by families not as fortunate as we are. Last month 304 vouchers were fulfilled, there was an increase of 15% of those seeking help; 406 adults were fed, 206 children were fed; and 70 new recipients were helped. The most requested items this month include Tuna, peanut butter, jam, UHT milk, tinned meat for hot meals and cold meats. Many thanks for all your recent donations. They are gratefully received

Ministry Area Annual Vestry Meeting took place at St. Peter’s in Dinas Powys on Wednesday 13th May at 7.00pm.

Looking ahead…

Ordination of our Curate and Deacon: The Ordination of David, to the Priesthood will take place at Llandaff Cathedral on June 20th at 11.00am. A coach has been booked to convey members of our combined congregations to support David. The service will be reported in the July issue of ‘What’s On’.

Feast Days to come include Pentecost – the birthday of the church. Followed by the season of Trinity and lastly on May 31st a joint Eucharist service for our three churches at 10.00 am.

All are welcome to our services; you are assured of a very warm welcome.

Blessings to you all who read all about the activities at St. Mary’s Church.

Parry

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