Warm welcome for the diocese's newly-ordained priests and deacons

The diocese welcomed two new priests and seven deacons at Saturday’s ordinations service.

Petrina Lodge and Sue Rumbelow were ordained as priests. Petrina will serve in the Benefice of Llyn Safaddan and in the Beacons and Llyn Safaddan Ministry Area. Sue will serve in the Benefice of Gowerton and in the Llwchwr Ministry Area.

Ordained as deacon were Peter Letson (the Benefice of Glanithon and West Radnor Ministry Area), Gill Todd (the Benefice of Brecon St Mary and Llanddew and Brecon Ministry Area), David Owen (the Benefice of Ystradgynlais and Ministry Area of Tawe Uchaf), Sam Aldred (the Benefice of Central Swansea and Ministry Area of Swansea), Janet Day (the Benefice of Buallt and Buallt Ministry Area), Meinir Ronicle (the Benefice of Glanithon and West Radnor Ministry Area) and Sister Marian Thomas (the Benefice of Sketty and Clyne Trinity Ministry Area).

Parish's fundraiser for refugee council's hardship fund 

The Parish of South West Gower's Rev Justin Davies has presented a cheque for £1,835 to help the Wales Refugee Council’s work.

The money was raised through cake a plant sale at Horton Hall – the second year that the parish has raised money for the organisation. The money will be used in the charity's hardship fund.

The Welsh Refugee Council speaks out on behalf of those who are fleeing persecution, conflict and oppression and empowers asylum seekers and refugees to build new futures in Wales.

First class effort adds thousands to St Thomas' redevelopment

Teachers, parents and members of the community have come together to show support for the ongoing work of St Thomas’ Church in the Eastside of Swansea.

They decided to run a fundraising event to raise money for the church towards the redevelopment of St Thomas’ Church into a community hub. The fundraising night raised more then £3,000 and independently two other parents raised an additional £600 for the ongoing work of the church.

The church recently completed the first phase of work on the building, which involved the re-roofing of part of the church, the replacement of rainwater goods and re-pointing of the front of the church. Attention now turns to the internal reordering of the church.

Rev Steven Bunting, vicar of St Thomas’, said “We are absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity of the teachers and parents at St Thomas School.  We have a close partnership with the school, with the shared aim of supporting all the children and families at the school to reach their potential.

“We are in the middle of seeking grants for the redevelopment of the church into a community hub which will protect the future of the building and transform it into a building to serve every member of the community.

“People in the community originally thought we had all the funding for the redevelopment but that unfortunately is not the case.  We are still seeking nearly £700,000 and every little bit is helping us on the way to reaching that target.  We are continuing to apply for large grants but it is essential for us to have the support of the people in the community to demonstrate to grant funders that this project is wanted by the community.”

Russ Dwyer, the head of St Thomas Community Primary School, said: “I am exceptionally proud of our staff at St Thomas Community Primary School, as well as people in the wider community, for their efforts in raising such a significant amount of funding for the St Thomas’ Church redevelopment.

“This collective effort though simply reflects the huge respect that the community has for Reverend Bunting and St Thomas’ Church. We look forward to raising more funds to make the future vision of the church a reality.”

And Laura Emanuel, a teacher at St Thomas Community Primary School, said: “St Thomas’ Church has been brought back to the heart of the community through the work of Reverend Steven and Reverend Rachel Bunting.

“Staff from St Thomas School organised a fundraising evening, with the help of family, friends and local businesses, and raised an amazing total of £3,020. Staff have continued to try and help out by raising money for the food bank that the church offers to the community. In addition to this, families wanted to give further support to the Buntings’ work and have raised an extra £600 so far.

“Fundraising continues as the Buntings tirelessly continue with these vital community projects.  We would love to have as many people as possible join the Friends of St Thomas’ Church.”

The Friends of St Thomas’ Church has been set up to allow those who have a connection with the church to support its ongoing ministry, mission and redevelopmen.

Since 1885 thousands of people have attended worship, been married, baptised and confirmed in the church or received the ministry of the parish.

People can join by filling in the form on its Facebook page or contacting the parish office on 01792 455671.

Charities benefit to the tune of £1,000 each after hymnathon

A  presentation service has been held at All Saints’ Church, Oystermouth, when three local charities received cheques for £1,000 from the proceeds raised at the Choir Hymnathon held at the end of March.

The hymnathon was the idea of Director of Music Luke Spencer and the aim was to raise at least £4,000 through sponsorship. The event began at 10am on Saturday,  March 30 and ended with the Choral Eucharist the following day.

It’s thought that around 700 hymns were sung over the 24 hours and the day was divided into different sections, celebrating the seasons of the Church year, with a Lifeboat hour and a Jam and Jerusalem slot.

Canon Keith Evans, vicar of All Saints, said: “Over a dozen choristers stayed through the night.  The lowest number we were, at any one time, was 16 singers and the largest number was around 60. The choristers were kept going with copious amounts of tea, coffee and cake; a midnight feast of cawl, cheese and bread; and a breakfast of bacon baps washed down with cups of very strong coffee.

“In the end, the event was a resounding success, bringing in many villagers, some after stop tap. It raised £1,000 each for Tŷ Olwen, the Night Shelter, Mumbles RNLI and the All Saints’ Organ Appeal.

The photograph shows representatives at the presentation service. From left to right are Canon Robert Jones [Hon Assistant Priest], Tim Conway (Mumbles RNLI), Hywel Evans (Assistant Director of Music), Canon Keith Evans, Luke Spencer, April Beynon (Swansea Hope / All Saints’ Night Shelter), Jordan Spencer (Parish Ordinand), and Helen and Paul Murray [Tŷ Olwen].

Brecon Cathedral's Choristers' Concert will take place on Friday, July 12 at 7pm. Tickets are on sale now at the cathedral shop and they'll also be available on the door.

St Mary's joins in celebration of Hay music

Hay Music is celebrating 100 concerts this month, including a special performance by Rachel Podger at the town’s St Mary’s Church.

The concert is part of the ‘A Celebration of Music in Hay’ weekend and violinist Rachel will be joined by Kristian Bezuidenhout (harpsichord).

Also performing at St Mary’s in the coming weeks are James Hickman and James Cassidy, below, a transatlantic duo inspired by the folk traditions of America and Britain.

They will be performing on (Saturday) July 6 and tickets, priced at £10, will be available at the door.

Earlier that day – 10.30am for 11am – there will be a recital of organ music played on St Mary’s Bevington organ by Dr Michael Neville. The programme will include works by Bach, Haydn, Mozart and Brahms. Entry is free with a retiring collection in aid of the church.

On July 29, the church will be welcoming 30 members of the Redbridge Music School. Redbridge Music School presents approximately 50 annual concerts featuring a range of ensembles and choirs offering a progression through different levels of ability. Access and progression through the ensembles is determined by annual auditions.

This concert will feature, among other pieces, a movement from the Holberg Suite by Greig, Palladio by Karl Jenkins and quartets by Mozart and Haydn. Entry is free, with a retiring collection for the church.

Rachel Podger and Kristian Bezuidenhout will be performing on Sunday, July 14 from 3pm-5.30pm. Tickets are £15 (students £7.50) and are available from Richard Booth’s Bookshop, 44 Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye, online at events@boothbooks.co.uk or at the door.

You can find out more about St Mary’s music programme at
stmaryschurchhayonwye.co.uk