Glamorgan Heritage Coast Parish Magazine - January 2021
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Glamorgan Heritage Coast Parish Magazine January 2021
Llantwit Major Local History Society
Journey down the Thaw Valley
Available from Committee Members
Contact: or 01446-679010
Pick-up points: St Illtud’s Church, Wednesday 1030 – 1145 or
Rugby Club Car Park, Friday 2.00 – 3.30 pm.
COLSTON Residential
www.llantwitmajorhistory
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Looking to Rent in the
CF61 1DL Area?
Llantwit Major Local History Society
Journey down the Thaw Valley
Available from Committee Members
Contact: or 01446-679010
Pick-up points: St Illtud’s Church, Wednesday 1030 – 1145 or
Rugby Club Car Park, Friday 2.00 – 3.30 pm.
www.llantwitmajorhistory society.co.uk
EASYSLEEP.ME Phill Holloway
Painting and
Advice on insomnia and how to get a Decorating Service
better night’s sleep. Family Business No Job Too Small
Private consultations at home or by Phillip Holloway 01656 890706
phone
13, Broughton Road 07793 653702
Jo Teague Occupational Therapist and
Sleep Consultant Wick pholloway@live.co.uk
Website: wwweasysleep.me
Email: jo@easysleep.me
Tel. 01446 790306
Rugby Club Car Park, Friday 2.00 – 3.30 pm.
www.llantwitmajorhistory society.co.uk
Parish Magazine
The Rectorial Benefice of the Glamorgan
Heritage Coast comprises the Parishes of:
St Bridget’s, St Brides; St Michael and
All Angels, Ewenny; St Giles, Gileston;
St Cattwg’s Llanmaes; St Michael and All Angels,
Llanmihangel; St Illtud’s, Llantwit Major;
Holy Trinity, Marcross, St Mary’s, Monknash,
St Donat’s, St Donats; St Tathan, St Athan;
All Saints, Southerndown; St James, Wick.
This magazine serves them all.
Contributions to be in by 22nd of the month please.
1. Index.. 11. Puzzle Page.
2. From the Editor. 12. Meaning of Epiphany.
3. 2020. Mothers’ Union. 13. Heavy Element.
4. From Father Edwin 14. Advertisement.
5. From Father Edwin 15. Saint of the Month.
6. Advertisement. 16. Books by Church Authors.
7. Get me to the Crib on Time. 17. Books by Church Authors.
8. Crib on Time. One Book. 18. Books. Registers. Organ.
9. One Book. 19. Grangetown Organ.
10. Humour. 20. Directory.
11. Humour.
Please don’t forget to pass on this edition of the magazine
to people who would otherwise
`` not receive it.
This Month’s Cover
The drawing is a Christmas Card version of the Magi, or Three Wise
Men, following the ‘star’ which leads them on their journey to Bethlehem.
As you can see, it depicts two ‘stars’ and this might be closer to the truth
than the artist imagined. Astronomers believe that an explanation of the
Guiding Star might well have been a phenomenon which occurs when the
two largest planets, Jupiter and Saturn appear to be close together in the
sky. They are both bright objects in the first place and when they come
together, the effect is striking. Maybe this is what the Magi followed.
While these conjunctions happen every 20 years the planets are
usually not close enough for the effect to be striking. However, 2020 is a
year of a ‘Great Conjunction and the planets were at their closest on 21 st
December. Did you see them?
If you can’t convince them, confuse them.
1
From the Editor
Dear Friends,
It is all too easy to remember the various sins which we have
committed even if we would prefer to forget them. However, it is not the
same with sins of omission simply because, in all probability, we don’t realise
what has been missed; they are much more difficult to define. Perhaps it
was a kind act you could have performed but didn’t or when you didn’t speak
up in defence of a person who was being unfairly criticised in their absence.
I am sure that there are many more. This month, I am remembering
something that happened 68 years ago! That it has stayed in my memory
for that length of time is an indication of how much I regret it. I don’t know
whether or not it is a sin, but it was certainly a lack of kindness.
It all started on 8th August, 1950 when I was called up to do my
eighteen months National Service. Two years I hear you say, but it was 18
months when I went in, the so-and-so’s put it up to two years while I was
serving. I was in the RAF and trained as a Wireless Operator (what else could
I be with a name like Sparks?) Christmas 1950 did not present a problem
because I was doing my training at RAF Compton Bassett and we were given
leave for both Christmas and New Year. Christmas 1951 was a different
matter. By this time, I was at RAF Uxbridge on Air Traffic Control which had
to be manned throughout. We were told that we would get one or the other
of the two celebrations, but not both. I volunteered to work Christmas and
have my leave for the New Year, telling my mother, who was a widow, that I
had made this choice “as it would a more enjoyable time for me at New
Year.”
In later years I have come to realise how selfish that was. Without
doubt, my mother would have preferred to have me home at Christmas but,
at the time, I did not take this into consideration. My behaviour was what
you might expect from a self-centred teenager.
Why on earth am I telling you this? Because I see a parallel with what
is happening during this Covid 19 pandemic. Too many people are not
following the regulations, preferring to think only of their own selfish desires
without regard for how they might be affecting others. And this attitude
isn’t confined to young people. Anne and I were talking to a mature adult
recently who, amongst other things said that the regulations were too much
for this time of year and that people “should be doing their Christmas
shopping and going out to eat and so on.”
As we now have the vaccines approved and the time for vaccination
gets ever nearer, it is all the more important for us to continue to comply
with the spirit of the restrictions, preferably without grumbling!
Yours sincerely, Eric Sparks
Anger is a wind which blows out the lamp of the mind.
2
2020
Without doubt, this past year will be very difficult to forget. For
most people it will be the Covid Pandemic which will be the most significant
event in their diary. For our household, unfortunately, there are other
happenings which have made this an “Annus Horribilis” as previous years
have been labelled. In addition to the lock-down, we have had a car
accident, a fire and most recently and worst of all, a bereavement.
This has led us to thinking a lot about the effects of bereavements
on the people who are left. Our faith teaches us that the person who has
died is having a far better existence than they ever had here on earth. We
cling to that. So, what is it that occupies our minds as we mourn? I can’t
help feeling the main thoughts are those of regret . It might be sorrow that
the deceased did not achieve something which had been their dream or
perhaps that they did not live long enough to see something which would
have given them great pride or pleasure. On the other hand, it might be a
feeling akin to guilt, that the survivors had been unkind or hadn’t done
something which would have been a benevolence to the departed. An
example of what I mean is written on page 2. Is this what grief is all about?
I do not know, but mixed-up thoughts fill our waking moments and maybe
even our sleeping ones as swell. I always feel that the most difficult period
is that between the death and the funeral because once the rites have been
accomplished the healing process can really begin. In the meantime, we
have the support of family and friends to comfort us in our distress.
ES
Llantwit Major Mother's Union
Happy New Year to you All.
I don't know about you, but I have found the season of Advent to
have taken o n a deeper meaning this year.
I'm writing this after watching the Carol Service from St Illtud's; an
earlier start to Christmas than is usual for us but somehow very fitting for
this unusual time. It was lovely to sing carols and hear the readings and very
good to see Jodie with her impressive Christmas jumper.
We will be in touch with all members in the New Year regarding what
plans we may be able to make and also about the collection of subscriptions
for 2021 which will help enable the MU to work on projects both at home
and worldwide. We have been focussing on some of these recently during
the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. Our work with
refuges in Britain and also with education programmes and campaigns
against FGM is so important to women and girls everywhere.
Sue Beetlestone
If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.
3
Father Edwin’s Page
Dear Friends
I hope you had a blessed and peaceful Christmas, even in these
remarkable times of pandemic. Few of us have been able to meet up with
family or friends in recent weeks and Christmas celebrations have been
muted, to say the least. My own memory of Christmas 2020 will be of
celebrating the Midnight Mass on my own, with just a tripod and a mobile
phone for company, as the service was streamed live to Facebook.
The last 9 months have forced us all to pause and reflect on the fear
and uncertainty that Coronavirus has brough to our lives, but our thoughts
must also turn to the hopes for a new year. 2021 will be ushered in with
much concern and ongoing uncertainty, yet it brings a fresh start, with
prayers and hopes for the future, rather than usual well-intentioned
resolutions to eat and drink less and exercise more!
The New Year also heralds our celebration of Epiphany, around 6 th
January, when we remember the visit of the Wise Men to Jesus with their
gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. A combination of ancient tradition
and popular culture has turned the Wise Men of Bethlehem into strange,
hybrid characters, symbolising generosity, wisdom and an encouragement
to grab a bargain in the January sales; yet our current uncertainty might help
us see the visit of the Wise Men in a different light.
The Wise Men were simply people who were bold enough to look up
into the night sky and wonder. It has been suggested that a recent
astronomical event, when the planets Jupiter and Saturn came close to one
another in the south western night sky, might have been the sight that drew
the Wise Men’s attention, although we can’t be sure of the details. We have
a few snippets from scripture, which tell of ‘wise men from the east’, but
there is no mention of their homeland or even their number, other than that
they brought 3 gifts to the Christchild.
Yet for me, the story and the tradition of the visit of the Wise Men is
crucial. It speaks of Jesus Christ being revealed to the whole world, when
the story of his birth in Bethlehem is witnessed only by a handful of
shepherds. The Wise Men’s visit also heralds a new way that Jesus is
proclaimed, and this gives us the word ‘Epiphany’, as the world starts to
wake up to the presence of God moving amongst us in a new and vibrant
way.
Change your life today. Don’t gamble on the future, act now, without delay.
4
Most of all, I find myself wondering what our own ‘Epiphany’ might
be like in 2021, and what wisdom and understanding will be revealed to us
all as we confront the ongoing challenges of a global pandemic? We must
be grateful for the wisdom of scientists whose work has started to reveal
treatments and vaccines that will be life-changing and life-giving for millions
of people.
Yet I also wonder if the real wisdom of this age will be discovered in
retrospect, when future generations judge us on our generosity to one
another at a time of crisis and on our careful use of the world’s resources,
to unite and care for a global community.
The people who journey and discover real wisdom are generous
enough to take a gift with them for their destination. That gift doesn’t have
to be myrrh or frankincense, or even gold (although that’s always nice!)
God’s gift to us is one of peace and generous love and it’s given freely for us
all to discover.
May you have a blessed, peaceful and healthy 2021.
With every blessing, Edwin
Thank you!
On behalf of all of us in the Ministry Team, we would like to thank all
of you who sent cards and messages of good will at Christmas. It has been
an eventful year and we have all had to work in new ways to make God’s
love known. The generous, loving support of people across these
communities is both inspiring and humbling.
Ministry Team
In a big parish such as ours, our clergy come and go as they are
promoted and deployed to other churches and communities. The Reverend
Marc Walford has been with us since the Glamorgan Heritage Coast Ministry
Area came together in September 2018, but the Bishop of Llandaff has asked
him to become the next Vicar of Christ Church in Merthyr Tydfil. Christ
Church is a big parish and an important church, and it is a sign of Bishop
June’s confidence in Marc that she has appointed him to this role.
Marc will take his final services in our parish on Sunday 31 st January
and he will be licensed to begin his new ministry in February 2021. We hold
Marc and Patrycja in our prayers as they prepare for this exciting move and
a new phase in their life and ministry.
EC
Only the man who isn’t rowing has time to rock the boat.
5
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Get me to the crib on time
It is to be hoped that if and when new Covid restrictions are placed
upon us, including travel in and out of Wales, that this will not prevent to
arrival of the Wise Men at St. Illtud’s Church crib. I say this, because their non-
arrival has happened before, and not only the Wise men, but also the
shepherds.
I was reminded of this recently when disposing of many old sermons, and
came across one I’d preached in Llantwit in January 2017. I quote:
The Wise Men have been on the window-sill in the West Church all over
Christmas, and only now have they replaced the shepherds in our lovely
traditional crib. But here’s a little bit of history for you. For although the crib
first appeared in 1948 with the figures of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus, it
was another two years before the shepherds and Wise Men were going to be
added, which is just about right for the Wise Men, according to St, Matthew’s
Gospel, but a bit late for the shepherds.
Writing in the December 1950 Magazine, the Vicar said: “During the
last two years at Christmas time, we have had a Crib in the church for our
Sunday School. The beautiful figures were presented to us, but now we wish
to add another six figures – Three Shepherds and the three Wise Men. These
would make our Crib set complete, and I am wondering whether there are six
people who would like to present a figure each to the Sunday School. The cost
per figure will be about 25/-.“
Unfortunately, the January 1951 Magazine is missing, so we shall never know
who gave them, but it would seem that only the shepherds were available at
that time. They had to wait six more years before they had the Wise Men. Even
so, what we do know is that when they finally arrived, they were only plain
white figures. The careful painstaking painting of them by our local artist, Sid.
Havard, took a long time. It so happens that I was here as a young curate when
Sid. presented the last of them to the church, and I remember him bringing
them in.
Writing in the January 1957 Magazine, the Vicar said: “The Crib has now
become a recognised part of the Christmas Festivities, and year by year it
never fails by its beauty and simplicity to tell vividly, to all who have eyes to
see, the events of Christmas. We can be justly proud of our Crib and he figures,
and I am glad to inform you that we have this year been able to add the three
Wise Men to our set of figures. We have now a complete set and I hope they
will be used for many years each Christmas in our church.
The figures of the Wise Men were painted by Mr. Havard, who has taken a
keen interest in the Crib since its inception some years ago. We are most
grateful to him for the fine work he has produced, and if you look at the Crib
The key to immortality is to live a life worth remembering.
7
on the Feast of the Epiphany, 6th January, you will be able to see for
yourselves what a good job he has done.” So, have they been always there
on time? No! They missed it some years ago when an over-enthusiastic band
of helpers removing the Christmas decorations in the absence of the Rector,
put the crib away at the same time before the Feast of Epiphany! The Rector
was horrified, but it was too late; which is why, every Christmas since then,
the Wise Men could be seen on a West Church window-sill, in order to get
them to the crib on time!
David G. Brunning
"One Book's Much Like Another"
Apparently, an unexpected result of the various lockdowns recently
has been a revival in book reading -real books with long words and no
illustrations. Where they are open, libraries have reported an increase in
borrowing. However, despite the above quotation, the problem is the
immense variety of choice. Throughout life, my favourite recreational
reading has been detective stories, and my favourite has been the Inspector
Morse books by Colin Dexter. He created an outstanding character - of
immense intellect, a solver of crossword puzzles and a connoisseur of real
ale and single malts, a man with whom I have a strong affinity.
A few years ago, Colin Dexter appeared at a Cardiff literary week,
with the producer of the TV programmes, and explained that in the early
couple of books, out of the sixteen he wrote, his conception of the crime
fighters was that Morse would be a young, fast-track detective, while Lewis
was an experienced mentor, and Welsh. This didn't suit the TV, though. The
author managed to find a part for himself in each episode which he wrote,
once as a bishop. Incidentally, recently a TV channel carried out a poll of
favourite detectives. As a result of fake news, Morse came second to some
new TV character named Holmes.
The creation of atmosphere and the range of plots is wide, and the
causes of death incredible, but one writer stands out for her literary skill and
her ingenuity, P D James. Her early life was undistinguished, because her
father did not believe in wasting money on a girl's education, but she rose
very high in the civil service, a female Sir Humphrey. Colin Dexter wrote of
her, "Her style is all clarity and elegance, her sense of place and evocation
of atmosphere exceptional." For anyone who aspires for a place among
church magazine contributors, make a start with her "Death in Holy Orders,"
set in a closed religious’ community, beset with murder.
With an interest in geography, I have tended to look for crime in
foreign parts. Our first package holiday was in 1964 to the Costa Brava, then
Take everything seriously, except yourselves.
8a tiny resort where the main income came from fishing. The visitors
gathered above the beach to see the boats setting off every evening. They
weren't there later to see them return. I have a photograph of myself in
traditional holiday wear- summer shirt, shorts, white socks and Dunlop
Tennis shoes. Next to me is a large poster saying, in Spanish,
"Twenty-five years of peace." That meant 1939. i.e., World War Two,
though not in Spain. 1939 meant the end of the bloodbath of the Spanish
Civil War. What war was that? I wanted to know more about something that
passed Britain by.
Spain had been ruled for centuries by a king supported by the army,
wealthy landlords and the Catholic church, but belatedly democracy arrived
and in 1931 the country became a republic. In 1936 the army led by the
bloodthirsty religious fanatic General Franco, revolted, and chaos ensued.
My favourite novel set in Spain is “Winter in Madrid," written in
2008 by C.J. Sansom, better known for crime stories set in Tudor times. It
is set in 1937, when the city is besieged and Franco is considering declaring
war against Britain. The book is a mixture of a spy story and a love tale (not
very passionate) in a city of terror and gestapo-like violence we would
recognise from WW2. It is available in all good bookshops and charity
shops., but wear a mask.
When I am in nostalgic mood, I like to re-read easy-going novels in
the 30's style, like the crime stories of Edmund Crispin ("The Moving
Toyshop," etc.) My favourite of this type is more modern, "Love on a Branch
Line, “written in 1959 by John Hadfield. My edition came out in 1988 and is
everything a good book should be - hard bound, clear (not too small) print,
decorative dust jacket that sets the scene, illustrated title page, just like the
good old days.
Viv Kelly
All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance,
nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, desire.
9Humour
There was an elderly man, who lived in St Athan, who wanted to get
his potato patch planted but found the digging too difficult for his arthritic
back. He wrote to his son who was in prison, “Dear Paul, I am fed up because
I want to plant my potatoes but I’m getting too old and my back is too bad
for digging. I wish you were here to help me. Dad.” Back came the reply.
“Dear Dad, don’t dig up the garden, it’s where the bodies are buried. Paul”
At crack of dawn the next day, a team of CID officers, armed with
spades, dug over the entire garden but did not find any bodies. They
apologised to the old man and left. A few days later, another letter came.
“Dear Dad, you can go ahead with the potatoes now. That’s the best I could
do in the circumstances. Paul.”
*********
A text from a man to his neighbour. “Hi Richard, I feel compelled to
confess that I have been using your wife without your knowledge. My
conscience has been troubling me that I have taken advantage of your
generosity and forbearance to avoid the trouble and expense getting my
own. Please forgive me. Donald.”
Richard, feeling utterly betrayed, got out his shotgun, went into the
kitchen and shot his wife. He then went next door and shot Donald. He
returned home, drank two large whiskeys and got ready to shoot himself.
He then noticed that there had been a second text message from Donald.
“Hi there again, I bet you had a good laugh at my typo in the last text. Spell-
checker changed ‘Wifi’ to ‘wife'. Technology! It’ll be the death of me!”
*********
Being British is about driving a German car to an Irish pub, for a
Belgian beer, then driving home, grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab
on the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows on a
Japanese TV. Buy a holiday home in Spain, ski in France, fancy Swedish girls
and have a Romanian au pair. And the most British thing of all? Suspicion
of anything foreign.
I never do un-necessary I can’t find a social At least they aren’t
journeys anyway. bubble to fit in to. blaming us for the
spread of Covid 19.
The best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want
to do and then advise them to do it.
10Puzzle Page
Crossword No 100
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Across Down
1 Sum 1 Flower
8 5 Area 2 Charm
9 10 8 Strangely 3 Forfeiture
9 Flower 4 Notion
11 12 13 10 More mature 5 Car item
14 15 16 17 18 11 Flood 6 Horrify
14 Big cat 7 Project
19 17 Low speed 12 For letters
20 21 19 Urge 13 Plant
20 Jest 15 Customary
22 21 Promise 16 Fruit
23 24 25 26 27 22 Crustacean 17 Grunt
23 Chimney 18 Measure
28 29 30 25 Brad 23 Inlet
31 32
28 Oust 24 Joining
31 Vegetable 25 Surprise
33 32 Furious 26 knead
34 35 33 Covid 28 Make dough
34 Cute 29 Covet
35 Beg 30 Speech defect
Answers Children’s Word Ladder
24 Union, 25 Amaze, 26 Knead, 28 Envy, 29 Park, 30 Lisp.
Postbox, 13 Thistle, 15 Usual,16 Apple, 17 Snort, 18 Optic, 23 Fjord, Go from one word to the
Down. 1 Tulip, 2 Totem, 3 Loss, 4 idea, 5 Tyre, 6 Appal, 7 Throw, 12 next by changing only one
25 Tack, 28 Expel, 31 Onion, 32 Irate, 33 Virus, 34 Dinky, 35 Plead. letter. The first three words
Puma 17 Slow, 19 Passion, 20 Quip, 21 Oatgh, 22 Lobster, 23 Flue, are there to help you.
Across. 1 Total, 5 Tract, 8 Oddly, 9 Lotus, 10 Riper, 11 Spate, 14
GOAT ANIMAL
Miniquiz
GOAL SCORE
1 Lutra lutra is the European species of which mammal? FOAL HORSE
2 The Ethiopian town of Bekoji is notable for having
produced many world famous what? IDIOT
3 Which is the largest baroque fountain in Rome?
4 Candler Park in Atlanta is named after a man who made UTENSIL
his fortune selling which drink? LABOUR
5 What is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and
Labrador? PREVENT
LOSE
Answers
4 Coco-Cola, 5 St John POST
1 Otter, 2w Long distance runners, 3 The Trevi Fountain,
SERVANT
RAID ATTACK
Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.
11The Meaning of Epiphany
In common with many of the words used
in the Christian Church, Epiphany derives from
the Greek. Epiphaneia means "appearance" or
"manifestation". On 6th January, we celebrate
the visitation of the Magi, or Wise Men, to the
Baby Jesus, and so Jesus' physical manifestation
to the Gentiles (non-Jews). This story is well
known to Junior School Nativity plays with the
Magi having travelled a long distance to reach
Bethlehem. They brought expensive gifts, Gold,
Frankincense and Myrrh, which they gave to the
Baby to the astonishment of Mary, his mother.
At this time the Eastern Churches
celebrate the baptism of Jesus in the River
Jordan by John the Baptist and His first
Wedding at Cana. The Western Churches
reverse this emphasis.
The celebration is also known as
Twelfth Night and was a traditional time for
mumming and the wassail. The Christmas
decorations are taken down as well.
The Feast of the Epiphany has long
been an important celebration in Wales,
known as Ystwyll.
In Glamorganshire, a huge loaf or
cake was made and divided up into three
parts to represent Christ, the Virgin Mary
and the three Wise Men
You might wonder where New Year's Eve fits into all this? The
answer, as far as the Church is concerned, is nowhere! That is a strictly
secular celebration even though, I have been told, the "Kirk" in Scotland
regarded Christmas as more of a Roman Catholic celebration which is why
the Scots go for "Hogmanay".
A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than a lot of
knowledge which is idle.
12Heavy Element
Cambridge University researchers have discovered the heaviest
element yet known to science. The new element, Governmentium, has one
neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons and 198 assistant deputy
neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312. These 312 particles are held
together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of
lepton-like particles called pillocks.
Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be
detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact.
A tiny amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally
take less than a nano-second to take from 4 days to 4 years to complete.
Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2 to 6 years. It does not
decay, but in- stead undergoes a reorganisation in which a portion of the
assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact,
Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each
reorganisation will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming
isodopes. This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to
believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical
concentration.
This hypothetical quantity is referred to as a critical morass. When catalysed
with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium (symbol Ad), an
element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium, since it has
half as many pillocks but twice as many morons.
From Peter Martin
This little piece was passed on to me by my friend of some 75 years, Bob
Jameson who spotted it in a Parish Magazine in Devon. Thanks to them all.
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JANE HUTT AM
Assembly Member for
the Vale of Glamorgan
115, High Street Barry
CF62 7DT
JaneHutt.wales
Jane.Hutt@assembly.wa
les
01446 740981
Regular surgeries held
throughout the Vale
JANE HUTT AC
Aelod Cynulliad ar gyfer Bro
Morgannwg
115, High Street y Barry CF62 7DT
JaneHutt.wales
Jane.Hutt@cynulliad.cymru
01446 740981
Cymorthfeydd rheolaidd a gynhelir
ledled y Fro
Stillworks
Meditation and Mindfulness
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PGCE DOG
Classes and individual sessions in the GROOMING
Vale and Barry Area
Email; info.stillworks@gmail.com 01446-793884
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attentionSaint of the Month
14th January: St Kentigern (518-603)
You may have noticed that
Kentigern was included among the Celtic
saints named on the tape that encircled St
Illtud’s Church at the beginning of
December. The Welsh version of his name is
Cynderyn, though in Glasgow he is known
by his pet-name Mungo. Here is a Scottish
saint, so why is he included in the Church in
Wales Calendar? Are you expecting me to
tell you he was trained at Llanilltud?
Well, no, he wasn’t. Mind you, he did
spend time with St David at his monastery,
and if St David was trained at Llanilltud,
there’s also a connection. He was also a
contemporary of Gildas, another Llanilltud pupil, and from the same area,
Strathclyde in Scotland. So perhaps Kentigern heard all about Llanilltud from
David and Gildas, and modelled his communities on the pattern established by
St Illtud. But enough of speculation. Kentigern - Cynderyn – Mungo – who do
you think you are?
Kentigern was born in Culross in Fife, and brought up by St Serif, who
gave him the name Mungo, derived from the Welsh fy nghu 'my dear one’. At
the age of 25 Kentigern founded a monastic community at what is now
Glasgow, where St Mungo’s Cathedral is sited. However, after 13 years, he had
to flee Scotland because of persecution, and travelled down through Cumbria,
where a number of churches in the Lake District are dedicated to him.
Eventually Kentigern arrived in Menevia (the present-day St Davids) and stayed
for some time with Dewi Sant. He was called by Prince Cadwallon to north
Wales, where he established a monastery and cathedral at St Asaph (named
after one of Kentigern’s students, its first bishop), and would have stayed there
had not a new king in Scotland called him back to evangelise the country.
Kentigern established a monastery and cathedral in Galloway, before returning
to Glasgow, where a large community grew up around him.
The exhibition in St Mungo’s Museum, Glasgow, shows Kentigern’s
Welsh connection. Once again, we see how the Celtic Christian saints travelled
between countries as they spread the Gospel, the good news of Jesus.
Philip Morris
When a man tells you that he got rich through hard work, ask him, “Whose?”
15Books by our Church Authors
Over the past couple of years some members of the clergy, and some
members of the congregation, have been working away at publications
covering a range of topics, hopefully relevant to the church population and
even to the wider public. Whereas most have been mentioned already in the
Parish Magazine, this is a chance to group them together and bring them to
mind as, perhaps, suitable presents.
The first to be produced was by Bill Henderson who has written his
personal memoir ‘God of the Deep Places’, telling of his Scottish heritage,
(we remember your Burns’- night parties Bill); his early life in the
1940s/1950s in Essex; his world of work, mainly as an engineer aboard a
series of ships, taking him on voyages across the Pacific Ocean and, more
locally, around the coastline of Britain. He ended his sea-going career at
Swansea, which brought him and his family to Llantwit Major. Always in the
background are references to attending church/chapel, taking part as a
Sunday school teacher and attending church fellowship activities, but it was
not until the 1980s that Bill questioned where do we come from? He was led
to St Illtud’s church where he was given encouragement by Rev’d Canon
David Jenkins to follow his faith, where he now serves as a licensed reader
in the Diocese of Llandaff.
Next, we were all invited at Easter 2019 into the West Church after
service, to the launch of ‘The Vicar Writes ….. A History of Llantwit Major
Parish Magazine. The First Twenty-Five Years’. This is the culmination of a
tremendous amount of reading undertaken by Rev’d Canon David Brunning
who assiduously trawled through 300 editions of the church magazine from
between 1947 and 1971. It points out so much of what Llantwit was like
during those years, mentioning members of the community and their
contribution to Llantwit life. It is easy to follow by date, or to pick out certain
topics by their headings, for example Mothers’ Union. It records changes in
clergy appointments; changes in the liturgy which occur during that time
’what! another new prayer book?’; the changes to furnishings such as the
pews, lighting, altar, altar cloths, kneelers; the relationship between the
church and other denominations in the town. There is the constant appeal
for money - ‘the vicar is always asking for money’-, culminating in the
Stewardship appeal in 1962, besides which, there are references to wider
national and world events. It is a treasure chest of information from this era
and David asks who will follow up with an analysis of the next 25 years? Any
volunteers?
Between2004 and 2010 we were fortunate to have as our Rector the
Revd John Webber. He retired to Cardiff, choosing a house near both the
Millennium (now Principality) Stadium and The Millennium Centre, to
indulge his love of sport and of music, during retirement he has written a
One of the advantages of being young is that you don’t let the facts get in
the way of your imagination.
16slim but fascinating book, giving glimpses of his life and work in Bangladesh,
entitled “No-one a Stranger”. The title is taken from a poem in Gitanjali by
the great Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore. John came to Cardiff when he
was two years old but always longed to return to the land of his birth – India,
he lived and worked in Bangladesh from 1975 to 1991. Originally, he went
to Dhaka in charge of St Thomas’ Cathedral. Always involved with education
he eventually took the part of Principal of St Andrew’s Theological College.
He describes his book as “A series of snapshots ….. images of my life and
work …….a lot is left untold but what the country, the people and my work
meant to me.” The book is very readable and is illustrated throughout with
many wide-ranging and fascinating photographs.
A recent ‘best seller’, named for several weeks on the Welsh Books
Council best seller list, is ‘Llanilltud. The Story of a Celtic Christian
Community’, written by our own Venerable Philip Morris, retired
Archdeacon of Margam, and published by ‘Y Lolfa’ press. Philip unravels the
complicated story behind the history of our town, and how it came to be
founded by Saint, Illtud, around 500 AD. He answers the question, where
was the original community founded by Illtud? with a fascinating and
convincing theory that it was nearer the coast than the present site of St
Illtud’s church. Read about it to be convinced. To tell Illtud’s story, Philip has
studied all the available manuscripts pertaining to the lives of the ancient
’saints’, which also gives an insight into the organisation of the early church
with its bishops, deacons and priests. It reminds us that these were real
people. Then follows an appreciation of the development of the church in
its present location through Norman times to Victorian times, up to the
preservation of the ancient stones found within the church precincts, now
in the Galilee Chapel.
The most recent publication having authors from the church, has
been produced by Cowbridge and Llantwit Major Local History Societies,
titled ‘A Journey down the Thaw Valley’. It is a description of the geology,
history, land-use and wildlife to be found when following along the valley
from its source at Brigam Farm to its mouth at Aberthaw. It covers the early
Christian foundations at Llansannor, Llanblethian, Llandough and St. Athan,
built upon by the later Norman churches where worship continues, including
at Flemingston and Gileston. The later introduction of Methodism also plays
a significant role along the valley. There are 120 pages of text explaining the
many aspects contributing to the character of the valley, illustrated by 40
pages of photographs.
Also published this year was the story of the discovery and
excavation of the Roman Villa at Caer Mead. Title- The Roman Villa of
Llantwit Major, by Dr. David Rogers, published by Gwaswg Carreg Gwalch.
For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
17The story begins in 1880 and records the difficulties for archaeologists to
obtain finance, and to get permission from landowners to open a dig. There
are details of the discoveries and who is to know what else is hidden below
the earth?
In the parish magazine of August 1965 there is ‘the first mention of
a bookstall’. There is still a bookstall in the West Church, but the present
Corona Virus crisis means that the books are not on display, however if
anyone would like to purchase any from the above list please leave a
forwarding address at the Parish Office 01446 792439, - email -
office@ghcp.church; or contact cakyoung40@talktalk.net also at 01446
679010.
Chris Young
From the Registers
Marriages
7 Nov. Jarreth Hadrian Boudier & Holly Jeanette McDowell-Thomas
19 Nov. Nicholas Wayne Thomas & Jayne Margaret Featherstone
Burials
20 Nov. Frances Edif Farr, aged 93 years, St. Brides Major
30 Nov. Eileen Burt, aged 82 years, St. Brides Major
15 Dec. Eric Gudgeon, aged 81 years, St. Athan
22 Dec. Margaret Tabitha Burnell, aged 92 years, St. Brides Major
Grangetown Organ
When Leon West, Leone Vuetivavalagi and Thomas Westgard heard
the organ at St Paul’s church in Grangetown could be removed as part of a
housing associations plans to convert the church into apartments, they
swung into action. They sampled every note of the organ and also took a
sonic imprint of the church, which is famous for appearing in a 2004
episode of Doctor Who. “When I heard the organ could be dismantled, we
were keen to record the sound for posterity preserving the sound of the
organ for and the space itself for future generations,” said Leon.
Along with friends Leone and Thomas from Bywyd Studios they
undertook the painstaking process of recording the sound of the organ at
the church which was built in two phases between 1889 and 1902. The
organ was sampled one note at a time with microphones dotted
throughout the church to preserve the sound. “We had two days to load in
around 16 microphones and set them up strategically to capture the sound
honestly,” said Leon. “This was mainly so when I called these sounds up in
the studio, I had the option of placing the listener in different parts of the
church.”
The best things to hold on to in life is each other.
18He added: "I had to play each note on both keyboards, 140-odd in total,
on every single stop for around 12 seconds at a time, leaving enough silence
in between them to then capture any natural reverb the church had. "The
painstaking part was editing them down in the studio into individual notes
that we could then programme in. It was laborious at times but I like
monotony and repetition. It's all rhythmic mental exercise."
While Leon played Leone and Thomas captured the sound of the
organ via state-of-the-art recording equipment. In addition, the pair also
captured a sonic imprint of the church. "A sonic imprint basically means the
reverb of the church, like painting a sonic picture of the church," said
Thomas. "We did this by using something known as an impulse response.
"We achieved this in two ways - popping balloons with mics dotted around
the space and by firing a slingshot up into the church ceiling where we had
concealed microphones. "We have software in the studio we can use to
analyse that soundwave and transform it into reverb." The musicians now
aim to house a historic record of the sounds they captured in their studio
where it can be called up for musicians to use. "To think the sound is
preserved in this way really is something special," added Leon.
While planning permission has been granted to Wales and West
Housing Association (WWHA) to convert part of St Paul's Church into 12
apartments, together with the development of two residential units within
the grounds, no decision has yet been taken on the future of the church
organ.
A spokesman for Wales and the West Housing said: "We are working
with the Church in Wales to save the Grade II listed St Paul's Church,
Grangetown, as a place of worship while creating affordable homes for
Cardiff. "Our development would create 12 apartments in the nave and two
semi-detached houses in the grounds. The plans would preserve the smaller
chancel, where the church organ is housed, along with the vestry and
sanctuary area as a place of worship. A single-storey extension would also
be built to connect the church and parish hall."
Father David Morris from St Paul's Church, said: "A decision as to
whether the organ will be removed or remain is yet to be taken. However, I
was more than happy that sound of the organ has been preserved in this
way, preserving it for the future."
This article was printed in Croeso in Summer 2018 courtesy of Wales Online.
I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it ceased to be one.
19Benefice Directory
Rector Rev'd Canon Edwin Counsell. 01446-794503
The Rectory, High Street
Llantwit Major, CF61 1SS
edwin.counsell@ghcp.church
Team Vicar Rev’d Craig Vaughan 01656-890468
The Vicarage, Trepit Road
Wick. CF71 7QL
fr.craig@ghcp.church
Team Vicar Rev’d Rhian Prime 01446-750273
1, Rectory Drive, St Athan
CF62 4PD
rhianprime@ghcp.church
Team Vicar Rev’d Marc-Ashton Walford 01656-880328
marc.walford@ghcp.church
Reader Sue Moll 01446-719445
sue.moll@llanilltud.org.uk
Reader Keith Brown 01446-793804
Pew News keith.brown@llantilltud.org.uk
Reader Bill Henderson 01446-750418
bill.henderson@llanilltud.org.uk
Reader Hazel Norfolk 01656 880532
norfolk.1@hotmail.com
Reader Penny Snowden 01446-775402
pennysnowden@gmail.com
Parish Office Alison Weston. St Illtud’s Church 01446-792439
9 am-2.30 pm Church Street, Llantwit Major.
Mon – Fri. CF61 1SB.
office@ghcp.church
Website http://www.llanilltud.org.uk/
School Mrs Ceri Thomas 01656 890253
Wick & Marcross Church in Wales
Primary School
Church Street, Wick. CF71 7QE
School Mr Duncan Mottram 01656 880477
St Brides Major, Church in Wales Primary
Heol yr Ysgol
St Brides Major, Bridgend. CF32 0TB
Magazine Eric Sparks, Bronelwyn, Castle St 01446-795443
Editor Llantwit Major, CF61 1AP
ericpetersparks1932@gmail.com
Contributions to be received by 22nd of the month.25% off first appointment
THE FOOT CLINIC
Commercial Street,
Llantwit Major
Vale of Glamorgan
CF61 1RB
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Tel: 01446 793040
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East Street 01446 -
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Wick – Monknash
Village Hall el: 01446 795166
For hire at reasonable rates.
Children’s Events Meetings
Parties etc
Contacts: Frank Holness 01656-
890455 or Mary Williams MBE –
Wick Shop 01656 - 890544
Llantwit Major Bowls Club
Come and sample the game. Pleasant
surroundings, fresh air and good
exercise. By the Rugby Club.
Come and join in the r indoor short-
mat sessions Mon, Tue, Wed & Thurs.
afternoons
See our Website – www.lmbc.walesThe Shop @ St Illtud’s
That never closes!
Your needs for Celtic Christianity.
Cards, Jewellery, Crosses, Angels,
Celtic Books, Postcards, Fridge
magnets, Tea Towels, Tote Bags,
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