The Magazine The Parish of Pentyrch with Capel Llanilltern

December 2008 / January 2009
The Magazine
of
The Parish of Pentyrch
with
Capel Llanilltern
Eglwys Sant Catwg: St Catwg’s Church
Eglwys Dewi Sant: St David’s Church,
Eglwys Sant Ellteyrn: St Ellteryn’s Church,
Price £1.00
THE PARISH OF PENTYRCH
VICAR
The Rev. John Binny, The Vicarage, Pentyrch. Tel: 029 20890318
SUNDAY SERVICES
St. Catwg’s Church, Pentyrch
8.00 a.m.
9.00 a.m.
6.00 p.m.
Holy Eucharist (4th Sunday only)
Parish Eucharist (Except the first Sunday in the month)
Evensong
St. David’s Church Groesfaen
8.00 a.m.
10.30 a.m.
Holy Eucharist (1st Sunday only)
Sung Eucharist (Except the first Sunday in the month)
St Ellteyrn’s Church Capel Llanilltern
10.30 a.m.
Holy Eucharist
Creigiau Church Hall
10.30 a.m.
First Sunday in every month Parish Family Communion
WEEKDAYS
St. Catwg’s
Holy Eucharist Wednesday 10.00 a.m.
St. David’s
Holy Eucharist Tuesday 10.00 a.m.
Other services as announced
SUNDAY SCHOOL
St. Catwg’s
the month)
10.30 am every Sunday in Church (except the first Sunday in
BAPTISM, HOLY MATRIMONY, BANNS OF MARRIAGE
Articles for the magazine can be E-mailed to: [email protected] by the 10th of the
month. You can also contact me on: 029 20891721
2
From the Vicarage Window
Dear Friends
During the Christmas season, perhaps
more so than at any other time of the year
people’s emotions are stirred in some special ways. The incomparable grandeur of
the Christmas Story, the decorations and
the Christmas lights, the cards of greeting
from our friends, the echoing refrains of
Christmas carols, the gifts, the kaleidoscope of colours, the array of Christmas
goodies and the excitement in the eyes of
children. All these ingredients and others
combine to make Christmas an emotional
time of the year.
What are the emotions of Christmas?
One is wonder. In the Gospels we see described the emotions that came bubbling
to the surface in the characters of that first
Christmas drama. St. Luke is said to have
been a painter and in his Gospel he paints
a picture of a baby being born, angels filling the heavens and the shepherds kneeling in stunned amazement, listening to the
angels. Then Luke says “All who heard it
wondered at the things which were told
them by the shepherds”.
Their wonder should be no surprise because their silent night had been split with
the glorious presence of God. The world
of man had been invaded by the Word of
God. All the hopes of all the ages had
been fulfilled in this spectacular night, yet
it happened so differently from what had
been expected.
We think of Mary and Joseph and the in3
credible dimension of their love. The
first Christmas event presented their
love with an awesome challenge as the
baby Mary was carrying was not his,
but because of his love for Mary he accepted the incredible announcement of
the angel that this was a special child
given by God. When we think of Joseph’s love, we wonder.
When we think of the love of Mary for
her son, we wonder. We read ‘Mary
kept all these things and pondered them
in her heart’. Here we have an insight
into the strain which, from the beginning to the end, was placed on the love
of this mother. She pondered these
things in her heart, but how little she
understood what they really meant.
How perplexed she must have been by
the happenings which revolved around
her son.
Before her son was ten days old the
shepherds came, claiming that they had
been told of Him by special messengers
from God.
Wise men came from afar, worshipping
her son as the new born King.
Two old saints in the temple – Simeon
and Anna, told Mary they could die in
peace now because in the face of her
infant they had seen the hopes and fears
of all the years.
At the age of twelve her son was already a match for the scholars of Israel
as He talked with them in the Temple.
At the age of thirty her son became one
of the most popular figures in the land.
At the age of thirty-three her son was
nailed to a cross as a criminal between
two thieves and she was there to watch
Him suspended between the earth and the
sky and left in the scorching sun to die.
Another emotion of Christmas is joy.
‘Joy to the world, the Lord has come;.
How vividly that Hymn expresses our
emotions at Christmas. A joy that is
rooted in a living, personal relationship
with Jesus Christ.
What an incredible strain was put on that
mother’s love. Yet through it all, from the
spectacular beginning, to the uncertainty
of His ministry, to the crushing cross, to
the final victory – Mary loved her son
dearly. She never gave Him up. When
we see her love we wonder. When we
think of the love of God for us, we wonder, even greater than Joseph’s love for
Mary, even greater than Mary’s love for
her son is the love God had for us when
He sent His only begotten Son.
Mary felt joy over Jesus. Her whole
life was a deep sense of joy which
came from her awareness of the part
God was allowing her to play in the
salvation of the world.
We have become so accustomed to the
Christmas story – we must not be dulled
to its message. But as we watch again the
full panorama of splendour which the
Christmas story presents, the emotion of
wonder comes to the surface.
A second emotion of Christmas is love.
St. Matthew in his Gospel tells us of a
happening at the birth of Jesus, the visit of
the Magi bearing gifts for the new-born
King expressing their love for Him.
Probably at no other season of the year do
we feel warmer towards other people, are
we more kind in our relationships, are we
more sympathetic towards others’ needs,
are we more expressive of our love in the
Christmas season. That is good because if
there is anything the world needs it is
love. Love might not make the world go
round but it makes the ride worthwhile,
and we need more of it. Christmas calls
forth from us that love which makes life
easier to bear.
4
The angels felt joy over Jesus “We
bring you good news of a great joy”
they said. Why? Because this One
whose birth they heralded was to become the Savour of the World.
Simeon and Anna felt great joy over
Jesus. Why? Because of the hope
which the promised child brought to
them in the midst of their problems.
When we realise again the significance
of what happened on that special night
we too, should feel joy, to realise that
God loves us enough to come all the
way down to where we are – that
brings joy to realise that God loves us
enough to become what we are, so we
can become what He is – that brings
joy. To realise that this Jesus whose
birth we celebrate is One who can
meet every need and provide solutions
for problems and satisfy every longing
of our soul – that brings joy.
Another emotion of Christmas is sadness. For a number of people Christmas is not an easy time. Sometimes
the sadness comes because of the demands of the season. To others the
sadness comes because they recognise
more clearly than at other times the emptiness within. They see another year completed, yet no more has been accomplished
in their lives. Often the sadness of the
Christmas season is caused by the loss of a
loved one, perhaps, during the year and the
awareness that the future will never be exactly like the past.
Some of the sadness is inevitable. The demands of the season can be depressing at
times. There are some people whose lives
are empty. The facing of Christmas alone
can hurt. Also, these are anxious economic
times with livelihoods under threat. But
thinking of the true meaning of Christmas
can dispel much of this. For Christmas
brings peace in the love of the Lord Jesus, fulfilment as we draw strength from
Him and hope, not from a denial of
death but from the realisation that not
even death can eternally separate us
from those we love in Christ Jesus our
Lord – Emmanuel – God be with us in
our joys, our sorrows and anxious
times.
Wishing you and yours every happiness
at Christmas and in the New Year.
Your friend and Vicar –
John Binny
CANON JACK BUTTIMORE
For some years since his retirement from the full time parochial ministry we have valued the ministry of Canon Jack in
our churches and benefice in so many ways and also his support.
Last year Canon Jack celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of
his ordination as a Deacon, his eightieth birthday and he baptised his grand-daughter Louise in St. David’s, Groesfaen.
This year is a particular landmark again as he celebrates the
fiftieth anniversary of his ordination as a priest on 20th DeCanon Jack with Helen
cember, 1958.
Davey on his 80th birthday
On his Golden Jubilee Day, Canon Jack is celebrating the
Holy Eucharist in St. David’s Church, Cowbridge Road
West, Ely, Cardiff at 12 noon on Saturday 20th December, where he was Vicar for a
number of years prior to his retirement. The service will be followed by refreshments
at another church in the parish, St. Timothy’s.
Everyone is very welcome to go along to the service to join with Canon Jack and his
family as they give thanks for his ministry. We hope a number of members from our
churches will be represented.
We shall have another opportunity to celebrate at a reception in the Parish Hall,
Creigiau at 7 o’clock on Saturday 24th January to which again, everyone is invited.
Further details to follow.
5
CHRISTMAS SERVICES 2008
ST. CATWG’S CHURCH PENTYRCH
Tuesday 16th December
Village Carol Service
7.00 p.m.
Monday 22nd December
Parish Service of Lessons
and Carols by candlelight
7.00 p.m.
Christmas Eve
First Eucharist of Christmas
and Carols
11.00 p.m.
Christmas Day
Sung Eucharist and Carols
9.00 a.m.
Sunday 1st February 2009
Readings and Music
From Advent to Epiphany
6.00 p.m.
ST. DAVID’S CHURCH, GROESFAEN
Christmas Eve
Blessing of the Crib
and Children’s Carol Service
3.30 p.m.
Christmas Day
Holy Eucharist
Sung Eucharist and Carols
8.00 a.m.
10.30 a.m.
ST. ELLTEYRN’S CHURCH, CAPEL LLANILLTERN
Sunday 21st December
Service of Lessons and Carols
with Holy Communion
10.30 a.m.
Christmas Day
Holy Eucharist and Carols
10.30 a.m.
PARISH HALL, CREIGIAU
Sunday 7th December
Parish Family Eucharist with
Sunday School Presentation
10.30 a.m.
Sunday 21st December
Carols with
Cantorion Creigiau
6.30 p.m.
Sunday 1st February
Parish Christingle Service
10.30 a.m.
Everyone is very welcome at all our services
FROM THE PARISH REGISTERS
Holy Baptism – “Grafted into the Body of Christ
St. Catwg’s Church
October 26th
Michael Rogers
November 2nd
Eliza Megan Gough
St. David’s Church
October 12th
David Alexander Evans
November 16th
William James Lewis
Holy Matrimony “That they may be one”
St. Catwg’s Church
November 15th
Jonathan William Davies and
Gemma Clare Phillips
St. David’s Church
November 15th
Funerals
Russell James Kenneth Exley and
Karen Sian Mathias
“May they rest in peace”
November 10th
Alan Chorlton (burial)
November 12th
Beatrice Clements
We thank God for the lives of the faithful departed and our sympathy
and prayers are with their loved ones.
Beatrice Clements - was born and brought up in Cheshire and served in the ATS as a
telephonist in the Second World War, being stationed in Lancaster, Scotland and London. In her married life she lived in Cheshire and Leeds before coming to live in
Creigiau. After her husband died she lived with her daughter and son-in-law
7
in Parc Rhydlafar. Amongst her interests was watching Manchester United on Sky
T.V. and the manager, Sir Alex Ferguson wrote to her on her 90th birthday. She was
devoted to her family as they were to her.
Ken Gilson – Many people in the parish were saddened to learn of the recent death
of Ken Gilson of Creigiau. Ken and Jean have been faithful members of Cathays
Methodist Church in Cardiff for some years but Jean also worships at St. David’s,
Groesfaen.
Ken, who was a landscape gardener by profession, had not enjoyed good health in
recent years but nevertheless kept cheerful, not wishing to draw attention to himself
but rather concerned for others and he enjoyed a good chat. He was lovingly cared
for by Jean and their strong and sincere faith upheld them and their family.
HOUSE COMMUNIONS
The Vicar is arranging to take Holy Communion to parishioners who are unable to
be in church over Christmas because of age or illness. If anyone would like to be
added to the list, please let him know as soon as possible so that arrangements can
be made.
CONCERT
A date for your diaries – Cantorion Creigiau is giving a concert at 7.30 p.m. on
Saturday 7th March 2009 in the Village Hall, Pentyrch, in aid of the Parish
Hall, Creigiau.
We are most grateful to Cantorion Creigiau for this very kind gesture. Further
details nearer the date.
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
The Service on Sunday 9th December was observed throughout the benefice as
usual. Prayers were offered and a silence observed in St. Catwg’s, and in the
afternoon in Pentyrch. A special service was held at the War Memorial, attended
by people of all ages and conducted by the Vicar. A lesson was read by councillor Penri Williams, Chairman of Pentyrch Community Council who also laid a
wreath. A further wreath was laid by County Councillor Craig Williams,
In St. David’s the Creigiau Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts and Explorers were at
the Eucharist at 10.30 and worshippers joined the nation for the two minutes silence at 11 00 a.m.
Remembrance Sunday was again observed at Capel Llanilltern with a wreath being laid at the War Memorial in the Churchyard. The service was led by Canon
Jack Buttimore and Mr. Victor Steele.
‘Lest we forget’
8
PARISH FAMILY WORSHIP
The November Pentyrch Parish Family Eucharist was held on All Soul’s Day, the day
after All Saint’s Day and this particular weekend provided the theme for the service,
reflected in the hymns, songs and the Vicar’s address.
The Vicar spoke of how we are all called to be saints as God’s chosen people, called
to follow Jesus in our lives as we serve Him and others. We thank God for all the
saints known and unknown, past and present who have served and do serve God and
other people – people too numerous to name but whose heritage we share. They have
let the light of Jesus shine through their lives.
During the service the faithful departed were remembered. They were commended to
God’s continued loving care. A lighted candle burned on the table where the list of
names were placed.
The service was followed by refreshments. We are grateful to all who prepared the
Hall, to Muriel Gough and her team for refreshments and all who contributed in any
way towards the service. Thanks also to Frances Simpson for the flower arrangement, the music group, led on this occasion by John Gough. Sue and Andrew Dodd
for producing the hymn/song sheets and Andrew Davies for the
on-screen presentation.
At the time of writing we look forward to the December Eucharist and Sunday
School Presentation on December 7th, Family Eucharist on January 4th and the
Christingle Service on February 1st.
If there are any musicians who would like to join the group or would like to participate in the service, please speak to Sue or Andrew Dodd, or the Vicar.
PARISH HALL UPDATE
At the time of writing work is going well on the roof replacement in the hall. While
the scaffolding is in place we are taking the opportunity to give the exterior a fresh
coat of paint.
In February half-term week additional insulation will be installed into the interior ceiling, as the water-damaged tiles are replaced.
Before suggesting a convert should embrace the Roman Catholic faith, the priest
thought he ought to test her opinion about divorce. “If your husband ever left you,
would you consider marrying again?” he began.
“No thank, you,” she replied, “but it was nice of you to ask”
9
In December 2007, I read the following as one of the readings in
the Llandaff Cathedral Choral Society Christmas Carol Service in
the Cathedral: I hope you find it interesting. John Gough
CHRISTMAS 1659 IN
ST NICHOLAS CHURCH,
BERLIN
In the times that followed the Thirty
Years' War the musicians in the Lutheran Church were many and varied.
Paul Gerhardt, deacon at the Nikolaikirche in Berlin wrote a vivid description of the Christmas morning service
held there in 1659:
The church is cold. Candles are being
lighted. The people are coming and taking
their places. A group of schoolboys is at
one side of the gallery and a choir of
mixed voices at the other side. Below the
pulpit we see a Collegium Musicum, a
voluntary musical society composed of
tradesmen and craftsmen, who perform on
violin and woodwind instruments, gathered around a small movable organ. Then
there is a male quartet, also a military
band with trumpets, kettledrums and
drums.
After the organ prelude a chorale
[Lutheran hymn] is sung ... Now three
clergymen with white clergymen's bands
and black robes have appeared at the altar.
The entire liturgy is sung in Latin [the use
of Latin or German varied from place to
place] by the choirs and the schoolchildren. Next a college student, dressed as
an angel with large white wings, sings
from the pulpit an Old Testament prophecy, accompanied by the Collegium Musicum below.
More chanting from the altar, and then the
principal door of the church opens, and in
comes a procession of girls, headed by the
teacher, all dressed as angels. They pro10
ceed to the high altar, where the
teacher sings the first verse of
'Vom Himmel hoch' and the second
verse is sung by the girls in two- part
counterpoint. The third verse is taken
by the organ and the choir in the gallery as a beautiful five-part motet.
While the procession has been
marching down the aisle, one of the
ministers chants a 'Gloria' answered
by the electoral court and field trumpeters with fanfares and drumrolls.
After the sermon there is more
chanting by the liturgist, and the instrumentalists play a boisterous 'Te
Deum'. Then follows another Latin
anthem by the school children.
Things now begin to happen in the
organ loft: over the railing is raised a
cradle with a doll, while some boys
with incessant mooing imitate the
animals in the Bethlehem stable. The
choir and congregation sing a hymn,
and at this point high up on the organ facade a Bethlehem star, illuminated and supplied with small bells,
is turned round and round, operated
by an organ stop. Three wooden images, representing the three Wise
Men, with their traditional attributes, solemnly move forward and
bow before the doll in the cradle. At
the same time we notice two puppets, representing Moors, standing
on each side of the central group.
One blows a trumpet, and the other
beats a drum. Throughout this scene
on the gallery railing the Collegium
Musicum plays a ritornello [an instrumental re-frain}.
St Nicholas Church, continued.
A boy soprano intones “In Dulci Jubilo " which is continued by male
voices, accompanied by shawms and
bombards. The song is scarcely over
before a sight exceedingly beloved of
the children appears in the centre
aisle. It is old Father Christmas himself in his white beard, with pointed
cap on his head and a large sack on his
back, soon surrounded by 'angels'
and children, who vie with each
other for the good things that are
to be given out. When the large
sack is empty and Old Father
Christmas has disappeared behind
the sacristy door, then is sung as
the closing chorale 'Puer natus est
Bethlehem '.
• What
do the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' I mean?
THE WORDS of the carol 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' do not re
late to the twelve days during which the Magi searched for the
Infant. Various sources suggest that they form a coded checklist of
the doctrines of the Catholic Church - coded to avoid arousing the suspicions of
Oliver Cromwell and his followers - and that the verses can be interpreted as follows:
A partridge in a pear tree represents the one true God. Two turtledoves are the Old
and New Testaments. Three French hens are Faith, Hope and Charity. Four calling
birds stand for the Four Gospels. Five golden rings are the Pentateuch (the first
five books of the Bible). Six geese a-laying are the six days of creation. Seven
swans a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Eight maids amilking are the eight Beatitudes. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the
Spirit. Ten lords a-leaping are the Commandments. Eleven pipers piping are the
eleven faithful Apostles, and twelve drummers drumming represent the twelve articles of the Apostles Creed.
Parish Hall 100 Club winners November 2008
Mary Bethel £33
Joan Bartle
£5
Sheila Lloyd £5
Musical Evening
Opera stars Alwyn Mellor (Soprano) and Matthew Oldfield (Baritone) will be
presenting a Musical Entertainment on Saturday 10th January in the Parish Hall,
Creigiau at 7.30 p.m. This will be a quality evening with a wide range of vocal
music that should not be missed!
Tickets at £10 will be on sale in our churches. The hall will be set out with tables
so if you wish to bring your own bottle (with something in it, of course) to sip
between items, please do so.
Alwyn, who attends St David’s Church, has presented similar evenings in the
past, and we are most grateful to her for supporting the Parish in this way.
Further details are available from Alison Woodley (Tel’ 029 20891800) or the
Vicar (029 20890318)
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For 200 years, Silent Night has perfectly encapsulated the Christmas spirit. Here
its origins are traced.
Its haunting notes never fail to send a festive shiver down the spine and many people
cite it as their favourite Christmas carol. Silent Night has become an integral part of
Yuletide. Its lullaby-like melody and simple message of heavenly peace can be heard
wafting across the continents every December, a mesmeric reminder of the holy
power of Christmas Night.
The story goes that the words to Stille Nacht were written in German by a priest, Fr
Joseph Mohr, in Mariapfarr, Austria, in 1816. The following year, Fr Mohr was transferred to St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf. On December 24, 1818 he visited the
home of musician-schoolteacher Franz Gruber, showed his friend the poem and asked
him to add a melody and guitar accompaniment so that it could be sung at Midnight
Mass. According to legend, a mouse had put the organ out of order at St Nicholas
Church and Gruber therefore needed to pen a quick song to fill the gap. Thus, the first
playing of Silent Night took place on Christmas Eve, 1818.
As the two men behind the composition, backed by a choir, stood in front of the main
altar in St Nicholas' Church and sang "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!" for the first time,
they could hardly imagine the impact their composition would have on the world.
Gruber later stated that the "simple composition was met with approval on Christmas
Eve right away".
There have since been an estimated 300 translations of the lyrics. The definitive English translation of the song was penned by Rev. John Freeman Young and first published in The Sunday-School Service and Tune Book (1863).
Proof of the popularity of the carol came in the trenches in World War I when soldiers
on both sides of the divide sang the song on Christmas night. The melody drifted
along the night air in English and German. As the melody spread, people started to assume that it was the work of a master composer like Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven.
These thoughts persisted until the late 20th century, when a long-lost arrangement of
Stille Nacht in the hand of Fr Mohr was authenticated. In the upper right hand corner
of the arrangement, Mohr had written "Melodie von Fr. Xav. Gruber."
As the American Christmas historian Bill Egan states: "Perhaps this is part of the
beauty of Silent Night. The words flowed from the imagination of a modest curate.
The music was composed by a musician who was not known outside his village.
There was no celebrity to sing at its world premiere. Yet its powerful message of
heavenly peace has crossed all borders and language barriers, conquering the hearts of
people everywhere."
Oberndorf now has a Silent Night Museum and Chapel and there is even a Silent
Night Association in Austria.
John Dolan, The Evening Echo, Cork Christmas 2006
This is St Nicholas Church built in 1757. Following years of
flooding it was torn down in the early 20th century. The new
building incorporates several features from the old church, including the altar, pulpit and windows. The crib used at the “Silent
Night” service is in the museum at Ried im Innkreis. JG
12
Confirmation
STRICTLY speaking Confirmation is a part of Holy Baptism: a kind of personal affirmation of the sacrament of entry into the Church. The baby is sponsored by Godparents who
in turn encourage the confirmees in their choice. In the Church of England Confirmation
has great possibilities of personal testi-mony. as such it has tended to be something undertaken at the behest of parents and clergy during the teen-age years. I was confirmed
myself at the age of seventeen and I much appreciated the opportunity. I enjoyed the
classes. I made some male friends with whom I enjoyed Sunday afternoon walks and I
began to attend a Bible Class where the curate took immense trouble to give us the kind
of teaching and inspiration that we needed. Out of that Bible Class I plucked up enough
courage to offer my services as a Sunday School teacher, and out of that experience, and
on my 21st birthday, I started up the Ormskirk Church Scout Group in 1928 with four
boys, two from my senior Sunday class. It was never a big group: my personal style was
not ambitious. However it thrived and fifty years later I was invited to attend the celebrations to mark the half-centenary year.
I sometimes ask myself what the essential ingredients would be to re-establish Confirmation as a teaching sacrament in the modern church. Perhaps there are three essentials, all
requiring personal concern. It is first and foremost necessary to know the names of the
teen-age young people in the parish and this may require a parish secretary. Then it is important to evangelise amongst the worshipping families vigorously enough to per-suade
the reluctant adolescents to come forward. Thirdly it is important to give Confirmation
training and classes a sufficient status in the parish that parents and Godparents become
aware of their obligation to present the young for training. This is a piece of work that
should be undertaken, not only by the Vicar, but also by all senior members of the congregation. Names should be forthcoming from every worshipping family. No one should
be allowed to slip through the net.
To sum up, Confirmation is a sacrament of the Church. The outward and visible sign is
the laying on of the hands of the Bishop, who welcomes the young people into the adult
life of the Church. There are other ways of coming into the life and worship of our
church but this is the traditional one and it should be better used.
N.W.G. Reproduced from “Abba Imma” by Norman Goodacre, published by The Canterbury Press, Norwich
Confirmation.
A reminder that the Area Deanery service of Confirmation within the Holy
Eucharist will take place in St Catwg’s Church on Thursday 4 December
at 7.30 p.m. Candidates will come from our parish and St Fagan’s.
The service will be conducted by the Assistant Bishop, the Right Revd. Dr
David Yeoman. As well as our own Vicar, the Vicar of St Fagan’s, Revd. Anthony
Wintle and the Area Dean Revd. John Payne will be present.
Please make a very special effort to attend to support those being confirmed.
A prayer for the homeless and the hungry: Lord Jesus, I pray thee to succour all
those who have nowhere to go; no bed, no comfort, and no food. Stir us all to do for
them what we profess to be willing to do for Thee, and give them speedy relief.
13
St Edmundsbury is the cathedral covered by
David Webb this month in his excellent series.
St Edmundsbury Cathedral
Prior to the Reformation, Bury St Edmunds possessed a substantial Abbey,
which housed the remains of St Edmund,
King of the East Angles, killed by the
Danes in 869. The Abbey was swept
away in the 1500s and its ruins now adorn
a fine park. The parish church of St
James lies within the precincts of the old
Abbey and, in 1914, it became a cathedral
when the new diocese of St Edmundsbury
and Ipswich was created.
The core of the building as we now see it
dates from the sixteenth century, when it
replaced an earlier church. As a parish
church, it underwent substantial restoration, with some extension, in Victorian
times. And since becoming a cathedral, it
has been further expanded and enriched –
indeed, some of this work was still being
completed at the time of our visit during
the summer of 2008. The perpendicular
west front faces onto a narrow cobbled
street just off the town square and, from
that direction, the building looks rather
unremarkable alongside the adjacent freestanding Norman tower, which once
formed a gateway to the Abbey.
However, if we walk around to either side
of the cathedral, we can look up at its own
central tower – completed only in 2005. I
have in my collection a booklet, dating
from 1953, which sets out proposals for
enlarging the cathedral. At that time, the
architect did not favour building a con14
ventional tower. Instead, the crossing
was to be surmounted by a square pyramidal roof with concave sides, surmounted by a fairly short copper spire.
Having compared the 1953 drawings
with the reality now in place, I am in no
doubt that the change of plan was a
good one. The graceful tower has given
the building a visual dignity appropriate
to its cathedral status.
On entering, we find ourselves in a
nave, whose height is accentuated by a
tall slender arcade of light coloured
stone – since there is no triforium, this
rises up to the base of the clerestory.
The timber roof was installed during a
nineteenth century restoration by Sir
George Gilbert Scott and is supported
on hammer-beams. In view of the relatively narrow span, there may be some
doubt whether these are structurally
necessary. However, the carved angels
on alternate terminals, enhanced by colour which was applied during the second half of the twentieth century, are
quite spectacular in topping off the
nave.
The font bowl is also by Scott, though it
stands on medieval columns. And its
tall carved canopy is a memorial to parishioners killed in the First World War.
In 1960, the whole composition was
painted in a Gothic revival style and
blends together extremely well.
Most of the nave windows contain Vic-
St Edmundsbury continued
torian stained glass. But the pictorial work
is surrounded, in each case by sufficient
uncoloured glass to let in a reasonable
amount of light. And as we approach the
eastern end of the nave – immediately under the Millennium Tower, we find an attractive modern range of light oak stalls set
before a nave altar.
At the eastern end of the north quire
aisle is the recently refurbished Edmund Chapel. Small and set aside for
prayer, it contains a carved wooden
statue of the saint who is patron of the
diocese - though not of its cathedral
church. Alongside, we could see a further chapel being fitted out in what appeared to be a new extension to the
Passing through a pierced metal screen to
building. And a nearby stairway leads
the south, we enter the Lady Chapel which, up to the Treasury – but, visiting on a
unusually, runs parallel to the quire. It
Sunday, we unfortunately found it
blends so well with the rest of the building closed.
that we were surprised to learn that this
Chapel was built in the 1960s – indeed, its Returning to the west porch, we pass
foundation stone was laid by Michael
down a few steps to the cloisters. This
Ramsey, an Archbishop of Canterbury who is a modern addition providing shelter
will be remembered by many readers.
for processions passing from the vestries to the west end. It has been tasteThe quire itself was substantially rebuilt
fully executed in a sympathetic style.
during Scott’s restoration and has been fur- Along the walls here are a number of
ther enlarged in the twentieth century. The memorial plaques and it was intereststalls have been bleached so that they are
ing to note that one of them comnow similar in colour to the modern ones
memorated the topographer and histoaround the nave altar. On the arcade above rian, Dr Benjamin Heath Malkin.
are decorative shields representing an ear- Around the turn of the nineteenth cenlier phase of Bury St Edmunds’ history;
tury, he undertook a tour of South
they display the arms of Barons said to
Wales, recorded in his book “The Scenhave met at the Abbey in 1214 to plot
ery, Antiquities and Biography of
against King John and ensure the enforce- South Wales”. During this time, he
ment of Magna Carta.
met and married a daughter of the curate of Cowbridge. Malkin was headThe altar cross is very striking. Its main
master of the Royal School, Bury St
surface of brightly polished metal is surEdmunds between 1809 and 1828, berounded by a mesh which has almost the
fore becoming a Professor at the Uniappearance of a cobweb. The bishop’s
versity of London. He subsequently
throne stands the north of the high altar
returned to Cowbridge, where he died
while opposite is a triple decorated stone
in 1842.
sedilia.
A newspaper report of a local wedding said: “The bride
looked stunning in an embroidered gown which fell
softly to the floor”.
15
Following last month’s article by David Webb on Salisbury Cathedral, David and
Margaret Pendlebury, were move to write the following:
David Webb’s interesting article on Salisbury Cathedral reminded us of our visit there
earlier this year. While on holiday in the New Forest we had seen on television, news
of a flower festival in the Cathedral to celebrate the 750 th anniversary of its consecration. As David says, unusually the Cathedral was built almost entirely in one period of
33 years which gives it a coherence and awesome quality. The foundation stones for
the new Cathedral were laid at New Sarum (Salisbury) on 28 th April 1220. The church
was consecrated in 1258, with the Chapter House and Cloisters completed by 1266.
The flower festival was in June and had been planned from the beginning of 2006, obviously a huge undertaking. The impact on entering the Cathedral was overwhelming
with colour everywhere. It would take too long to recite all the different themes and
displays which were all very memorable. Two in particular left a special impression.
In the North Transept were horizontal installations reflecting the colours of the stained
glass windows beyond. Flowers were held in metal grids embedded into sisal held in
individual tubes, again covered in sisal. One cannot imagine how long they took to
create but the overall impression was of waves of colour flowing along the Transept.
In the South Aisle were displayed some of the Cathedral’s store of beautiful vestments.
Around each was a flower display inspired by the colours and patterns of the vestment.
You could only marvel at the skill and ingenuity of the use of flowers to reflect and enhance the beautiful copes and chasubles.
It was a very memorable day out and if anyone would like to know more about the festival we can lend you the brochure containing all the details and many excellent photographs of the displays.
GAMANFA GANU
Folk gathered in St. Catwg’s one wet and windy Remembrance Sunday evening for a
warm and joyful Gymanfa Ganu/Songs of Praise which was conducted by John
Gough, Organist and Choir Master of St. Catwg’s who had compiled the programme,
which featured a Remembrance Sunday Hymn, Taizé Community Hymns, 20 th Century hymns, hymns with a folk song origin, hymns in Welsh and the ‘Big Sing’ of
rousing hymns as the service reached a climax, though with a reflective hymn to finish after the blessing. The organist was Miss Jane Williams.
John introduced each of the hymns in his own genial way, giving us something of the
background of the hymn or the tune as appropriate and showing how the hymn is best
sung. This all enhanced the worship and made it more meaningful for everyone.
Many thanks to the choir and Jane Williams, but especially to John Gough for leading
the worship and for all his preparatory work beforehand, including the Orders of Service.
16
Parish Holiday to Brittany
We now have full costings and details of our Parish Holiday to Brittany.
Departure date: Monday 31st August
Overnight crossing from Portsmouth to St Malo in twin bedded cabins
Arrive St Malo 8.15 a.m.
Three nights in Lorient, in the city centre 400 metres from Yachting Marina in 3* hotel (Merune) on Bed and Buffet Breakfast basis.
Trips include: Mont St Michel, Dinan, St Cado, Carnac, Quiberon, Pont
Aven, Concarneau
Return Friday 4th September.
Leave Roscoff 4.30 p.m.
Arrive Plymouth 9.30 p.m.
Arrive Pentyrch 12.30 to 1 a.m. Saturday.
Cost £285:
Single supplement £100
Non refundable deposit by end of January £20, full amount by end of July.
Details of payment later.
The “Register of interest” form should now be treated as
confirmation that you wish to go. We are positive that we will fill a coach
(Edwards Travel) so early indications are advised.
Forms are at the back of our churches, so please complete them as soon as
possible. Further details from David Pendlebury or John Gough. Telephone
numbers are on the last page of this magazine.
You, and friends, are invited to join us!
Many of you attended the Friday tea party for
Christian Aid a couple of month’s ago. The
following letter was received as a receipt for the
donation that was sent.
06 November 2008
Many thanks for your kind donation of £300.00 on 05 November 2008 towards
the work of Christian Aid. Your gift will help support our work in more than 50
of the world’s poorest countries.
Thank you so much for taking part in this year’s Christian Aid Tea Time event.
Your party took place with 2,000 others up and down the country and some
even further afield. I hope that you enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with
friends whilst knowing that by taking part in Tea Time you were helping people
in some of the poorest communities in the world. The money you helped raise
will be used to make the difference between life and death, inequality and justice, from surviving, to living a life with hope and opportunity.
Christian Aid believes in strengthening people to find their own solutions to the
problems they face. We do whatever is needed to support poor people and their
communities, whether it's speaking out against the causes of poverty or funding
vital work on the ground. The generosity of our supporters means we are currently able to support over 600 partner organisations around the world as they
work towards ending the injustice of poverty.
Once again, thank you so much for your continued support of our work with
and for the poorest communities on earth. With your continued help, we can
make a difference.
Yours Sincerely
We believe in life before death
Andrew Hewson
Only after the last tree has been cut down,
Only after the last river has been poisoned,
Only after the last fish has been caught,
Only then will you find that money cannot be
eaten.
18
PARISH ADVENT FELLOWSHIP LUNCH
After the continued success and fellowship in previous years, it
has been requested that our Advent Fellowship Lunch should be
held again this year.
A ‘ faith’ or ‘fellowship’ meal depends on everyone equally.
Not only the meal, but also the fellowship, will be incomplete without our being together to share and enjoy as we prepare for the
festival, worship and celebration of Christmas.
The procedure is quite simple:
 Each ‘family’ signs (on the one list) to bring a contribution to the meal.
 The number in each ‘family / friendship group’ is noted also, to ensure
sufficient food and places are prepared for everyone.
 At 12:45 pm on Sunday, 7th December , we arrive at the Parish Hall, Creigiau,
bringing the part of the meal we have prepared.
 Everyone’s contributions make the meal and the occasion complete.
Please come
Add your names to the list
Make our 2008 Advent Fellowship Lunch another special occasion.
Any queries?


Please contact either:
    Frances and Robin Simpson 20891165
    Andrew and Sue Dodd
20891736
or
GOOD NEWS COFFEE MORNING
This month’s coffee morning will be on Saturday 20 December, and in
January on 17th 2009! Everyone is very welcome to come along and
enjoy refreshments in the Parish Hall, Creigiau from 10.00 a.m. There
will be a chance to win a raffle prize and some times there may be a stall.
Proceeds for Hall Funds.
Anyone interested in having a stall should arrive shortly before 10.00 a.m.
During the morning the draw will be made for the 100 Club, though you do not have
to be at the Coffee Morning to stand a chance of winning. You pay just £1 a month or
£12 annually - to enrol please contact Sheila Lloyd on 02920890136. We are most
grateful to Sheila, all who donate raffle prizes and those who organise and cater for
the even.
The wedding music chosen by two young vegetarians included the voluntary:
“Sheep may safely grace”.
19
CHRISTINGLE SERVICE
The Pentyrch Parish Christingle Service will be held in the
Parish Hall, Creigiau on Sunday 1st February at 10.30 a.m.
The first Christingle Service was held in Moravia in 1747
but the service’s roots are deeper in history. The Romans
had an orange decorated with fruit at one of the preChristians’ service and the ancient Welsh Church knew it
as the ‘Calennig’ (New Year’s Gift). In Moravia families
gathered together in their homes where the children were given a Christingle and,
by the light of these, they sang their favourite religious songs.
Christingle means ‘Christ Light’ and the symbolism of an orange, a red ribbon,
four sticks, fruit and nuts and a lighted candle from a powerful image of God’s
gift of the world and everything in it. The greatest gift of all, the gift of His Son
Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, who came and died to save us is commemorated in the lighted candle, placed in the scooped out orange.
We hope that, as in previous years we shall have a very large congregation at this
very meaningful service and we warmly welcome everybody who is able to come
along. The Diocese has asked that the collection be given to the Diocesan Board
for Social Responsibility, caring for and supporting children and families in need.
CREIGIAU COMPANIONS
2008 has been a good year for the Creigiau Companions. Membership has increased
and we have enjoyed several social afternoons and many interesting talks. Two outings were also arranged. In the spring we paid an afternoon visit to Fonmon Castle
and later, in June, a longer day trip to Bath with a lunch cruise on the River Avon. In
spite of the wet summer we were blessed with fine weather on both occasions. We
look forward now to our Christmas Lunch, this time in the New House Hotel in
Thornhill. A programme has been drawn up for the New Year. We start on January
8th. with a concert by the Creigiau Songsters.
Meetings are still held in the Church Hall in Creigiau on alternate Thursdays afternoons. If you would like more information just ring Margery on 029 20 80 685 or
Bronwen on 29 20 890 696. We are particularly pleased to welcome any newcomers
to the area.
While signing the wedding register, the best man had difficulty making the ball-point
pen work. “Put your weight on it,” said the vicar. He duly signed: John Smith (10
stone 4 pounds).
20
POINTS TO PONDER
In the last magazine we told a rather puzzling story having to do with foreign exchange
and heard that the governments of two neighbouring countries – Eastland and Westland
had an agreement whereby an Eastland dollar was worth a dollar in Westland and vice
versa.
One day the government of Eastland decreed that thereafter a Westland dollar note was
to be worth only 90 cents in Eastland. The next day the Westland Government, not be
outdone decreed that thereafter Eastland dollar was to be worth only 90 cents in Westland. Malcolm, a young entrepreneur lived in a town straddling the border between the
two countries. He went into a store in the Eastland side, bought a 10 cent razor and paid
for it with an Eastland dollar. He was given a Westland dollar, worth 90 cents there, in
change. He then crossed the street, went into a Westland store, bought a 10 cent package
of blades and paid for them with the Westland dollar. He was then given an Eastland
dollar in change. When Malcolm returned home, he had his original dollar and his purchases, and each of the tradesmen had 10 cents in his cash drawer. We asked who paid
for the razor and blades. The answer is that the economies of Eastland and Westland
paid for the razor blades. If Malcolm were to repeat the transaction often enough, the
end result would have given him all, or a large part of the stock of razor blades in both
countries, together with one Eastland or Westland dollar. The two countries would be
left with their stocks of blades largely denuded, but with their domestic currencies repatriated.
Now for this month’s puzzle. It may take some time but you have two months to think
about it.
The Watchmaker
A watchmaker was telephoned to make an urgent house call to replace the broken hands
of a clock. He was ill, so he sent his apprentice.
The apprentice was thorough. When he finished inspecting the clock it was dark. He
hurriedly attached the new hands, but mixed up the hour and the minute hands. He then
set the clock by his pocket watch. It was 6 o’clock, so he set the big hand at 6 and the
little hand at 12. The apprentice returned, but soon the telephone rang. He picked up
the receiver only to hear the client’s angry voice. “You didn’t do the job right. The
clock shows the wrong time”. Surprised, he hurried back to the client’s house. He
found the clock showing not much past 8. He handed his watch to the client saying
“Check the time, please. Your clock is not out by even a second”. He had to agree.
Early next morning the client telephones to say that the clock hands, having apparently
gone berserk were moving around the clock at will. When the apprentice rushed over,
the clock showed a little past 7. After checking with his watch the apprentice got angry.
“You are making fun of me! The clock shows the right time”!
Do you know what was going on? - Answer next issue! Good luck!
21
(An unauthorised version!
On the first day of Christmas my true love said to me, "I'm glad we brought the turkey
and a proper Christmas tree."
On the second day of Christmas, much laughter could be heard as we tucked into our
turkey, a most delicious bird.
On the third day of Christmas we entertained people from next door. The turkey tasted
just as good as it had the day before.
Day four, relations came to stay: poor Grandma is looking old. We finished up the
Christmas pud and ate the turkey cold.
On the fifth day of Christmas, outside the snowflake flurried. But we were nice and
warm inside and had the turkey curried.
On the sixth day I must admit the Christmas spirit died. The children fought and bickered so we ate turkey rissoles, fried.
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love did he wince, when he sat down at the
table and was offered turkey mince.
Day eight, and nerves were getting frayed, the dog had run for pancakes with a glass of
Alka Seltzer.
On the ninth day our cat left home, by lunchtime Dad was blotto. He said he had to
have a drink to face turkey risotto.
By the tenth day the booze had gone (except our home made brew). And if that wasn't
enough we suffered turkey stew.
On the eleventh day, the Christmas tree was moulting. The mince pies were hard as
rock and the turkey was revolting.
On the twelfth day, my true love had a smile upon his lips - the guests had gone, the
turkey too - and we dined on fish and chips.
Christmas Cracker
A quick count at the end of the busy Fayre in the Parish Hall, showed that over £1200
was raised. Congratulations to all concerned.
Ready to go! Waiting for the
buyers to arrive.
Setting up on Friday evening and
Saturday morning, meant that by
mid-day on Saturday, everyone
was ready for Sian Lloyd to start
the proceedings and the buyers to
flock in.
22
This afternoon there
will be a meeting in the
south and north ends of
the church. Children
will be baptised at both
ends.
Ed was in trouble.
He forgot his wedding anniversary.
His wife was really
mad. She told him
"Tomorrow morning,
I expect to find a gift
in the driveway that
goes from 0 to 200 in
6 seconds, AND IT
BETTER BE
THERE.!"
The next morning,
Ed got up early and
left for work. When
his wife woke up, she
looked out the window, and sure
enough, there was a
medium-sized giftwrapped box in the
middle of the driveway.
Confused, the wife
put on her robe, ran
out to the driveway,
and brought the box
back into the house.
She opened it and
found a brand-new
bathroom scale.
The Bible is the
world’s best selling
book: it is also the
world’s most shoplifted book.
Funeral services for
Ed have been scheduled for Friday.
23
Parish of Pentyrch
Vicar – The Rev. John Binny
Hon Retired Priest, Canon J Buttimore
The Vicarage, Pentyrch CF15 9QF
Parochial Secretary
Mr Andrew Dodd
69, Maes-y-Sarn, Pentyrch
Parish Treasurer
20890318
20659333
20891736
Mr John Davey
Rocklands, Pant y Gored Road
Creigiau
20891765
Mrs Jean Wood
20892865
Mr Andrew Dodd
20891736
Mr David Pendlebury
20892077
Sacristan
Miss Betty Nixon
20891948
Treasurer
Mr Martin J Cragg
6 Cefn Bychan
20890738
PCC Secretary
Organist and Choirmaster
Sunday School
Mrs Gill Stevens
Mr John Gough
c/o the Vicar
20811444
20891721
20890318
Mr Roger Williams
Mrs Janet Jones
Mrs M MacKay
28 Parc-y-Coed, Creigiau
20890347
20890216
20890827
PCC Secretary
Mrs M MacKay
20890827
Organist
Miss Jane Williams
Parish Hall Booking Secretary
St Catwg’s Church, Pentyrch
Churchwardens
St David’s Church, Groesfaen
Churchwardens
Treasurer
St Ellteyrn’s Church
Capel Llanilltern
Churchwardens
Mr Russell Jenkins
Mrs J Winkler
20890355
20892703
Treasurer
Mr E Willis
Llwyn y Pennau Farm
Groesfaen
20890770
Secretary
Mr R J A Jenkins
20890355
Parish Magazine Organisers
Pentyrch
Creigiau
Groesfaen
Mrs Margaret Curran
Mrs Gaynor Williams
Mr Harry Mason
20891693
20890657
20890526
24