Renewal
The little chapel in Cwm Camlais, near Brecon, celebrated its 170th anniversary in 2010. The actual date was in June but we had to hold off the main celebrations until later in the year because we needed to use a field for parking and we had to wait until the grass had been cut.
We celebrated 170 years because things are good for us. The congregation is growing. The new people who are moving into the valley want to become involved with the chapel and we've just had to repair the gallery because every time we have a big service we need the space for the growing numbers attending.
So, we had a low-key service back in June, a sort of family only do, and a main celebration and service at the end of August which included a sports / fun day for everyone. Apart from five people away on holiday, the whole of the valley turned out, absolutely everyone, 100% possible attendance, and some brought friends with them!
8 www. countryway. org. uk
We had a super afternoon, in glorious sunshine, with races, four-in-a-sack race, welly wanging, guess the weight of a ewe, splat the rat – the lot. Everyone had a smashing time and at the end, the kids were all asking if we could have another one next year. (You bet!!!)
Well, we cleared up and the children were all playing happily together in the field. The sun was still shining and everyone was relaxed. In fact, no one wanted it to end ... so ... one couple went back for a gas-fired BBQ, various others went back to raid freezers for burgers, sausages and rolls etc. Thus we moved into an impromptu community BBQ to which almost everyone stayed. Proceedings finally broke up as darkness fell and a spit of rain began to come into the air.
The celebration service packed the chapel and afterwards we served tea for over 120 people in a couple of large gazebos in the chapel grounds. We bought these as we have no hall or
ancillary accommodation. It's amazing how a little ingenuity can overcome lack of a kitchen, or running water, or electricity!
There was also a gala concert in mid September, it went off well but the weather that weekend was dreadful: high wind and lashing rain
And finally, at the beginning of September we received new members formally onto the Roll of Members. At that service we doubled the chapel's membership. Then, in December we received more new members and we've a couple in the pipe-line so that in the space of a few months we shall have doubled the membership and then doubled the new membership.
It was a classic example of how a chapel can still bring its community together and grow. It cost next-to- nothing and yet it will be remembered for a long time yet
Michael Hodgson
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32