In view of the Coronavirus situation no services will take place until further notice.  Further information is given 

on the www.churchinwales.org.uk website.        

The 6 churches in the parish should however be open to visitors.

 

 

ST DAVIDS DAY CYMANFA GANU                                           

South West Gower was delighted to host this year’s Gower churches Cymanfa Ganu which took place on St David’s Day in Reynoldston Hall and what a wonderful occasion it was!  A full account and photographs appear elsewhere in the magazine. Thanks are due to Rev. Hilary Evans for her direction and hard work with the Committee and all who helped and  to Alun Tregelles-Williams and all the participants.

 

WEST  GOWER WORLD DAY OF PRAYER  Another successful and fascinating World Day of Prayer Service, prepared this year by the women of Zimbabwe, was held at Llanmadoc Church on 6th March.. This was again co-ordinated by Rosemary Wigley from Oxwich with fourteen members from all the churches and chapels.  They are thanked and also those from Llanmadoc for their excellent hospitality. Nearly forty enjoyed the service and it is always pleasing that this day is made memorable at the thought that women and men all over the world are taking part in the same event on the same day. For us it is one of the few occasions in the year when Church and Chapel meet together in praise and singing.                                                                                                      

 

PLANT  SALE   Saturday 2nd May   The tiny plants were ordered and payment made in November and they will soon be arriving for growth to full size by church members. We shall do our best to have plants (only) on sale on 2nd May, possibly in the Rectory Garden. Please watch church notices for arrangements.  All proceeds will again go to the Welsh Refugee Council.

 

 

REPORTS FROM THE CHURCHES                                            

 

St David’s, Llandewi                                                                                 

 

February into March has been somewhat dominated by windy, wet weather, with many being glad not to have to go out.  We are looking forward to sunnier days, and have begun planning for social and fund-raising events in the summer.Meantime, the mid-week Eucharist has continued with a faithful congregation, giving us time to reflect, fitting well with the season of Lent, and also to enjoy a brief social time together. From there some have been going on to the Rectory to share in the Lent Course.                                        

We were joined by several more people who came for the Ash Wednesday service, which included the imposition of ashes. This time of year is also one involving each of our churches in administrative tasks prior to the Annual meetings, including Annual reports, and this year this includes the revision of the Electoral Roll.  The date of our Annual Congregational meeting needs to be changed: please check the church notice boards for details. The ACM

is open to any who wish to attend. 

We are grateful to all who enable the smooth running of the churches and the parish in various ways, including Hugh Dunthorne: we send him our best wishes for a full recovery.   We remember also in our prayers Valerie and Alan Miles, whom we miss.

Penny Henderson

 

St Illtyd’s, Oxwich 

                                                   

The snowdrops are over, the daffodils are in full bloom and Easter fast approaches. The parish Lent discussion group is underway and provoking much discussion and of course ably led by Rev Justin.
Justin shows much concern for the children of Knelston school running a weekly lunch club there and fortnightly leads an assembly with a few other people from the parish where Bible stories are acted out. This Bible Society course called ‘Open the Book’ ensures that the children receive some knowledge of Bible stories. The children particularly enjoy taking part in the little dramas.
The first Saturday in March saw the renewal of our Coffee and Chat meetings in the village hall and was enjoyed by church members, villagers and some visitors too. The next date for one of these occasions will be April 4th 10.30 – 12 o’clock. NOW CANCELLED. We look forward to replacing our old wooden chairs in church quite soon, with much more comfortable ones from which to enjoy our services.
Recently we held a small post service celebration to mark Miriel Smith’s important birthday. She is a very faithful member of the congregation and must be our longest serving one too.

Rosemary Wigley

 

St Andrew’s, Penrice     

 

 

Despite deluges and a pandemic Spring has arrived which after such a long wet Winter is a joy to see.

Owing to the Covid-19 crisis the Penrice lectures for April, May and June are cancelled but as we have a talk booked for September 8th we will review the situation nearer the time.

Despite the anxieties at the moment there is still  much to be thankful for as there has been so much kindness and offers of practical help within the community.  We are fortunate to live such an area and not in a busy, impersonal city.

All at St. Andrew’s send best wishes to everyone,  keep well and cheerful!

Angela Barnett

 

 

St Cattwg’s, Port Eynon  

        

The most recent Iona service was held in a less structured style, with a number of hymns and with congregation members contributing their own prayers and poetry readings on the theme of Spring. We enjoyed tea and biscuits afterwards. The next Iona Service is due on March 21st – everyone more than welcome. NOW CANCELLED.

The Seniors’ lunch was held on February 20th with fewer diners as several regulars were unwell. Everybody present enjoyed themselves.

On March 1st we were treated to Breakfast Church before the service. Our Annual General Meeting was held simultaneously and all the same officers were elected. We recorded grateful thanks to Madeleine Gill for preparing the Accounts meticulously as ever, and to Colin Richards for auditing them, as he has done for many years.

It looks as if the long-awaited interior repairs may take place during April.  It is planned that the repairers will also do a deep-clean of the church, so we have not planned our own spring-clean.

Susan Morris

 

St George’s, Reynoldston

     

Reynoldston has further sad news to report in the loss of two more, much liked members of our community.  Peter Glover moved here in the 1970’s to a senior position in the DVLA and has always contributed to the life of the church and the community. Since his retirement he established a very successful walking group, the Reynoldston Ramblers, as well as the Book Group in between regularly playing Bridge and with his wife, Sheila, making a wonderful garden and taking holidays in Italy whenever possible. Highly sociable and friendly he loved to share the village news.  In recent years he had been caring for his beloved Sheila and latterly visiting her several times weekly in a nursing home. He died suddenly after a recent fall. Our thoughts are with Sheila, and Julia, Susie, Tim and their families.  

 

Adrian Richards was also a popular and valued member here and in much of South Gower, his parents being from long established Gower farming families. Having lived here all his life he was well known and as a partner in Bevan and Buckland, CA’s, his professional expertise was much in demand by several organizations and businesses -  the Gower Show and the Reynoldston Village Hall Association in particular but also numerous others. One of his great interests was his collection of classic tractors, linking with his love of the country and his farming connections. He will be warmly remembered as friendly, with a cheerful smile, and ready to help.  We are thinking especially of Joan, as well as Alison and Jane and their families  

Valerie Beynon

 

St Mary’s, Rhossili    

Our outreach programme continued with a second coffee morning at the Lookout Café.  It was a pleasure to see again some of those who came before, and new faces were also welcomed.  The Village Hall Yoga Group, who usually have a class at the same time, were obviously curious to see what we were about, and, as it was half term, they joined us instead.  It made for a full house of chatter and laughter, and consolidated the new habit of a regular monthly community get-together.                                                                                               

 

Local flooding put paid to our Morning Worship service with Peter Davies who was caught on the other side, but we improvised with Roger Button taking the lead at short notice.  The following week, when Roger was unwell, Gill Wales stepped into the breach and led us in a complete and delightful well-paced service that included prayers from the pebble pool, and contemplation on the meaning of Ash Wednesday.  Thanks to both for making such valuable contributions for the benefit of us all.                                                                 

 Roger Button                                       

 

 

                                         

 

 

 

 

 

Rev Justin Davies, The Rectory, Knelston, Reynoldston,Swansea SA3 1AR  Tel 01792 391384