In the graveyard there is an ancient prayer cross.
It dates from the 13 th Century and was a focus of prayer and the sharing of news long long before the church was built.
Yesterday the amiable and rotund Vicar with his sexy young curate in tow held a meeting around the cross to discuss the future options for St Michael’s.
I thought they looked a little like Batman and Robin in their black.
I was worried that few people would turn up, but was pleasantly surprised that in addition to the smattering of regular worshippers many of the non practicing residents of the village arrived.
A good thirty to forty people were stood or seated in between the gravestones and the cross.
I looked around from where I sat on the grass, my bare feet itching on the clover, Affable Despot Jason with Liv, Mrs Trellis with her surgical mask firmly in place, Pippa from the Rectory, many of the members of the Community Association and the Women’s Institute were there, Sailor John too as well as a smattering of younger people I didn’t know.
The numbers were encouraging
Some of the Villagers
Islwyn , the village elder, who had single hand idly transformed the new cemetery from disrepair to bowling green chic stood under the shade of the sycamore and made a strong speech about community spirit, as did Tim from Plas y Dre Ucha. Who I would like to introduce Chic Eleanor to. And there were many questions asked as the vicar gave us the four options the Church has.
It was a sobering listen.
1) The Church could stay as a Parish Church but that would mean a new Church Committee would have to be formed with the responsibility of raising their allotted share of money for the Diocese yearly. The upkeep of the Church coupled with these costs were guessed to be around 12 thousand pounds a year
2) The Church could be adopted by Friends of Friendless Churches who would keep the building but would show it as a sort of museum
3) The Church could possibly become a Pilgrim Church supported financially and physically by the village. In this guise it could still be used as a place of worship ( approx 6 services a year not including funerals ) but it could also be used for other purposes, such a meeting place, food bank, community venue or whatever to be used by the general community.
4) The Church could be sold off, although access and use of the graveyard would be carried on
Village Leader Helen , led the meeting and people were asked if they would like to volunteer their help to whatever choice they thought fitting.
I looked at my laburnum, standing tall , just off the path behind us.
And hoped that things will work out for the best.
I do hope that something can be done. Not an easy decision, and it needs long term commitment from those involved. I hope the majority of people there feel able to help in one way or another. xx
ReplyDeleteYes…..it’s going to be a labour of love if it works
DeleteA few community fundraisers a year, a flower and garden show, a bake off, an arts and crafts show, a home and garden show, a blessing of the pets, an international appeal from a local celebrity, it can be done.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are right we just need to be organised
Delete£12000 is a lot for a probably elderly and dwindling congregation to find. Pilgrim Church sounds a pretty good option, with facility for some church services and many possible community events and uses. Things like 'food bank' are probably more in keeping with Christian values than having a lovely old church empty 95% of the time. though as Travel says, with enough enthusiasm for community events, the necessary amount could be raised.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like it would make one of those lovely community hubs that we call a pub...
ReplyDeleteLol
DeleteIt's a fairly large building, what a waste to let it sit empty except for Sundays, and weddings, and funerals.
ReplyDeleteIt’s one room, I’d love to see it used as a venue for drama and the like but Rachel is right we do already have a large community centre which needs funding
DeleteFor years English salvage yards have been taking hundreds of old pews from former Welsh Methodist chapels which have been turned into homes - and holiday homes. I hope that fate will not happen to yours. My thought when I read CharlotteP's comment above was that £12,000 P.A. is not a lot for the entire upkeep of a church. It could well be more. All I think is that it should not be sold off. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI like that idea of Jaz's below. Turn it into a pub. Brilliant idea.
DeleteIt breaks my heart to think of the inside of the church being used in the kitchens of the well heeled
Deleteas long as the church remains standing, it will be an asset to the village. actually, a pub would be charming. we have a huge old church that is a brewery and the beer is brewed right next to the altar.
ReplyDeleteLol . Pilgrim churches often lose their electricity . The church has no plumbing
DeleteI wondered it could be both Parish Church And Pilgrim Church which would embrace the whole Community x
ReplyDeleteIt may move from one to the other the vicar said
DeletePerhaps I'm naïve or too idealistic, but 12k per year also doesn't sound impossible to me. I like Travel's thoughts, and also Charlotte's and flis', but it really isn't up to us, I guess. Hope it works out happily for the village.
ReplyDeleteI think the costs were an estimate, the share of donations to the diocese would increase I would think
DeleteSold off to become a private home could generate funds to start up elsewhere in the village - maybe a brand new purpose built drop in centre that could provide a food bank,a community hub, a playgroup, a village hall? But that’s an atheist’s opinion!
ReplyDeleteA private home wouldn’t work, the access to the graveyard has to always remain open
DeleteAh yes of course.
DeleteI like that the people are getting involved and they will all help decide what is best for your village.
ReplyDeleteMetoo
DeleteOff the top of my head, and with only your information to go on, option 3 sounds like a good one. I don't know how people in the village feel about that, though.
ReplyDelete12K a year doesn't sound like a lot to keep it operational as is, but it would mean a lot of fundraising and consistent contributions from supporters.
Yes…I think this seems to be an option as it would be open for uses by the whole population and not just the religious
DeleteCan a village the size of Trelawnyd support both a church used for community activities and a community centre/village hall whch already does this and is well established, that is the question. The Church of Wales should support the church financially as a church for praying with a priest shared with other churches in the area and get out and visit the lonely.
ReplyDeleteA good point Rachel , both buildings are listed and therefore will cost a great deal to maintain .
DeleteTim spoke for me at the meeting
He said the church was in good order and it would be a criminal shame to loose it.
The pilgrim route would give a well organised committee some challenges but in my mind a workable one.
A local church in the tiny local hamlet of cwm is pilgrim church and is having difficulties ….our population is much bigger and vociferous
I understand that several thousand pounds can be collected for funds surprisingly from selling jam,pickles,cakes and gift sets over just a few days during the festive time of year x
ReplyDeleteGood point flis….organisation and mobilisation is the key
DeleteIt's good that so many folks came to the meeting. I hope the church will remain of use to the villagers in some way that can be easily and enjoyably supported.
ReplyDeleteCould you please explain what Tim's job is and if he is worthy of the adorable Mrs. T? Ta.
Hugs!
Lol not Mrs trellis…..chic Eleanor lol
DeleteI'd go the "Friends of Friendless Churches" route. If the church congregation can't afford the church now, it's not going to be able to consistently raise the money needed every year. Trelawnyd already has a community hall and doesn't need another for the same purpose. If the church is sold, there's no control over who will buy it or what it will be turned into.
ReplyDeleteThere is a financial element here…there are two fields that belong to the church ( one of them mine) both can be sold off …
DeleteBoth maybe built upon …..if planning permission can be sought. Their value will soar……very attractive to a cash strapped church
You had a good attendance. It would be very sad to lose the village church. Will the Vicar facilitate arriving at a solution?
ReplyDeleteI think he will help….but we are really on our own me thinks
DeleteDid they come close to some conclusion? Belief in gods and devils is on the wain, so maybe No 4 is the better solution.
ReplyDeleteNo, we need a working party to get together to discuss options
DeleteHaving lived in small villages most of my life with their attendant problems of upkeep of churches, village halls, etc, I would say that the *estimated* cost of £12,000 PER ANNUM is a huge amount for a small place to raise, and a huge amount of constant work and worry to fund raisers. Everyone on board for the first year, but support inevitably dwindles, albeit slowly, and costs rise. Been there, got the fundraising t-shirts and many of them.
ReplyDeleteI hope something can be sorted out to suit the village - best of luck to you all :)
I don't mean that last comment to come across as eye-rolling or whatever, I mean it sincerely, I know how important a church can be to a village.
DeleteIt’s all about a joint vision…years ago I organised a fete on my field . HUGE amounts of work admittedly but after mobilising dozens of volunteers, getting 80 cakes made to sell and the like, we made 1000£ profit in 2 hours
DeleteLocal Village shops and small businesses may be happy to donate a gift to raffle and keen gardeners could make Xmas wreaths and table decorations from greenery from their garden x
DeleteWhy don’t you ask your ex to help, wasn’t he the vicars right hand man?
ReplyDeleteWhat a stupid comment
Deletetroll-take your detritus well away from here
DeleteAs an outsider, option 2 or 3 sound best to me. I would oppose the church and land being sold off to developers.
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about the Church of Wales but if they are anything like the Church of England hierarchy they are ruthless in land deals and without sign of any compassion whatsoever.
DeleteYes Rachel, this is my worry. Both fields would be ideal for building houses on regardless of need
Delete