Thursday, April 13th, 2006 Thank youfor saying you saw Out and About Short but rich history for St Cadoc’s Catholic church in Cowbridge THE history of St The extension was Cadoc’s RC church by RICHARD TAYLOR completed, including in Cowbridge may mass, Catholics were the next 30 years, and new stained glass win­ be a relatively forced to travel to when Father Dewi dows, by Easter 1991, short one, but it is Llantwit Major, Barry Davies arrived in 1986, and allowed for such ' nevertheless a dis­ and Bridgend to attend mass was conducted on groups as the Catholic t tinguished one, organised services. Tuesday evening, Women’s League to be « In 1955, however, Thursday morning and accommodated at the 1 that lends a fasci­ Mr L.E.W. Williams, of Sunday morning. nating insight into church. the Verlands, was The Good Friday The new extension ; the development of determined that a prop­ Liturgy and Easter an institution in the was dedicated in er Catholic church be Vigil were also intro­ December 1992 in a established in duced as permanent town. special mass held by Just a few months Cowbridge, and donat­ celebrations at St ago, on January 29, the ed some of his land Cadoc’s. Emeritus Archbishop church celebrated its accordingly. In addition, the only John Aloysius Ward. golden jubilee, with the It was completed regular Welsh mass in In November 1997, visit of Archbishop within the year, and the diocese was held on Father Dewi Davies Peter Smith. dedicated by Sundays, conducted by moved to St Illtyd’s, The church was first Archbishop McGrath Father Davies and Dowlais, and he was established in 1956. on January 29 1956, to Father Edwin Regan, replaced by Father The Catholic popula­ St Cadoc, a pioneer of now Bishop of Pierce Maher from St tion of Cowbridge had Christianity in the Wrexham. This contin­ Helen’s, Barry. He steadily risen since the Vale. ued until February 25 remains the current turn of the century, but Father Brendan 1990. parish priest. there was no official Morris was the first With the congrega­ St Cadoc’s lost its venue in which to priest to serve in the tion growing, it was attend mass. church, though he was decided that the church Sunday mass in 2003, Though venues such the successor to Father needed to extend to with a Saturday as the Blue Bell Inn John Magner as the accommodate the num­ evening mass taking its (now Filco) and West Catholic parish priest. bers of people attend- place, but the congre- House were used for The parish grew over ing mass each week. gation remains strong. I . — -C-