The October Treasury 2020

THE MAGAZINE OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF

EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT, NOT EVERYTHING IS NEW

hose who have been Following the decision to attending the adjourn the 2020 T General Assembly Assembly we have been over the years will recall advised that we need to that one of the first items meet the requirement to on the agenda, following the complete this work this opening service and year, and that we can do welcoming delegates, is the this, not by holding a virtual AGM. This is an agenda Assembly, but by holding an item when we adopt the Annual Meeting of the Annual Financial Report, charity virtually, which is and check on other issues the item referred to above. relating to the Presbyterian To realise this, the Church of Wales as a Executive Committee of the charity. General Assembly Board has called an Annual Meeting on the 13th of anyone who is not a October 2020 at 10.00 am. representative at the AGM, If you are an elder or officer can request a copy of the in one of our churches, the papers to be presented, and Presbytery will have already you can make a request by notified you of the meeting. sending a note to Eleri The meeting will be held Melhuish. using the Zoom facility, and In terms of the meeting you will be able to join on agenda, as noted above, we your computer, tablet or will be discussing smartphone, or join by 'corporate' issues - phone by dialling into the adopting the Financial meeting. We are sending Report, confirming our the invitation and papers to Trustees and appointing delegates on Tuesday (28th external Auditors. We will September 2020), and the also recommend the 2021 information will include Ministry and Mission details of how to join the Contribution levels, the AGM. We are also keen to ecumenical contribution remind all our elders / and 2021 grants, and the ministers that you are 2021 stipend / salary levels. members of the AGM, and The Executive has also if you wish to join but are decided to bring to the not a representative then meeting one issue relating we can share the details to rules on trading as a with you. Send a word to charity, and, of particular Eleri Melhuish interest to readers of our ([email protected] Denominational weekly, the mru or 02920627465), future of Y Goleuad from who will be able to provide January 2021 following the you with the information. discussion of creating one As required by our Rules, denominational weekly leaders locally, pray for our paper. witness in our communities, and pray that The AGM will be chaired by the Lord, above all, will the Moderator of the administer His grace in the General Assembly, the Revd lives of people who are Marcus Robinson, and after struggling to cope with the discussing the above current situation. Although issues, the Moderator will take the opportunity to offer some comments on how things have been over the last six months. Although the terms of the annual Meeting mean that it will be a business- related meeting, we trust that the Moderator's contribution will also be an opportunity to give thanks for, and celebrate the contribution of the leaders our time is taken up by in our churches over the internal discussions as last six or so months, and churches and as a an opportunity to Connexion, please pray that encourage one another as we will all know when this is we look forward to the being done at the expense winter and spring. of our primary Whether you join the responsibility of being the meeting or not, please pray salt and light in our society. for the work during this Revd Meirion Morris time. Pray for churches and (General Secretary, PCW)

IT WAS THE BOOKS THAT MADE ME FEEL PERHAPS I WASN’T ALONE

So said Cassandra Clare in her It sounds so easy but I novel Clockwork Prince. As believed it then, and still do. more and more places become However it’s only in the last subject to local Coronavirus few weeks that I’ve given restrictions, we highlight four any thought to what that helpful books written or wilderness might really be published during lockdown like: dry, sandy but mostly that have been drawn to our vast areas of barren rocks attention. and mountains. In his book, David Gill compares our time ‘Faith in the Desert’ by in Coronavirus lockdown to a Professor David Gill desert, through which we are all travelling. In his own any years ago we words:These reflections on used to sing a chorus the Psalms were written M that began, during Lent 2020. We made ‘My Lord knows the way our ascent through the through the wilderness, Judean desert from Jericho All I have to do is follow . .’ to Jerusalem during a time (22). Commenting on Psalm115, David says, Shielding is one of the words emerging in the present crisis, but it is good to remember that the Lord is not only our help but our shield.

We may feel alone and isolated, but our Lord remembers us in our different situations, and he promises to bless those who fear him ‘both the small and the great.’ and our response is one of of self-isolation imposed by praise: the corona virus pandemic. But we will bless the lord Each day, as we move from this time forth and towards Easter, we have forevermore. Praise the the text of one of the Lord! Psalms of Ascent (120— 134) with David’s No need to wait for Lent to reflections on it, made benefit from these psalms interesting by his personal and reflections—they are experience and knowledge for now and every day. of the area and illustrated by wonderful photos of the Eleanor Jenkins (Elder and locality. church secretary at Bethesda, Burry Green) Finally, arriving in Jerusalem we have Passover Psalms (113—118) and one for Good Friday A Trefeca Diary (1973 – first went there as 1984)’ by Jenny Garrard Administrative Assistant in 1973, the post becoming ou will have heard Assistant Warden within a about the ‘Trefeca year. When Jenny arrived in Y Letters’, a fruitful Trefeca from Eye, Suffolk, source for those researching the Revd John Tudor had the history of , been the Warden for seven and the ‘Teulu’ which he Years. The Tudors were founded in Trefeca. Recently followed by The Revd Arthur ‘A Trefeca Diary (1973 – Meirion Roberts in 1975 and 1974) has been published by then in 1983 by Mr Ronwy the Revd Jenny Garrard. Rogers 1983. Reference is Within nine chapters she made to the valuable describes the developments assistance of the three in the old college since she wives, Nerys, Morfudd and indeed” uttered on Easter Dorothy. morning 1982?

When Jenny left Trefeca The answers to these and she had “a mix of diaries, memories and Which Warden ate a memorabilia” collected over daffodil on Easter eleven years, and these are morning 1981? incorporated in this book which includes eight pages other questions can be of photographs. Jenny says, found within the book. “They were some of the busiest, happiest, most Jenny hopes that reflecting formative years of my life”. on the breadth of Trefeca’s She refers to many events - contributions within the humorous, deeply serious Church and nation will be and challenging. helpful to those of the General Assembly of the What was the response of Presbyterian Church of the two schoolboys from Wales involved in making London when they saw the decisions for Trefeca’s cross on the mound as they future role. approached the college? What was the biggest In her introduction Jenny challenge faced by the early says, “this is an offering of Wardens? Which Warden thanksgiving to God, and to ate a daffodil on Easter the Presbyterian Church of morning 1981? In which Wales for all I gained from languages were the words, that experience”. All “Christ is risen – He is risen proceeds will go to Trefeca, as a way of helping their loss of earnings this year.

Copies will be available to purchase in Trefeca, or by post from Revd Jenny Garrard, 18 Hafren Terrace, Llanidloes SY18 6AT (01686 413354). Email [email protected] The cost is £5 + £1.40 postage.

Trefor Lewis (Chairman, three Iranian and two Greek ships, and sailed as a Trefeca Department) Seaman / Helmsman through many parts of the The Captain Commanded world. The story follows Me, ‘Full Speed Ahead’. Nisam's heroic adventure This is my true story over land, sea and oceans, finally meeting Christian his is a true story people in Denmark, an based on real life event which changed his T events. The story faith. He then settled in reveals that Nisam from Wales. This book is an Sri-Lanka, born in a small inspirational, true story. Buddhist village to a fairly wealthy Muslim family, left Christian autobiography published home aged 21, travelled via Amazon, September 2020): 220 about twenty-five thousand pages, ISBN: 979 868166 940 1, Printed copies: £12.95 plus p&p, miles across land from Sri- Kindle: £8.00 (with many of the Lanka to Europe, then photographs in colour) joined a merchant ship in a Iranian port in Jonathan David (Crescent Khrorramshahr, worked on Christian Centre, Newtown) Madagascar Memories pleasure, thinking back and 1973-1995 by C Eleri writing it all down. People Edwards probably wondered what I was doing out there and were too hen I was ordained polite to ask so I have cast my in 1999 in Glyn mind back and tried to give an W Geiriog, apart from impression of the place, the the support of faithful people and the tasks I was friends from England and asked to do as a mission Wales, I was delighted that partner. CWM was also there, ‘Partnership in Mission’ was represented by a man from what they called the new Madagascar who was working paradigm of mission in the for the Head Office of CWM in 1970’s and I believed in it Livingstone House at the time. wholeheartedly – In those He was Laurent Ramambason days in Madagascar, there and by now he works six was change in the air not only months of the year in in the Church but also in the Madagascar teaching Theology and six months in the USA, teaching Theology there too. He asked me more recently to write my ‘living history’ which, he explained, is my own story as I remember it from those now rather far-off days. “Do it in any language – French, English or Malagasy – but not Welsh” he told me! I have put it off for a long time and now in the COVID lock- down it was the ideal occupation to give my days a structure and to give me great nation with political unrest which there are also ten and new ideas around. I felt I including the epilogue at the was privileged to be part of very end. the transformation. It was an exciting time and a I hope my nephews and niece challenging time: school and greats will eventually take teaching without text books or an interest, but also I really any aids; communications hope you will enjoy the read if without any computers or you decide to try, and the book even mobile phones; education of widely disparate People probably wondered pupils. I did what I could. By what I was doing out there now the CWM has moved to and were too polite to ask Singapore and no doubt has a new paradigm though I am not comes as a tribute to all those clear what it is, but it no doubt I worked with down the years. builds on what we I also want to thank you all experienced in those who were always so fascinating years and on what supportive of me in the came long before. Churches at home and prayed Memory is selective, my sister and helped in many ways. The and brother in law told me just book costs £10 (plus postage) to write what I remembered and profits from this book will and that is what I have done – go to help the Mamre sisters concentrating on Madagascar in their mission.’ with one part mentioning my [email protected] brief time in Wales and the or 0161 866 9629 trip to India. I called the resulting little book ‘Madagascar Memories– ’ the memories are sometimes haphazard so I have tried to write the main story in the ten chapters and put the random memories in Appendices of e conclude these book helped us a lot in our prayer commendations with subjects. W an excerpt from the MAMRE Chronicle dated 4th We go out much less, and only go July 2020 in which the for urgent shopping. Each sister Sisters exhort their readers to uses her talents for the tasks in ‘Give thanks in all the community and we can help circumstances; for this is the each other. We have weeded the will of God in Christ Jesus for garden and yard. Sister you’ (1 Thessalonians 5: 18). Alexandrine regularly looks Their explanation of how they after the garden. We all enjoy determined to live for Christ collecting the harvest from it. It despite their changed is a big help for us. We only go to circumstances challenges us market for other essentials once all. every two or three weeks. The flowers in the garden cheer us up ‘With God’s help we reflected in the chapel and we enjoy together on how to live this lock- walking in the garden. All our down. Yes all things work window panes have been cleaned together for good for those who and now they sparkle in the sun.’ love God: so we were able to increase our times of prayer, and The Sisters routine is a prayer is the main activity of reminder of a hymn we often Mamre. There were sang from the Revised Church intercessions for the world every Hymnary by George Herbert hour and the sisters took it in (1593-1633) [Ed.], turns to lead these prayers every day. We are also comforted by A servant with this clause the prayers ourselves, and by makes drudgery divine: sharing the Word of God in who sweeps a room, as for Thy which everyone participates. We laws, put morning prayer a little later makes that and the action fine. than usual so that we have more sleep and the rest our bodies need. We also brought forward our evening prayer so that we could follow the news and that CORRESPONDENCE with one another. Remember that Christ did The following was sent by not just love you. He ‘loved email the church and gave himself for it.’ From: Mr David Boorman, If the pandemic gets worse Elder, Tabernacle, churches may be closed Penclawdd again. Seize the opportunity to go while you can. he writer of the Epistle to the T Hebrews exhorted From the Eldership at his readers not to ‘forsake Mount Pleasant, Ebbw Vale the assembling of themselves together.’ During e met as an the height of the pandemic W Eldership over we were not allowed to meet recent weeks to plan together. Now, we thank the re-opening of the God, our churches are open church. Arrangements were again. I recognise that some being put in place to open on of us are unable to attend October 4th, and then we for health reasons. However, received the announcement those who can go, should of a new lockdown in make every effort to attend. Blaenau Gwent from Particular blessings are September 22nd, meaning attached to corporate that we are unable to open worship. ‘Where two or although we had thought three are gathered together that we could resume in my name, there am I in services. the midst of them.’ We need to be fed under the ministry This puts us in mind of one of the Word of God. We of the appearances of Jesus unite in bringing our praises after His resurrection. You and our petitions to the remember the two people Throne of Grace. We benefit returning to Emmaus after from the fellowship we have learning of the crucifixion? They had not stayed in this presence and the Jerusalem long enough to strength of our faith which know that Jesus had been continues to bind us raised, as He had together, and will keep us prophesied to His disciples. until the day when we are They travelled despondently able to open our doors once and met a stranger, who again. May we all know this enquired why they were so strength as we continue to downhearted. Their serve and witness to our response was to tell him Lord in these difficult times. that they had hoped that Jesus would be raised from the dead. ‘We had thought’ that Jesus would overcome death, but they were disappointed. Their eyes were opened to see the stranger (Jesus) reveal Himself to them as they shared in the breaking of bread. They had thought that their hopes and dreams were shattered, but it was not so. They returned to Jerusalem where they met the disciples and rejoiced in the news of Jesus’ resurrection.

We are all disappointed that we cannot open the Church for worship, but we still have the presence of the risen Lord with us, whether we are together or apart. It is An Open Letter to HM to raise the matter in Government London and Cardiff. The four, Dave Gobbett he Sunday Times on (Cardiff), David Johnston 27th September was (Northern Ireland), Paul T prominent amongst Levy (London), Willie Philip the Press coverage of an (Glasgow), Matthew Open Letter (copy below) Roberts (York) ask that all that was sent to the Prime continue to pray for for Minister and the First governments in the four Minister of Wales three jurisdictions. days earlier. To: The Prime Minister Boris Those who drafted the text Johnson, First Minister Mark have declared that its chief Drakeford, First Minister aim is that elected Nicola Sturgeon, First representatives should hear Minister Arlene Foster and concerns about the Deputy First Minister importance of churches Michelle O’Neill staying open. 24th September 2020 Dear Prime, First and Deputy Their hope is that it will also First Ministers, show that the Church throughout the United As church leaders from across Kingdom has a voice which the four nations of the UK, we needs to be heard. have been deeply concerned about the impact of the As most MP’s are (rightly) Coronavirus pandemic across reluctant to take note of society. We have carefully anything which does not followed government come from their own guidance to restrict its constituents, the compilers spread. But increasingly our are asking constituents to concern relates to the consider sending a copy of damaging effects of anti- the letter to their Member Covid restrictions on many of of Parliament and Member the most important aspects of of Welsh Government life. stating support for its contents, and asking them Our God-given task as vaccine. And we cannot Christian ministers and support attempts to achieve leaders is to point people to these which, in our view, Jesus Christ, who said he cause more damage to people, came to bring ‘life in all its families and society – fullness’. Therefore, we are physically and spiritually – troubled by policies which than the virus itself. prioritise bare existence at the expense of those things The public worship of the that give quality, meaning Christian church is and purpose to life. particularly essential for our nation’s wellbeing. As we live Increasingly severe restrictions are having a powerful dehumanising We call upon the effect on people’s lives, Westminster and resulting in a growing wave of loneliness, anxiety and devolved governments damaged mental health. This to find ways of particularly affects the protecting those who disadvantaged and vulnerable in our society, truly are vulnerable to even as it erodes precious Covid-19 without freedoms for all. In our unnecessary and churches, many have been working tirelessly to provide authoritarian help to those most affected. restrictions

We entirely support in the shadow of a virus we proportionate measures to are unable to control, people protect those most vulnerable urgently need the opportunity to SARS-CoV-2. But we to hear and experience the question whether the UK good news and hope of Jesus Government and the devolved Christ, who holds our lives in administrations have it in his hands. The supportive their power either to relationships that churches eliminate this virus or to nurture between people are suppress it for an indefinite vital, and simply cannot be period while we await a dispensed with again without significant harm. And most of Rev A Paul Levy, Minister, all, we know that regular Ealing International gathering to worship God is Presbyterian Church, London essential for human life to be Rev David M Gobbett, Lead lived to the full. Pastor, Highfields Church, Cardiff, Wales We have been and will remain Rev David Johnston, Minister very careful to apply rigorous Emeritus, Presbyterian hygiene, social distancing and Church in Ireland appropriate risk assessment in Rev Dr Matthew PW Roberts, our churches. As a result, Minister, Trinity Church York, church worship presents a England hugely lesser risk of Rev Dr William JU Philip, transmission than pubs, Minister, The Tron Church restaurants, gyms, offices and Glasgow, Scotland schools; and it is more and 693 other signatories. important than them all. We therefore wish to state An additional 162 have also categorically that we must not signed since the letter was be asked to suspend Christian sent. worship again. For us to do so (For more details refer to: would cause serious damage ministersletter.wordpress.com to our congregations, our service of the nation, and our duty as Christian ministers. We therefore call upon the Westminster and devolved governments to find ways of protecting those who truly are vulnerable to Covid-19 without unnecessary and authoritarian restrictions on loving families, essential personal relationships, and the worship of the Christian Church.

Yours sincerely, A LIFE REMEMBERED Garston, and was educated at Mrs Joyce Akrill (Sister Calder Grammar School Joyce Dowber where in spite of illness she did well in her studies. On By D Eryl Davies (Cardiff leaving school Joyce worked as a Secretary. It was through attending a Billy Graham oyce was born in meeting which was relayed to Liverpool in 1936, and Liverpool that she was was one of twins. She J converted, and a little later, and her brother Edward, Joyce felt a call to Christian were joined by a younger service within the brother, John three years later Presbyterian Church of Wales who eventually became the and was sent under the resident minister at Penrhyn auspices of the Forward Bay. Like her grandparents Movement to Ridgelands Bible and parents, with her brothers College in Kent in 1958 for she attended Bowden Road two years of training. After Presbyterian Church of Wales, completing her studies, she Heath church for several years. was appointed as a Sister of In 1968, Joyce and Richard the People to work on assumed the enormous task of the Gabalfa housing estate, receiving Camps Cardiff in 1960. Her work was bookings for the Evangelical demanding with regular Movement of Wales and children’s and youth meetings, organising transport for visitation, evangelism and campers until 1993. This Sunday services, but she involved a considerable amount received help from Christians of work and responsibility. from Memorial Hall and Heath They both served as officers in Church. Her future husband, EMW Camps during the Richard was a University summer holidays until Joyce student when the IVF held a withdrew from camps due to mission on the Gabalfa estate children arriving on the scene! towards the end of the summer term in 1964. As a She will be greatly missed in result he continued his the church and by her many involvement in the work there, friends. Her home was open to and became a chemistry students and in latter years to teacher in the city following his Asylum seekers, especially graduation. After completing Iranians who often spent eight years of service in Sunday lunch with her and Gabalfa, Joyce became a Richard. Some of these people member of Heath church in still refer to Joyce as their 1968 when Sunday services in ‘Mum!’. Since the mid-1990s, Gabalfa ceased, although the Joyce, my wife and two other Sunday school continued until ladies met for a prayer meeting 1971. for revival on Thursday afternoons, a prayer meeting Joyce and Richard married in that has only stopped due to 1969. They were blessed with Covid 19 restrictions. four children and became very Her funeral, followed by burial, active in Heath church where took place on 1st October at Joyce taught a girls' Bible Heath Evangelical Church. class. Years later, Joyce became a secretarial assistant Joyce Akrill, born 20th to the Church Secretary in October 1936, died 20th being the dust of the tea crate, we weigh in with Orwell and make it our practice to patronise those cafés and restaurants who serve Assam, Ceylon, and other leaf teas in hotel plate tea pots made with boiling water.

Unlike the late Reverend Wilfred Smith who followed the good old practice of visiting his members on weekday afternoons, but never excepted any refreshments, we have always EDITORIAL followed that long-standing By Revd Iain Hodgins tradition associated with the clergy of drinking tea when his week the Daily visiting the homes of Telegraph contained a members. T report that according to experts tea should never be With tea or without tea, the made up by the water as it habit of clergy visitation produces a cup that tastes like seems to have fallen out of "cabbage water". The latest fashion. Dr Paul Beasley- recommendation is that black Murray begins a chapter in his teas should be made with book, Transform your Church, water at 80C. In its editorial, by quoting a member the paper cited George observing how ‘ministers it Orwell's 11 step guide, A Nice seems have given up on Cup of Tea that cancelled that visiting’. This season of the “the water should be actually anniversaries of ministers’ boiling at the point of impact”. ordinations, we are reminded Having had a grandfather who of the advice proferred by he blended leaf tea for a living, Revd Glaslyn D Bowen when and is skewed teabags as addressing the ordinands (of whom Revd Wilfred Smith was one) in Westgate, of their wedding day with the Pembroke in 1975. “always members of Mancott church have time to take tea with an with which they have been old lady”. associated for all that time. Kath recalled how their’s was Doing so is surely part of the one of the last weddings that care that the apostle writes of in 1 Thessalonians 2:8, to share ‘not only the Gospel of God, but also our own selves’.

Mancot Couple Celebrate 65th Wedding Anniversary

ll over Britain people have had to take the Revd J Howard Williams difficult and conducted before his removal A to Bath Street, in unwelcome decisions about upcoming weddings. Guests October 1955. Ron, who lists have had to be slashed, attended Sandycroft church and whittled down further as (now closed) used to come to fresh restrictions on such Mancott for an after church happy events have been meeting on a Sunday at the imposed. Undaunted, Mancott Manse, where he met Kath. members, Ron and Kath Because her parents ran the Lammond decided to local shop, the wedding was celebrate their sixty-fifth held at 3pm, and in order for wedding anniversary on 17th the couple to catch the train September with a lunch on to London for their their own in nearby Burton, honeymoon, the service, South Wirral. The following reception and speeches were Sunday they shared memories all concluded by 6.30pm. Notes on the beard by Revd Jonathan Hodgins

n Tuesday 6 July 1535 Sir Thomas More was Obrought to the scaffold to be executed. As he knelt down to await his own beheading he reached down for his lengthy beard and pulled it aside noting that, ‘it had never committed any treason.’ The beard on the other hand is Not everybody is so a good protector. University of committed to the beard. Southern Queensland found Children’s author Roald Dahl that facial hair can block up to encouraged a generation of 95% of the sun’s harmful UV children to adopt rays. Scientists also posit that his pognophobia through his they protect those who suffer children’s novel, The from hay-fever by filtering out Twits written because Dahl pollen and dust. had a ‘desire to 'do something against beards'. He described There are many kinds of Mr Twits’ beard as being beard. The smallest is the “spiky, hard and full of food little button beard worn by the including tinned sardines, cool boy bands (and not-so- Stilton cheese, and corn cool church ministers) in the flakes”! nineties. Sometimes known as the ‘Soul Patch’ or the ‘Flavour In the real world however it is Saver’ (ugh) it has fallen out shaving that sounds of favour in recent years. unpleasant. Doctors say that Similarly the moustache-less it spreads bacteria around the ‘Chin Curtain’ worn most face, causes hair follicle famously in America by infection, irritates the skin and Abraham Lincoln and more causes blemishes and acne. famously in Wales by the late Revd Wilfred Smith (Terrace Road, Swansea) is not and turns the crustiest scruff commonly seen today. into a Colonel Sanders. Of course over the years the beard has gone in and out of The Psalmist uses that image fashion. The longest beard to help us think of the power belonged to Norwegian Hans of unity. But how does oil unify Langseth. It stretched to over us as Christians in the 17 feet. He died in 1927 but his Church? Well the oil was used beard was not lost. In 1967 it to signify a priests anointing. was donated to the It demonstrated that this man Smithsonian Museum in was set apart by God, and Washington DC where it is called to a new role. The priest stored to this day. was called to serve others; he could not opt to do things his German king and Holy Roman way whenever he felt like it. Emperor, Otto The Great Christians are similarly called swore by his beard when by God not to be served but to making a vow. And before serve. In our individualistic that, Roman senators grew age that is counter cultural beards in times of trouble or and we find it hard to do. But disaster. when we succumb to God’s ways and allow the balm of The most well known beard in the Holy Spirit to work in our the Bible probably belongs to church communities we Aaron. We read about it in become less prickly, less Psalm 133 being covered with concerned with individual oil. To those who have never needs and rights, and settle worn a beard the image will down into the corporate have limited value but to the worship of God. hirsute it’s a soothing image. A beard can be itchy, in hot And so the Psalmist is right: weather it can really ‘How delightfully good when aggravate. The hairs spike this brothers live together in way and that, and require real harmony! It is like fine oil on the taming in order to be head, running down Aaron’s groomed. But beard oil beard onto his robes.’ smooths, tames and unifies,