Christmas Tree of Memory 2009

As part of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Porth Chamber of Trade's Tree of Memory projects, workshops were held in local schools and churches to make decorations for the tree on Porth Square depicting people's memories of Christmas. Two enjoyable workshops were led in Porth United Reformed Church by artist Cindy Ward, with members of the congregation, young and old, taking part.

  

Porth Carnival July 2009

  

Porth United Reformed Church contributed to Porth's successful carnival on 11th July 2009 by opening its doors to visitors to serve home-made refreshments throughout the day, to enable people to sit in peace and quiet in the chapel, and to host an excellent art exhibition by pupils of Porth Junior School. Visitors flowed through the chapel throughout the day enjoying the children's artwork and seeking spiritual and physical refreshment. Church Elder Mrs Mary Robins said, "It has been a wonderful day, and we have been able to welcome so many visitors, young and old. The art exhibition has been a great draw too." Minister Gethin Rhys added, "It is always a pleasure to welcome people into our church building, and today we have been able to offer a Christian welcome to hundreds of people. It has been a wonderful day."

Above you can see the delicious array of home-made food and some of the helpers taking a well deserved break to watch the Carnival parade. Below are views of the art exhibition and the flowers contributed by members to beautify the chapel.

  

 

Church outing to St Fagan's Museum of Welsh Life

  A coach load from Porth United Reformed Church and their friends enjoyed a day out in the Museum of Welsh Life, St Fagan's, near Cardiff, on 3rd July. The sun shone and the visitors were especially impressed with the restoration of St Teilo's church with its stunning medieval wall paintings. Our picture shows treasurer Griff Evans and minister Gethin Rhys outside St Teilo's

 

 

 

 

Welsh Night March 2009

The annual Welsh Night featured local artiste Jay Worley singing a selection of Welsh songs, traditional and modern, and delighting the members and friends of the church who had gathered. He was joined for some of the singing by Elinor Rhys (daughter of our minister and fellow pupil with Jay at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen, Gartholwg) and accompanied by John Attwood at the piano. After the singing, Jay tucked in to two well deserved puddings! Diolch i ti am dy gyfraniad, Jay.

  

John Morgans - Journey of a Lifetime

 

A packed vestry in February 2009 heard the Revd Dr John Morgans recount his Journey of a Lifetime, beginning with his boyhood in Tylorstown in the Rhondda - his description of this evoked many memories amongst the audience - and ending his working life with 18 years of residence and ministry on the Penrhys estate, overlooking his family home. He described how the Uniting Church of Llanfair, Penrhys, had been built up (the converted block of maisonettes can just be seen on the computer screen in the right hand corner of the picture), literally built on the foundation of stones taken from other chapels that had closed in the Rhondda, including his home church of Ebenezer, Tylorstown.

In formal and informal conversation afterwards, many memories were shared, and so were some visions of how in the future the church might build on the Penrhys experience.

 

 

Pancake Tea - Shrove Tuesday 2009

As usual, excellent home-cooked pancakes were made in the church kitchen by our team of cooks, and enjoyed served with ice cream or sugar and lemon by a vestry full of guests.

 

Civic Sunday for the Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf - 12th October 2008

The annual Civic Service for the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf was held in Porth United Reformed Church, as the Mayor for 2008-9, Cllr Margaret Davies, has a longstanding association with the church, and the Revd Gethin Rhys, our minister, is her Chaplain for the year.

 

The Mayor was piped into the church for the service, which was well attended. Cllr Davies generously invited all members of the regular congregation to attend the reception at the Rhondda Sports Centre in Ystrad, and some of them, along with the minister's family, are shown in the photograph below.

 

Church Dinner - 16th October 2008

32 members and friends enjoyed a lovely church dinner at the Llwyncelyn Hotel. We are grateful to the staff at the hotel for the lovely food and friendly service.

    

Porth Carnival Day

The church was beautifully decorated with flowers - arranged by George & Marion Sparrow, Jean Warren and Rebecca Winter - to whom we are deeply grateful. Just a selection of the arrangements are pictured below.

Refreshments were served in the vestry and a steady flow of visitors enjoyed the home-made fare and Fairtrade drinks all day.

        

Social activities and events