Cathedrals, choirs, and places where they sing

Bedwellty Deanery Choir sings in Margam Abbey

Following several months of practice at churches up and down the Deanery, the Bedwellty Deanery Choral Group made up of forty choristers from several churches within the Deanery visited Margam Abbey on the afternoon of Thursday 19th June and sang Evensong in the Abbey Church. Father Doherty, the vicar at Margam, conducted the service and the choristers were supported by fifty members of the various churches who travelled by coaches from the Newbridge and Tredegar areas.

The choir sang Evening Canticles to a Walmisley setting and two short anthems by LJ White and Kathleen Robson. Two choristers (Elizabeth Jones of St George, Tredegar, and Trevor Timbrell of St Margaret, Blackwood) read the Lessons and Selwyn Morgan (St Paul, Newbridge) accompanied the proceedings on the magnificent Abbey organ. It was encouraging to be supported by a number of clergy within the Deanery and the previous Area Dean, Revd David Jones (now an Incumbent at Swansea) joined the bass section of the choir.

In August, the BDCG sing at Newport Cathedral and it is planned that the Dean of Monmouth will be the Guest Speaker at an evening dinner in September.

As well as being a musical success story, it is generally accepted that the joining of members of churches in events such as the one in Margam, offers the parishioners the opportunity to develop their Christian witness, fellowship and friendship within the Anglican church. If there are any choristers who would like to join this enthusiastic group, please contact Michael Wilcox on 01495 225812 or any of the Deanery organists.

Brenda Jones