Churches launch packed programme for Eisteddfod 2024

People heading to the Eisteddfod in Pontypridd next week are invited to a host of events run by churches.

There will be daily worship sessions, book launches, talks, a brass band, children’s activities, exhibitions and even a knitted Bible display and pilgrim shell trail. One of the services will be led by the Bishop of Llandaff, Mary Stallard.

As usual, volunteers will be serving a range of refreshments, including Welsh-cakes.

This year, Cytûn - Churches Together in Wales - is holding most of its activities at St Catherine’s Church, in the heart of Pontypridd. It will also have a small book and resource stall on the Eisteddfod field – the Maes – at Ynysangharad Park and a few pop-ups. A pilgrim shell trail will link the Maes to the church.

The church will be open over the eight days, August 3-10, between 11.30am and 5.30pm and entry is free.

We’re there all week – do come and join in!

Dr Cynan Llwyd, General Secretary of Cytûn, says, “This will be my first Eisteddfod as General Secretary of Cytûn and I’m very excited about the line-up of events, as well as the worship, taking place. We’re particularly delighted to be hosting so many of them at St Catherine’s Church, giving people a chance to wander off the Maes and explore this wonderful venue. As always, we are very grateful to all the volunteers who give so much of their time and dedication to ensure these events are successful and make everyone feel welcome. We’re there all week – do come and join in!”

Pontypridd is in the Diocese of Llandaff and the Bishop of Llandaff, Mary Stallard, says, “This is a fantastic opportunity for Pontypridd, and for the diocese, to extend a warm welcome to all who visit the Eisteddfod. We are so excited that this is happening here and a number of us have been brushing up our Welsh language skills in anticipation of this amazing Welsh cultural festival. We’re looking forward to seeing you there!”

Here are some highlights for you to join in. Scroll down for the full programme.

Sunday, August 4

Worship and praise

9am: Eisteddfod Service, led by Geraint Rees and others.

9am: Service at St Catherine's Church

1pm: Mawl y Cymoedd, at the Encore Pavilion, a chance to hear local hymns in the company of C.O.R. Quartet.

8pm: Cymanfa Ganu / Hymn Singing, Conductor Wil Morus Jones, Organist Jeffrey Howard, Opening worship led by Rosa Hunt at the Pavilion.

Monday, August 5

Byw’r Weddi book launch

The Revd Canon Dr Trystan Owain Hughes, the Church in Wales’ Director of Ministry Development, launches the translation of his book on the Lord’s Prayer at St Catherine’s Church, Pontypridd at 1.30pm. All welcome.

Tuesday, August 6

Magazine focus

Launch of Gobaith magazine, hosted by Newyddion Da i Pawb, at St Catherine's Church, 1.30pm. The launch will be followed at 1.45pm by an introduction to the co-denominational magazine, Cristion, by Siân Elin, one of the new editors.

Wednesday, August 7

Holy Communion service with the Bishop of Llandaff

Join Bishop Mary Stallard for a mid morning service of Holy Communion at St Catherine’s Church at 10.45am.

Big Question Session

It’s time to think big: What would you ask God? Send in your questions and join the debate with panellists from St Padarn’s Institute and Cardiff Baptist College. It takes place at St Catherine's Church, 2pm.

Thursday, August 8

Following the old paths: Pilgrimage to Penrhys

Learn about the history of Penrhys as a place of pilgrimage through the centuries. The Revd Canon Dyfrig Lloyd, Vicar of Eglwys Dewi Sant in the Calon y Ddinas Ministry Area, will give a talk on the history and traditions of one of the most important pilgrim sites in Wales, and the reconstruction of the Penrhys Pilgrimage routes. Join in at 1.45pm at St Catherine’s Church.

Friday, August 9

Eco Church

Lots of churches are now following A Rocha’s Eco Church scheme on their path to net zero. Find out more about it from Wales’ Eco Church Officer, Delyth Higgins. The session starts at 1.30pm at St Catherine's Church, 1.30pm

Gofal Ein Gwinllan book launch

In 16 essays by distinguished scholars, the contribution of the Church in Wales to the history and culture of Wales during the first half of the 19th Century is explored in the second volume of the 'Gofal ein Gwinllan' series. The book, with the title, Care of our Vineyard: Essays on the Contribution of the Church in Wales to our lore and history and culture (Volume 2), will be launched at the Societies Tent at 3pm

More information

Saturday, August 10

Hymn Tune Competition

New tunes to words by Gwynfor Dafydd, Encore Pavilion, 12pm

Talk on hymns and sermons

Join Lleuwen Steffan and Band Tafod Aran as they look at old hymns and astonishing sermons at Y Babell Lên (Literary Pavilion), 4.30pm

Daily at St Catherine's Church

• Tea/coffee and Welshcakes between 11.30am and 5.30pm
• Activities for children and a cold drink and biscuits
• Daily worship at 1pm (Monday to Saturday)
• Simultaneous translation from Welsh to English between 1pm and 2pm
• Quiet corner and a place to meditate
• An opportunity to help Christian Aid campaign on poverty and justice
• Request to sign a climate change postcard to your Member of Parliament
• The Salvation Army's 'Bible in wool' exhibition
• Shell pilgrimage from the Eisteddfod field to the Church
• A display of seven flower arrangements
• An opportunity to admire six stained glass windows tracing the history of Christianity in Wales
• A selection of Christian books and resources for sale
• Mobile phone charging service
• Exhibitions

Saturday, August 3

Encore Pavilion, 2.15pm: Cân i godi calon, session with Siân Meinir, Elain Rhys and Friends of Dementia Rhondda Cynon Tâf

Y Babell Lên (Literary Pavilion), 3pm: Mae Sŵn yr ymladd yn ein clyw, organized by Fellowship of Reconciliation

YMa, 3pm: Gaeaf yn troi’n haf, a play by Revd Denzil John

Sunday, August 4

Refreshments 12.15pm – 5.30pm

Pavilion, 9am: Eisteddfod Service, led by Geraint Rees and others. Note that an Eisteddfod admission ticket is required to attend the service

St Catherine's Church, 9am: Sunday Service

Encore Pavilion, 1pm: Mawl y Cymoedd, a chance to hear local hymns in the company of C.O.R. Quartet.

Pavilion, 8pm: Cymanfa Ganu / Hymn Singing, Conductor Wil Morus Jones, Organist Jeffrey Howard, Opening worship led by Rosa Hunt

Monday, August 5

St Catherine's Church, 1pm: Worship led by Anchor Grangetown (Cynan Llwyd)

St Catherine's Church 1.30pm: Book launch for Byw'r Weddi, adapted by Gwilym Wyn Roberts from Trystan Owain Hughes' book

St Catherine's Church, 2pm: Recital by Sioned Webb and Salih Hassan

Pavilion, 3.25pm: Launch of the R Alun Evans Memorial Award

Pabell Cymdeithasau 1 (Societies Pavilion 1), 4pm: Who are the Quakers? From yesterday to today.

Tuesday, August 6

St Catherine's Church, 1pm: Worship led by the Baptists (Rosa Hunt)

St Catherine's Church, 1.30pm: Gobaith magazine launch, hosted by Good News for Everyone

St Catherine's Church, 1.45pm - a presentation on the inter-denominational magazine Cristion by Sian Elin, one of the new editors

Y Babell Lên (Literary Pavilion), 12.30pm: Ar Drywydd Brynley Roberts, with Gwerfyl Pierce Jones, Robert Rhys and Rhidian Griffiths

Maes D, 2.30pm: Dwylo dros y môr, talk by Rosa Hunt (Malta) and others

Pabell Cymdeithasau 1 (Societies Pavilion 1), 11am: Crefydd ac Ysbrydolrwydd yng ngwaith Emrys ap Iwan, lecture by Professor D Densil Morgan

Pabell Cymdeithasau 1 (Societies Pavilion 1), 2pm: Ffynhonnau Morgannwg, talk by Howard Huws

Pabell Cymdeithasau 2 (Societies Pavilion 2), 12.30pm, Canrif o Hawliau Plant – Achub y Plant, talk by Eurgain Haf

Wednesday, August 7

St Catherine's Church, 10.45am - Holy Communion Service, with the Bishop of Llandaff, Mary Stallard and others

St Catherine's Church, 1pm: Worship hosted by Sound of Wales and the Presbyterian Church of Wales

St Catherine's Church, 1.30pm: Launch of Gair Duw ar Lafar Gwlad, by Dewi Arwel Hughes

St Catherine's Church, 1.45pm: Launch of Llyfr Lliwio Beibl Bach Stori Duw, with a story for children

St Catherine's Church, 2pm: Big Question Session, sponsored by St Padarn's Institute and Cardiff Baptist College. What would you ask God? I would ask…

Pabell Cymdeithasau 1 (Societies Pavilion 1), 12pm: Is there peace? A session hosted by Cymdeithas y Cymod (Fellowship of Reconciliation)

Pabell Cymdeithasau 1 (Societies Pavilion 1), 5pm: Remembering Richard Price, Apostle of Freedom, Professor Huw Williams

Pabell Cymdeithasau 2 (Societies Pavilion 2), 10.30am, Caniadaeth y Cysegr at 75, presentation by Cymdeithas Emynau Cymru

Pabell Cymdeithasau 2 (Societies Pavilion 2), 1.30pm Talk about R S Thomas, by Jon Gower, Clare Potter, and M Wynn Thomas

Pontypridd Temple Baptist Church, 7pm: A night to remember the special contribution of Dewi Arwel Hughes and to launch his book Gair Duw ar Lafar Gwlad, edited by Christine James and E Wyn James

Thursday, August 8

St Catherine's Church, 1pm: Worship hosted by the Salvation Army

St Catherine's Church, 1.30pm: Claiming Peace, talk

St Catherine's Church, 1.45pm: Penrhys Pilgrimage Route, talk by Dyfrig Lloyd

Pavilion, 11.50am: Scripture Recitation Competition (open)

Pavilion, 12.05pm, Hymn Singing Competition

Y Babell Lên (Literary Pavilion), 9.00am: Scripture Recitation Competition (open)

Y Babell Lên (Literary Pavilion), 11.30am: The Hywel Teifi Memorial Lecture - From the Rhondda to Canaan, delivered by Daniel G Williams

Encore Pavilion, 9am: Hymn Singing Competition

Science and Technology, 12.30pm: Talk on Exploring the Climate Crisis

St Dyfrig’s Church Treforest, 6pm: Eisteddfod Mass, presided by Bishop Edwin Regan

Friday, August 9

St Catherine's Church, 1pm: Worship led by Meilyr Rees, Coedpenmaen Church

St Catherine's Church, 1.30pm: A Rocha Eco Church Scheme, session by Delyth Higgins

Pabell Cymdeithasau 1 (Societies Pavilion 2), 3.00pm: Launch of Gofal ein Gwinllan Volume 2 by the Church in Wales

Saturday, August 10

St Catherine's Church, 1pm: Worship led by Angor Grangetown (Cynan Llwyd)

Y Babell Lên (Literary Pavilion), 4.30pm: Lleuwen Steffan and Band Tafod Arian looking at old hymns and astonishing sermons

Encore Pavilion, 12pm: Hymn Tune Competition to words by Gwynfor Dafydd