Conwy teens bring Christmas spirit to historic tower appeal

Two 15 year old boys took the lead in bringing their community together in Conwy, organising a Christmas Fayre to support urgent repairs to one of the town’s oldest historic landmarks.

Oliver Groves and Macauley Knight, who hosted the event at Neuadd Ni community hall on Saturday 5 December, gathered 15 stallholders offering crafts, art, honey, cakes, raffles and a tombola. The fayre raised £881.57 for the restoration of St Mary’s Church Tower.

In a message shared at the event, the boys explained their motivation, saying, “We’re just two young lads who care deeply about our community and want to give people something special.”

They added that they were “putting our time and energy into creating a festive fair that brings families together, spreads joy, and celebrates the spirit of giving.”

They also highlighted the importance of the church tower, noting that it “has been a place of comfort, history, and belonging for generations,” and that they wanted “to help protect it for the future.”

By hosting the fayre, they hoped “not only to bring our community together but also to raise support for the essential repairs our church needs.”

Local priest Revd Kevin Ellis praised their efforts, emphasising that the most significant achievement was how the boys united the community to help safeguard the tower, which predates Conwy’s castle and medieval walls. “Oliver and Macauley have shown remarkable initiative. Their efforts brought real joy to the community at Christmas and gave much-needed support to the restoration of our ancient church tower.”

The West Tower, more than 800 years old, is in poor condition with water damage, worn stonework and vegetation growing inside. Originally part of a Cistercian monastery founded in 1186, it remains one of Conwy’s oldest and most important historic structures.

Work to make the tower safe and watertight will begin soon, supported by a National Churches Trust grant of £60K

The boys’ initiative has been welcomed as an encouraging example of local community spirit and early support for the wider restoration appeal.

We’re just two young lads who care deeply about our community and want to give people something special—something that not everyone is lucky enough to have.

This Christmas, we’re putting our time and energy into creating a festive fair that brings families together, spreads joy, and celebrates the spirit of giving.

But there’s another important reason behind our efforts. As many of you already know, our church tower is in need of restoration. This church has been a place of comfort, history, and belonging for generations, and we want to help protect it for the future.

By hosting this Christmas fair, we hope not only to bring our community together but also to raise support for the essential repairs our church needs. Every bit of help brings us one step closer to restoring a place that means so much to so many.

Thank you for supporting us, our community, and the heart of our village.