May 2026
Vicar’s Report (in lieu of letter) for Clyro w. Bettws, Hay, Llanigon w. Capel-y-Ffin
I write this a day or two after celebrating Evensong at Little S. Mary’s, Capel-y-Ffin. I do love the drive over the mountain and the sense of the unexpected that one has with that beautiful Church. It was sad to see that a problem with damp on one of the walls is developing there and it has worried me that it may require prohibitively expensive work. It is such a wonderful peaceful House of God, and a place where I have received succour, such that I pray it shall continue in fitness for the many more years to come. I have read annual reports from other Churches where the Parish Priest bemoans this, and acknowledges decline there, and provides little in the way of hope. It is understandable that this could be so; the need to balance numerous Churches along with finance and all that boring stuff about compliancy and procedure can wear one down. A Priest should be more a spiritual shepherd, attending to the souls of those in his care, than a nut and bolts man. I only mention the above because finance will be a constant gremlin, perhaps for the best as it stops us becoming complacent. I have met various in the last year who think that we have the chequebook of the Church national/institutional; if only!
Should we desire for a Church of the next generation and those to follow them, it is incumbent upon all of us to attend to the resources available to make that so, particularly as the Church in Wales expects us to cover ourselves whilst it has ‘special projects’. I shouldn’t bemoan too much as it did allow for myself and Fr. Richard to cross over, I starting here prior to his retirement, courtesy of a ‘special’ fund. Anyhow, I dearly wish that we can build and expand upon how it was when he retired both for now and the generations to come. The question should be asked afresh from time to time, is that given to aid God’s Church in love from a few years ago the same now as it was then. Are there easier ways to do so (answer – yes – https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/clergy-and-members/gift-direct/start-donating-your-church-or-parish/). Anyhow, to the past year…
In the last annual report, I expressed hope that organists may be found for Llanigon and Clyro. We have been blessed to find Chris who now plays for Clyro once a month and for the occasional services. He is very keen and desires for us to restore and maintain the organ. A real blessing!
Another blessing in Clyro has been the Choir Project, funded after much paperwork, in the school. A young local organist, Ewan Murray, has used his expertise to teach singing techniques to the children at the school. A very good end of Lent term service was held in the Church, and we look forward to some of the children joining the choir for the first Hay Festival Evensong in a long while, one which I hope to become a regular fixture.
The past year has seen good support for the annual pilgrimages of Our Lady along the river Wye, and for the Fr. Ignatius Memorial Trust Pilgrimage. It was the second year of our holding a Mass for the feast of S. Charles, King & Martyr, in conjunction with S. Gabriel’s, Swansea, a sound Anglo-Catholic Parish, and we were blessed to have the Bishop of Oswestry, the Rt Reverend Paul Thoms SSC celebrate the Mass and preach for us. It is to be expected that our summer pilgrimages will be equally joyous and fun.
We are seeing an increase in all the occasional offices, that being Holy Baptism, Matrimony and the office of the dead, funerals. It is uplifting to see an increase across the board for God works through all His Sacraments and offices.
We have had some changes of officers and volunteers as some, after many years of faithful loving service, step back and others come forth. We are all very grateful for that which you have given, and will give, in your time and love to our Churches here.
It is said that Llanigon hadn’t seen that many a soul as it did at the 2025 carol service for numerous years beforehand. Hay S. Mary’s has seen the addition of several additional vestments which will enrich our life here, along with a growing interest in people to serve at Mass. There is much more which could be said. I continue to feel that we are in good heart and continue with the strong desire, in all of our Churches, to prosper.
Please let it be that we ask Our Lady, Patroness of two of our Churches, and she who deigned to appear to children and monks at Capel-y-Ffin, to pray for our corporate Church life here, that it will continue to flourish and that we shall be alert for the ways and means through which God calls us to continue walking in His way here.
Please God, let it be that the Blessed Saints, most particularly Our Lady, continue to pray for us!
