On Friday 21^st June, we opened the doors for our Festival of Flowers and Crafts. Members of the community had created floral arrangements and craft items on a theme of celebration and celebrate, we did! Exhibits of all kinds of arts and crafts from posies, 5 foot tall tropical-looking arrangements, quilts, cross-stitch and paintings to handmade dresses (to name just a few of the items on show) delighted the two to three hundred people who flocked in to share in the festivities.

The Glamorgan Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers joined us with their spinning wheels and looms with members gamely teaching complete beginners how to spin their own yarn or try their hand at a little bit of weaving. There were colouring and bracelet-making activities for children to try and a knitting/crochet corner for anyone willing to make a square for charity. Our dedicated organist was kind enough to provide music on and off throughout the festival so that visitors could enjoy our magnificent 99 year old organ while they looked at the exhibits and of course, the obligatory tea and cake were served from the hatch throughout the festival so no one went thirsty despite the blazing sun which was kind enough to appear for the first two days of the festival.

The festival continued until 4:30pm on Sunday 23^rd when we finally closed the doors just before the evening service. Everyone had their own favourites and thankfully, it wasn’t a competition; if it had been, no one could possibly have chosen a winner from all of the inventive and beautiful offerings on show!

Saturday 16th February

A concert with Jacqueline Pischorn (soprano) and Michael McCartney (guitar) was enjoyed at Conway Methodist Church.

John Roberts who attended the concert writes:

A 100 year old guitar, designed before the construction of CRMC was the solitary instrument in this concert; with an American classical player who accompanied an Austrian soprano in the German language: a musical cocktail!
Her sweet voice and the crisp notes of the guitarist, who seemed to possess a dozen fingers, placed us into a total state of tranquillity.
A most enjoyable evening – many thanks to Stuart Bailey and Co.

The congregation at Conway Road started their celebrations for the 150th year of Conway Road Methodist Church with a special celebration service, complete with balloons.

See all the events planned for our 150th Year on our special 150 Year Anniversary Events page. Do join us.

What is now becoming an annual event, the Church Christmas Party took place last Sunday, 16th December with about forty attending. Who said the age groups can’t have fun together? The youngest was 18 months and the oldest 86 yrs. Who said Party Games were old hat? We played some of the oldest Party Games and enjoyed every minute. Who thought the old fashioned Sunday tea no longer happened? Well it still can and we all enjoyed sandwiches, pork pies, fairy cakes, scones and clotted cream, mince pies and Chapel Tea! Conway Road has re-invented fun! The children ran round and round. The old ones chatted in the corner and we all found we were still highly competitive. At the end we all went home tired but happy and the children clutched their presents. How many will be opened on Christmas Day?

A good crowd of thirty plus people gathered on the steps of Conway Road Methodist Church to sing carols on Monday evening – ably accompanied by the Barry Brass band. Many of the old traditional carols were sung – with descants included – the players and singers were then treated to mulled punch and mince pies.

A lovely evening – enjoyed by all – including the local community!

Conway Road held a wonderful concert with Sororitas Female Voice Choir on Saturday the 8th December. The repertoire included a few favourites from previous years, with a good selection of new songs, and a lovely new arrangement of an old favourite – O Holy Night. The Concert opened with a dramatic entrance of the choir, carrying candles into the Church, up and over the pulpit, laying them to brighten the Church during the Concert. The audience enjoyed a new comic number – Dominick the Donkey – a real favourite, particularly with the younger members of the audience.

A fabulous £670 was raised by the event for Bowel Cancer UK

 

The redecoration of the New Room has been completed, the first time it has been fully redecorated in over 30 years. It was partly re-painted in 2008 as part of the Access scheme.  The lighting has been replaced with eco-friendly LED strip lights.  Altogether a brighter and more welcoming space. Why not pop and see it? It is now ready to welcome in the 150th Anniversary Year in 2019.

The Porch and the Vestibule is planned for similar treatment before Christmas and will have the added improvement of new floor covering. Watch this space.

The annual Church picnic was held after morning service on Sunday, 22nd July, in Pontcanna Fields.

 

 

 

The weather was blisteringly hot but we took refuge under the avenue of trees and with a gentle breeze the whole setting was perfect. The Bring and Share Lunch was a reminder of Jesus feeding the Five Thousand and surely there was more than 8 baskets full left afterwards.

Church members, friends and visitors enjoyed each others company and the sporting traditions of Conway Rd were resurrected by a game of cricket (pictures -first, Cox at the wicket, Davidson at gully and Bailey in the slips; second the group picture of the First Eleven (well eight actually).

 

After lunch two teams were picked to play rounders and rounder players who hadn’t played for half a lifetime suddenly found they had lost none of their skill.   After the wash out of the picnic in 2017, that of 2018 more than made up up for previous disappointment. Roll on 2019!

The morning congregation brought the Lenten display to a climax by processing round the Church and decorating the Cross with fresh flowers. The service led by Rev. Robin Wood included Holy Communion and the joyful fellowship between regular attenders and visitors from various places in England and Wales was tangible. Alleluia Christ is risen!