Ceri Holmes Brings Home Medal
Resolven Ladies bowler, Ceri Holmes, became the first Resolven woman club member to play for her country last weekend. in the British Isles Internationals held in Ayr, Scotland. She was part of the Cymru 1 side that did very well, ending 3rd out of the 7 nations competing in the Home Internationals.
As well as the honour of gaining her first cap, she played second in the rink that won the Bronze Medal.
After flying home from Scotland on Sunday evening, she still had the energy to turn up on her home green on Monday evening to play an evening league game for Resolven Ladies and to share her delight with them and her mother, Carwen.
Many congratulations Ceri! May this be the start of a long and exciring time in your bowling career
Why Jerusalem Chapel was built and extended
The following text is from a hand written Jerusalem Chapel part history, recently discovered but not dated.
For ease of reading, the hand written has been transcribed and the photographs added to the text :-
“With the gradual change from the rural and agricultural aspect of the locality of Resolven, coupled with the fact of increased population, a dream of a more spacious place of worship, the building of the above chapel was the realization of such a dream and desire. The Mother Church at Melin-y-Cwrt on the hillside rendered but little accommodation to the increased membership.
Therefore, in the year 1875, the above place of worship was erected. The builders being “The Herberts” of Resolven, well known in the locality as experienced builders.
The Architect was one Mr T Thomas. Built on a field in close proximity to the Resolven Railway Station, it afforded good accommodation, having in view the possible increase of membership in the coming years. It had a seating accommodation of roughly 600, Galleried around to an adjacent line of its Pulpit it afforded good acoustics. Its design was of the strong traditional Nonconformist style which gave an expression of a strong character. Lit by oil lamps, the standards were fixed here and there in the building, with a responsible member attending to the duty of lights. This went on until 1902 when electric light was installed.
Its first Minister was The Rev. D. Gains Morgan, who came from the Ministry of Stockton-on-Tees, in the year of the erection of Jerusalem viz – 1875.
With a membership ranging from two to three hundred, the new Chapel was the pride of its worshippers. Induction Services were held in the early part of 1876, fifteen Ministers Officiating. The Foundation Stone (which can be seen today to the left of the entrance) was laid by a Medical Practitioner who practised at Resolven at the time viz – Dr. Albert Barnes Rees. The son of one of the most able Divine of the Nonconformist movement – Dr Thomas Rees, Cendl, (later of Swansea). One can almost be sure that the name Barnes Rees was adopted owing to the fact that the father Dr Rees was the Author of a most laborious translation into Welsh of the Commentaries on the New Testament by a Rev. Barnes of Philadelphia, America.
This point is very interesting concerning the foundation stone. Dated June 1875. The Church prospered well for years under the Ministry of the Rev. D. G. Morgan – who proved to be one of outstanding character, strong and influential, with a personality which was rare, with his duties at the Church, he took official part in all the main organizations of the village, such was the privilege of Jerusalem!
Co-operation and peaceful administration were most wisely practised. The cause held in high esteem throughout the adjoining areas of the Independent Movements.
Various functions incurred a standing debt but with the courageous spirit of its Minister and the willing spirit of its members, the difficulties of finance were overcome.
The Church was blessed with ardent, true, and honest deacons for a number of years, the cause flourishing with the times of industrial progression. They also experienced bitter times of fluctuation. They gave to the Cause freely of their earnings, and peace reigned for many years. Members paid for their seats periodically; numbered such as to be the marked seals of the families. They even collected the payments from seat to seat in the early history of the Church. Various functions were held to defray costs, such as details of renovation etc.
The singing element of the Church members proved very efficiently of praise rendering, augmented by a small harmonium, plus zeal and fervour, the Services were a source of blessing and concord of hearts. Many practitioners were employed as organists from time to time, unpaid, they contributed freely to the Cause. Choral rendering for Cymanfa purposes which were held at Neath viz – Maes yr Haf Church and the Gwyn Hall.
Page 4 of the original hand written history is missing.
With our main interest in the now main Church at Jerusalem, we would mention many of the old stalwarts of the Cause. The Church was blessed with fine Deaconery, a band of true and honest men of faith drawn from the ordinary ranks of life. Scanning the Minutes Book of the years from 1875, to the present one is very impressed of their zeal in very arduous times. They kept their Faith under some distressing periods, general remarks suffice for the present, their number being many under the guidance of their very wise Minister – Rev. D.G. Morgan (as aforementioned) up to his untimely death in July 1898, when the Church, and the locality suffered a bitter loss.
There were faithful Secretaries, Treasurers, Trustees in the Administrative section. Capable men as Organists such as Dr Rhys Herbert, Resolven (later of America). Wm Thomas, the local grocer, as the Precentor of the Church for years. His services with the Choral renderings and the “Band of Hope” movement cannot be forgotten. Mr Wm Davies, the new Precentor rendered service of great value in the performance of Oratorios for a number of years.
Great praise is due to these honest workers of the Cause at Jerusalem.
Special mention should be made of the service rendered by Mr R W Morgan, Resolven, as Organist for the long period of 60 years.
Under the Ministry of the Rev. D G Morgan and his successor, The Rev. R E Williams one cannot praise his good work too highly, especially so when one considers his regular attendances to the Church’s various meetings and that his services were a labour of love for many years. One is compelled to state also of the last two mentioned, that they did not confine their labours to the work of the Church as such, but were an asset to the locality in their capacity as musicians. After the death of their Minister, D G Morgan in 1898, Jerusalem was devoid of a Minister for 4 years.
With the coming of the succeeding Minister, The Rev. R E Williams who came from Cilfynydd to take over the pastorate of Jerusalem, the Church was renovated in 1902 – 1903. Opening ceremony took place in 1903.
The Architect was Mr Cook Rees, Neath.
The building was extended to seat 900 approximately, with an addition of a gallery behind the previous Pulpit wall for Choir service. A new Pipe organ was installed, and a spacious Vestry Room was added to the renovation.
The cost of all this addition reached the sum of £2,000, which in a few years was met by ardent work.
These facilities rendered favourably to Choral work in the performing of Oratorios, etc. under the leadership of the aforementioned Mr Wm T Davies, Mr R W Morgan being Organist. During the period of renovation the services of the Church were held at Resolven Council Schools. By this period, the membership of Jerusalem had increased to over 500. On various functions the Church was filled to its capacity, with an overflow of people especially so during the annual Cymanfa, (Festival of Song). These Cymanfaoedd are still held but without the aforementioned experience of a crowded Church!
We should have mentioned that the Church Pipe Organ was opened by Dr. Hinton, London.
Organ recitals were given later, by the late Dr. Harry Evans, Dr. Caradog Roberts, also by a local organist Mr Willie Jenkins, Jerusalem’s second Minister was inducted in the year 1902, and held the Pastorate until September 1934.
Its third Minister – Rev. Lynn T Walters, B.A. was inducted in July 1938, being his first ministry, and is the present officiating Minister.
To commemorate the Services of its first minister – D G Morgan and Mr W T Davies Precentor, two tablets were placed in a position both sides of the Pulpit with the corresponding dates thereon.
A Plaque was also placed on the Organ to commemorate the Organist, R W Morgan.
The present Organist is Mr Emrys Harries, Resolven who is also a Deacon of the Church.”
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This is the end of the hand written text.
Emrys Harries became organist after the death of R W Morgan, so the hand written script was written after 1956.
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Carmarthenshire, the Wales Coast Path by Jack_Walkaholic
It’s been a while, the Wales Coast Path has been keeping me busy. I started this journey on January 1st at Chepstow with the intention of walking the whole path by the end of the year. Earlier updates can be found on Resolven District News, or you can find me on Instagram @jack_walkaholic but for now on with the journey.
Carmarthenshire boasts the flattest county on the coast path and it starts off really well. From Bynea around the Wetland Centre, skirting Machynys Golf Course, through North Dock and onto the Millennium Coast Path. These are the days that the miles rack up, a good path, flat and no cows chasing me.
The path curves around Pwll, Burry Port and into Pembrey Country Park. This park has a lot going on, even on a damp miserable afternoon in March, people come to enjoy its activities.
For me the highlight is Cefn Sidan beach, a length of 7 miles, the longest beach in Wales and has many shipwrecks along its shore. The largest of which is called the ‘Paul’, shipwrecked about 120 years ago, 70 metres long.
The Path makes its way around the airport, along the banks of the River Gwendraeth Fawr, along a Canal and eventually to Kidwelly Quay. This is where I stop for the day.
For some reason the Wales Coast Path doesn’t pass Kidwelly Castle, but I think it would be rude not to take the small detour to see the finest example of a remaining castle in South Wales. From Kidwelly, the path climbs out of the town and to Llansaint, a small village with an 11th-century church.
This bit of the path is nowhere near the sea; it’s over hills that give panoramic views over the Towy River and Llansteffan Castle on the opposite side of the river.
My next stop is Ferryside. I’m surprised at the grandness of the houses here. On my other visits to Ferryside, I’ve just seen the main road through and didn’t realize how much of it there is behind. There’s a ferry that crosses to Llansteffan that operates on weekends and school holidays. As this is neither, I have to walk around and visit the oldest town in Wales on the way.
Carmarthen with the River Towy sweeping around its core. The day I visited was the highest tides of the year, and it was raining. I crossed the footbridge that links the train station to the town and walked back down by the side of the river. The footpath is flooded and I wade through water up to my ankles. I hope it doesn’t get any deeper. A little downstream is the railway bridge. I’ve seen it many times before but never realized it’s a drawbridge fit for taller boats to come up river. Now their way is blocked by the road bridge, and the river is all silted up so it never gets used.
The path wanders about and somehow ends up on the main road to Llansteffan. This is a busy road with no pavement. I walk a few miles carefully watching for traffic and ready to jump out of the way of any vehicle that doesn’t expect to see some grumpy bloke walking this road in this terrible weather. Eventually, the path takes a turn into a field and I’m relieved to be in Green Castle Woods. It’s an ancient woodland that most people haven’t heard of but a very welcome if not soggy sight as it gets me off the road. That’s it for the day.
There are some days that I know where I’m going; this wasn’t one of them. As soon as I left the car park, I crossed the road and immediately turned the wrong way, back into Carmarthen. It wasn’t long before I realized I was going the wrong direction and I’d been there before. About-face, march! Still in Green Castle Woods, a few paths meander about until they finally get to a gate. Through the gate is a wet field and through the field is a farm and a farm track. Farm tracks are great; an easy walk that I can cover ground quickly and no traffic. The farm track joins a road, then a busier road, into a field over a hill and onto what feels like a drover’s path. This now heavily saturated walkway must have linked Llansteffan to Carmarthen, and before I know it, I’m standing on Llansteffan Sands looking across to Ferryside.
The path skips past Llansteffan Castle and takes me to an area known locally as ‘The Benches.’ This area was a place that would attract a lot of people from the area, and ferries would bring others from Ferryside across to a singing festival here. There would be a ceremony to crown a mock mayor. The path plods past the castle, past one of the prettiest houses I’ve seen at St. Anthony’s Well and through an area called Lord’s Park. Around the headland, walking mainly on quiet roads, the miles melt away easily. The day is going well, and the sun tries to make an appearance; then it happens. Walking through a farmyard, three dogs run out. The old Jack Russell jumps up and bites me just above the leg. There is no sign of the farmer, and the dog keeps his distance after, so onward I go. From that moment, the path changed from a colorful cartoon-like place to a black-and-white horror movie. It started to rain, and I’m walking on a marsh that had washed debris of reeds to create a slightly drier, less likely to sink area to walk over. Luckily it doesn’t last too long; there’s a combination of roads and fields between here and my endpoint for the day at St. Clears. However, some of the roads I have to walk are a few inches deep in floodwater, and when I see a sign that points into a lake stating that’s the way the Coast Path goes, I take a detour and stick to the roads.
I’m not sure what I missed by walking around the flooded area. There was a castle marked on the map, but talking to a local, there’s not too much of it left. For a change, I’m walking on a Sunday; the only sound is the church bells ringing from St. Mary Magdalene of St. Clears. I feel relaxed today as the weather forecast is clear and sunny for the first time in ages. Looking at the map, it looks like a lot of my day will be spent on busy roads with no pavement, but there are paths just off the road, the other side of the hedgerow. Field, woodland, road, field, woodland…… Follow the path, follow the river, another castle! This is the hometown of Dylan Thomas Laugharne. The castle dominates the area, and there’s a calm that I feel is unique to this place; it’s a different sort of quiet. The path follows Dylan’s Birthday Walk around the headland and onto the Pendine stretch. I had hoped to walk the whole length of Pendine; I was told there was a way so took my directions, walked this way and that and I got to a gate saying it was an MOD site, not to enter and there are explosives around. That was enough for me; back to the relative safety of the path. I followed it to Pendine.
Where did all the people come from? A sunny spring Sunday afternoon, and the world has decided Pendine is the place to be. Having not seen a soul since Laugharne, now there are people everywhere. I fight my way through the crowds, ignore the ice cream queue and head out, up and over Gilman Point. I think this is the steepest climb I’ve done since starting this walk and I fake taking a photo just to get my breath back. It’s not long before the path brings me down to almost sea level again, then back up, up and down, up and down; this is how it goes for a while. I get to Marros Sands, a little-known beach between Pendine and Amroth. It could easily compete with its two larger siblings, but parking is not available. It’s over a mile of lovely-looking beach and only has a few people on it; my sort of beach.
A slight detour here: The cliff has eroded and taken the path with it, so the last length into Amroth is via the road. I’m not finished for the day yet, but I’m going to leave you at this point.
Amroth marks the start of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, and that is another story.
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Resolven Carnival 2023 Pics
Waiting for the Parade in John Street
Our councillors ! Leading the Parade
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Some photographs taken in the field
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Photographs by the RDN Team
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Temporary Road Closure at Clyne
Temporary road closure of the B4434 at the Railway Bridge, Clyne to enable Network Rail to install new strengthening plates.
The closure will be between the hours of 10.00pm and 6.00am from 3 July to 15 July 2023
Commercial Rd Temporary Closure
Scheduled carriageway resurfacing works at Commercial Road, Resolven commencing Monday 12th June for 2 nights (6pm – 12am).
The scheme dates may be subject to slight change, depending on weather conditions and/or any unforeseen plant breakdowns.
Commercial Road will be closed from the A465 Roundabout to the junction with Ynysfach Avenue, with 2 way traffic lights on that junction. There will be no access to Commercial Road from John Street or Company Street.
Access to Resolven Village at the above times will be via the B4434 Clyne/Melincourt as shown in blue on the maps below.
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