Community

Church wins heritage lottery fund support

Published

12 years ago

January 23, 2014

ST JEROME’S Church in Llangwm has received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to undertake the medieval church’s renovation and to create an exhibition that tells the story of the immigration of a people who fled the collapse of sea defences in Flanders and came to Pembrokeshire to make their homes at the start of the 12th century.

Development funding of £17,700 has been awarded to help the church and the Heritage Llangwm team develop their plans to enable them to apply for a full grant to carry out the work, at a later date.

St Jerome’s Church was built by Flemish craftsmen around 1200; then in 1830 and 1879 the church underwent modernisation work that lost much of the building’s original medieval character.

But enough remained to inspire Llangwm’s Local History Society to investigate more about the church’s early history. This project when completed will see a church building well suited for the 21st century with a toilet and kitchen facility as well as environmentally friendly heating.

In addition, members of the Llangwm community will conduct extensive research into the village’s Flemish and medieval past. The aim is to create a state of art exhibition in the church telling the story of the Flemish settlement.

The exhibition will be able to be concealed from view during worship. This project will also create an opportunity for the whole village community, young and old to take part.

“This is a marvellous opportunity,” said Pamela Hunt, Chair of the Heritage Llangwm Team. “We have a church in desperate need of renovation, so while we are achieving that, why not create an exhibition that pays tribute to the very people who built it in the first place? We know so little about them at the moment, but that doesn’t stop us finding out. If you imagine the Fleming story as a 500-piece jigsaw that’s lost all but 50 of its original pieces.

“When this project is complete, we hope to have found another 300, enough to enable us to create a clearer picture of the lifestyle and culture of the people who made this part of Wales their home? And it doesn’t end there either. We have been running a successful series of concerts in the church since 2007. We plan to enhance the existing facilities to make for improved concert and of course worship experience.”

The Rev Jane Goupillon, Rector of Llangwm, concurs. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to be able to preserve this wonderful medieval building.

Worship has continued here unabated for over 800 years. This grant will enable us to continue to do so for many years to come and most importantly opening our doors to more visitors whether they come for worship, our concerts or the exhibition. All will be welcome here.”

Jennifer Stewart, Head of the HLF in Wales, said “Places of worship are a powerful, visual connection with our past and always tell a powerful, local story. The future plans for this building means that it can be enjoyed more widely throughout the community. There is certainly an interesting story to be told at St Jerome’s and I am delighted that we have been able to award a grant to help develop the plans for this exciting project, further.”

The entire project is expected to be completed by April 2016, just in time to mark the 700th anniversary to the day of the marriage of Lady Johanna and Sir David De la Roche, the biggest ‘society’ wedding that St. Jerome’s Church has ever witnessed.

Community

New foal born at Dyfed Shire Farm as rare breed season begins

Published

4 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Suffolk Punch mare gives birth to strong colt foal ahead of May bank holiday farm opening

DYFED SHIRE FARM has welcomed its first foal of 2026, with a Suffolk Punch mare giving birth to a strong colt.

The new arrival was announced on Saturday by the Pembrokeshire farm, which said the foal is from mare Dixie and is doing well.

In a social media post, the farm said: “Mother nature working 100% as we would want.”

The birth will be seen as a boost for the farm and for supporters of traditional horse breeds, with the Suffolk Punch regarded as one of Britain’s rarest native working horse breeds.

Dyfed Shire Farm has not yet chosen a name for the colt and has invited the public to send in suggestions.

The farm is preparing to open to visitors over the early May bank holiday weekend, with opening times announced for Friday, May 1 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, and again on Sunday, May 3 and Monday, May 4. Visitors are expected to be able to see Dixie and her foal during the open days.

The Pembrokeshire attraction also used the announcement to promote stays at its campsite as interest grows around the latest addition.

Images shared online show the foal standing close to its mother in a field, as well as resting in the spring sunshine.

Photo caption: New arrival: Dyfed Shire Farm has announced the birth of its first foal of 2026, a Suffolk Punch colt born to mare Dixie (Pics: Dyfed Shire Farm).

Community

Cathedral marks 60 years of girl choristers with tribute to school’s historic role

Published

6 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi headteacher Rachael Thomas read the first lesson at a special service in St Davids Cathedral as past and present choristers gathered to celebrate a tradition that began in dramatic circumstances in 1966

ST DAVIDS CATHEDRAL celebrated sixty years of girl choristers on Sunday (Apr 19) with a special choral evensong honouring the schoolgirls who first stepped in when the choir faced a crisis.

The service marked six decades since girls from Ysgol Dewi Sant, now Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, were called on to help save a BBC Radio 3 broadcast after a shortage of boy choristers left the cathedral choir in difficulty.

In a proud moment for the school, headteacher Rachael Thomas was invited to read the first lesson during the anniversary service, which brought together past and present choristers in the cathedral where the tradition began.

Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi said afterwards that it had been a proud evening for the school, recognising the bond between the cathedral choir and the school dating back to the spring of 1966.

Material produced for the service explains how Peter Boorman, who had arrived at St Davids Cathedral in late 1953 with a strong musical reputation, had been struggling to recruit enough boy choristers in the years leading up to the landmark change.

The problem came to a head ahead of a BBC Radio 3 broadcast of choral evensong on Wednesday, April 20, 1966. At the time, measles had swept through primary schools in St Davids and several boy choristers were unable to sing. By the day of the broadcast, no boys were present at rehearsal, leaving the choir in serious difficulty.

Fearing that there would be no treble line ready, Boorman turned to the girls’ choir of Ysgol Dewi Sant, led by music teacher Rosalyn Charles. With the agreement of Dean Edward Jenkins, the Chapter and headmaster David James, the girls were excused from lessons and brought in to perform.

The schoolgirls rehearsed the required music at speed and, despite the unfamiliar demands of psalm singing, the emergency plan proved a success.

A handwritten note in the Chapter Service Book for that day recorded the moment in stark terms: “boys did not arrive – used 6 girls from Ysgol Dewi Sant.”

What began as a one-off solution quickly became something much bigger.

According to the historical account shared at the service, Dean Jenkins initially agreed to allow the girls to sing with the choir only as an isolated occasion. However, after hearing the quality of their singing, a chapter meeting held on Monday, July 25, 1966 decided that the girls should become full choristers.

The minutes of that meeting recorded: “approval to girls in choir – separate vestry – clothing left to Dean.”

That decision laid the foundation for a tradition which has continued ever since, with generations of girls singing in the cathedral choir over the past sixty years.

Sunday’s celebration recognised not only that original moment of necessity, but the lasting musical contribution made by the school and by the many choristers who followed.

The service booklet described the anniversary as a celebration of “the generations of girl choristers both past and present” and said the cathedral’s choral foundation continues to ensure that “the joy of singing can be experienced by choristers to come.”

The first lesson, read by Mrs Thomas, included the words from Haggai: “Take courage… work, for I am with you, says the Lord” – a fitting theme for an occasion rooted in courage, quick thinking and musical dedication.

For Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, the anniversary was a reminder of a remarkable chapter in the school’s history – and of the day six girls helped change cathedral music in St Davids for good.

Proud celebration: Past and present choristers gathered at St Davids Cathedral on Sunday to mark sixty years of girl choristers in the cathedral choir (Pic: supplied).

Community

Young cellist Seren Barrett wins Dyfed title

Published

11 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Performer to appear at St Davids Cathedral Festival after impressing judges with a programme of Squire, Rachmaninov and Saint-Saëns

CELLIST Seren Barrett has been named Young Musician of Dyfed 2026 after winning the final at Rhosygilwen.

The talented young performer secured the title with what organisers described as a sumptuous programme featuring works by Squire, Rachmaninov and Saint-Saëns.

The announcement was made by St Davids Cathedral Festival at Rhosygilwen, which praised Seren’s winning performance and confirmed she will now appear at this year’s Cathedral Music Festival.

As part of her prize, Seren will give the winner’s recital on Tuesday (May 26) at 11:00am.

The recital will take place during the St Davids Cathedral Festival and is expected to give audiences another chance to hear the young musician following her success in the competition final.

The Young Musician of Dyfed title is regarded as an important platform for emerging talent in west Wales, showcasing some of the area’s most promising performers in front of festival audiences and supporters of classical music.

Tickets for Seren’s winner’s recital are available through the festival.

Award winner: Seren Barrett after being named Young Musician of Dyfed 2026 at Rhosygilwen (Pic: supplied).