ST EDWARD's Church News Archive 2015

Gustavus Choir

We were delighted to welcome an American Choir who gave a concert at St Edward’s on 23rd January. Gustavus Choir is the touring choir of Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peters, Minnesota, USA, and this event was part of their 2015 international tour of France and Britain, under conductor Gregory Aune. They ssng a mix of folk, classical and sacred and there were about 60 singers. As the concert was in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Roath Park Cytûn joined us to make this our main united event of the week. All proceeds go to Christian Aid, and the UK Government has pledged to double all donations.

From Gustavus Choir Blog: Our performance at St Edward’s Church in Roath, a town outside of Cardiff, was certainly the choir at its best. We sang from near the altar, with about 30 yards across the quire between us and the audience. That distance and the vaulted ceilings of the church created a smoothly blended sound. The choir and audience continued to build off one another, creating a memorably high-energy performance. Afterwards, the parish and Gustavus communities mingled over food and drink.


Rachel Doe

Congratulations to Rachel Doe on being admitted to the Roll of Solicitors of the Senior Courts of England and Wales.

The Easter Experience

The Easter Experience, depicting Passiontide and the Resurrection, took place in St Margaret’s 16-20 March. Many thanks to everyone who helped, and especially to Kathie Mayer for organizing it all. We had 240 pupils from Marlborough Primary School and the feedback from them was very positive. They said they had “an awesome time”.

Deanery Confirmation at St Margaret's

The Assistant Bishop of Llandaff, Rt Rev David Wilbourne confirmed the candidates on 22nd March. Congratulations to St Edward's chorister Hannah who was confirmed.

St Edward Cope restored

The St Edward Cope restoration work is complete. It is a wonderful transformation – the cope has been restored to its former glory. Our thanks to Beverley for all her hard work. The cope was originally made by the Benedictine Community of Nashdom, and was first used by Rev Henry Wellington (whose photograph is in the vestry) on Easter Day, 31 March 1929. It has the arms of Edward the Confessor and cost £58.10.0.

Centenary Eucharist on Palm Sunday

On 29th March, Palm Sunday, we celebrated the Centenary of the opening of the original St Edward's Church in 1915. We were delighted to welcome Archbishop Barry, who celebrated and preached at the 11am Eucharist, and took part in the Palm Procession wearing the newly restored St Edward Cope. There was a light lunch in the schoolroom after the Service.

Congregation Centenary Photographs

These photographs of the congregation and choir, marking the Centenary of the church, were taken by photographer Dan Green after the Eucharist on 5th July, 2015.

American Choir Chamber Bravura

American Choir Chamber Bravura, who are singers from Thurgood Marshall Middle School and various High Schools in the San Diego Area in California, gave a concert at St Edward’s on Sat 11 July at 7.30pm, in aid of the Nepal Earthquake Appeal. They have previously performed at Carnegie Hall and Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. They performed a mixture of religious and secular pieces. They are touring Ireland and Wales. In Ireland, they are performing at Adair Hall with the Fermoy Concert Band & Youth Band, Sacred Heart Church in Waterford and Knock Shrine. In Wales, they are singing at Caernarfon Castle, Our Lady and St James Church in Bangor, the Wales Millennium Centre (and St Edward’s).

Choralevensong.org Website

www.ChoralEvensong.org lists churches where Choral Evensong is sung. The entries for Cardiff are Llandaff Cathedral, St Andrew’s & St Teilo’s Cathays, and St Edward’s Roath. There was a synchronised blessing of the website at Choral Evensong services around Britain and Ireland on 22nd November (St Cecilia’s Day). The Deans of Westminster Abbey, Christ Church Cathedral Dublin, St David’s Cathedral, and St Mary’s Cathedral Edinburgh agreed to take part. Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, writes "It is our intention at all our Services to make our congregations aware of the website and to ask God’s blessing upon this new venture. Every choral foundation will be thrilled that the details of their ministry in music, prayer and the reading of scripture on Sundays and on weekdays will now be available on this imaginative website." The website was blessed in our Choral Evensong at 7pm by Rev Dr Rhys Jenkins.

Christmas Carol Service

The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols was led by St Edward's Choir, accompanied as usual by St Edward's Orchestra.