‘Ancient & Modern’ Flower Competition for NAFAS Area

We are pleased to host the National Association of Flower Arranging Society’s Three Counties & S.Wales Area’s Competition Day Ancient & Modern on Thursday, June 18th. The Exhibition is open to the public from 10am – 5pm.

The Festival of Flowers: Advent to Candlemas arranged by Abergavenny Club

The Competition includes entries in the following Categories:

• Club Class:Staged by no more than two people a standing display entitled ‘Ancient & Modern’
• Class 2: ‘Stained Glass’. Floor Exhibit 122cm wide x 122cm deep, height optional.
• Class 3: ‘Thoroughly Modern’,  A modern/abstract exhibit  61cm wide x 61cm deep
• Class 4: ‘Songs of Praise’. Novice exhibit depicting a well known hymn
• Class 5: ‘Traditional with a Twist’, A Pew End Exhibit 21cm wide x 63 cm high
• Class 6: ‘Primeval’,A floor exhibit to feature wood, space allowed 46cm wide x 46cm deep and 46cm high
• Class 7: ‘Tudor Rose’, Still Life Exhibit Space allowed 76cm wide x 68cm deep
• Class 8: ‘A Period Piece’, A Craft Exhibit
• Class 9: ‘A passage through time’ A Period Exhibit
• Class 10: ‘Well read’ Junior class, an exhibit to depict a book.

There are 75 entries ,some of the exhibitors come straight from winning gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Judging will take place on Wednesday evening. Entrance FREE, donations welcome

Read Full Post »

PENTECOST/WHITSUN

We will Celebrate the Feast of Pentecost over Spring bank Holiday Weekend

Details of events:

SUNDAY, MAY 24th

8am Holy Eucharist

9.30am All Age Worship

11am Parish Eucharist: Celebrant & Preacher: The Bishop fo St Helena

6pm Evensong & Sermon

 

PENTECOST TUESDAY:

Craft morning for all ages

Read Full Post »

ASCENSION THURSDAY

We will mark Ascension day this Thursday, May 14th with Celebrations of the Holy Eucharist at 8.30am and 6.30pm (sung)

 

Read Full Post »

A Major work on the Priory Church is published

A major work about St Mary’s Priory Church, Abergavenny An Anatomy of a Priory Church: The Archeology, History, and Conservation of St Mary’s Priory Church, Abergavenny is being published around the 61st Birthday, later this month, of Dean Jeremy Winston, and in memory of him.

The Book is a tour d’horizon of the History of the Priory through good times and bad. It contains twelve thought-provoking chapters on the archeology, history and conservation of this impressive building. Each chapter written by our relevant expert. Welcoming the book’s publication Canon Mark  Soady said, “The book is edited by our Archeologist-in-residence, Dr George Nash, to whom I am very grateful for the concept and the execution  this exciting project. It is a fitting tribute to my dedicated predecessor.”

Dr Nash(right) on site with his assistant, Tom

Conservation experts and Vicar consult

The Book is published by Archeopress Archaeology ISBN 9781784911089. It is Priced £29.00

Dean Jeremy Winston died suddenly in November 2012, two months after being Installed as Dean at Newport Cathedral. Prior to that he had served as Vicar of Abergavenny for eighteen years.

Read Full Post »

Town Civic Service – June 28th at 3pm

Cllr Maureen Powell was tonight Installed as Mayor of Abergavenny. Her Civic Service will be at St Mary’s Priory on June 24th at 3pm.

The Service will be lead by the Vicar, Canon Mark Soady who she appointed as her Chaplain as he stands down as Chaplain to the Chairman of Monmouthshire County Council.

Read Full Post »

Michael Howard …gives an audience at the Priory

The latest of our  “An Audience with…” series on June 24th will feature former Home Secretary and Tory Leader,Rt Hon  Baron Howard of Lympne CH QC. Better known as Michael Howard he was educated at Llanelli Boys Grammar School – as was our Vicar Canon Mark Soady.

Another member of the Priory Team whose path crossed with Lord Howard was Sir Trefor Morris, Chairman of the Priory Development Trust. Sir Trefor served as HM Chief Inspector of Constabularies for most of Lord Howard’s time at the Home Office.

Michael Howard

Tickets priced £10 in aid of church funds are available from the Tithe Barn. The event will be Chaired by Newsquest Production Editor Caroline Wollard.

Other Welsh stars in the “An audience with…” series have included Archbishop Rowan Williams and Lord Rowe-Beddoe.

Read Full Post »

A Weekend of remembrance at the Priory

The weekend of May 9 -11th is a weekend of Remembrance for us.

At 3pm on Friday we will gather at the War Memorial as we remember the First World War Battle of Mons a century ago when many men from Abergavenny fighting with the 3rd Monmouthshire regiment died.

3 Mons leave for War from St Mary’s Priory

VE Day will b remembered on Saturday with a peal of Bells at 11am and a Concert by Abergavenny Borough Band and Pupils of Our Lady & St Michael RC School in the Priory Church at 7pm.

There will also be opportunities to remember in the services on Sunday at 8am, 9.30am, 11am & 6pm.

The Weekend of Remembrance started on Thursday with the Funeral of  101 year old Albert Davies a sailor who fought in the Second World War.

Speaking at his Funeral, the Vicar, Canon Mark Soady said:

” On Sunday as we mark the 70 Anniversary of VE Day and remember the contribution of all who fought, the appointed Gospel  for Sunday reminds us that ‘ Greater love hath no man than this than to lay down his life for his friend’. ‘Lay down his life’ not   ‘give  it’,  not ‘loose it’, but ‘ lay  it down’; ‘offer it’.  Albert and all who fought in World War II did just that. They went to war not knowing if they would come back alive, that was the sacrifice they made for us to have peace.While not being called to ‘give up their life’ they did ‘lay it down (for us) their friend’.

Albert often asked me, as have others in his situation,  why was I saved. Why though ” I layed down my life’ was it not taken. That questioning was with them from 1945 to the day they die… that guilt in some cases that they survived while their comrades died. That was the price they paid, that was the sacrifice they made. So it is right that we honour Albert and the others who went to War and survived”.

Fr Mark served in the Royal Army Chaplains Department from 1998- 2013

Read Full Post »

Ascension day & Pentecost

We will mark Ascension day (May14th) and Pentecost (May 24th) with Special services.

ASCENSION DAY

8.30am Holy Eucharist

6.30pm Sung Eucharist

PENTECOST

8am Holy Eucharist

9.30am All Age Worship

11am Parish Eucharist; Celebrant & Preacher The Bishop of St Helena

Bishop Richard of St Helena

6pm Evensong & Sermon

Read Full Post »