St Joseph's R.C. Church, Hay-on-Wye

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church
The church front viewed from Belmont Rd
52°04′29″N3°07′37″W / 52.074774°N 3.127053°W / 52.074774; -3.127053
OS grid reference	SO2285242423
Location	The Presbytery, 4 Belmont Road, Hay-on-Wye, Powys HR3 5DA
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Previous denomination	Calvinistic Methodist
Website	https://www.stmichaelsrcbrecon.org.uk/st-joseph/
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	1968
Dedication	Saint Joseph
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Hay conservation area
Architect(s)	F.R. Bates, Son & Price of Newport
Style	Gothic architecture
Administration
Province	Cardiff
Archdiocese	Cardiff-Menevia
Deanery	Llandrindod Wells Deanery [1]
Parish	St. Joseph's
Clergy
Priest(s)	Fr. Jimmy Sebastian Pulickakunnel MCBS

St. Joseph's Church is a Roman Catholic church in Belmont Rd, Hay-on-Wye which is in Powys, Wales. ^[2] The parish is in the Llandrindod Wells Deanery of the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia. ^{[3] [4]} St. Joseph's is served out of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brecon. ^{[5] [6]} The Parish Priest for both parishes is Fr Jimmy Sebastian Pulickakunnel MCBS. Fr Jimmy is a member of the religious order of the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. ^[7] Canon Clyde Hughes Johnson, now retired, still helps in the parish and has done so for decades. ^{[8] [9] [10]}

Location

Hay-on-Wye is a medieval town on the border of England and Wales in the area known as the Welsh Marches. Thanks to Richard Booth, Hay-on-Wye is widely known as the "town of books". ^{[11] [12]} On April Fools day in 1977, Booth proclaimed Hay-on-Wye as an "independent kingdom". He declared himself as "King" and his horse as "Prime Minister". ^{[13] [14]} The town hosts the annual Hay Festival of Literature & Arts . ^{[15] [16] [17] [18]} Literary connections to the parish include: Penelope Betjeman, ^[19] Christopher Dawson, ^[20] Evelyn Waugh, ^[21] and H.G. Wells. ^[22] Francis Kilvert is a literary connection for the geographical area known as "Kilvert country" which includes Hay-on-Wye and nearby villages, especially, Clyro and Llanigon. ^{[23] [24] [12]}

St. Joseph's R.C. Parish - Hay-on-Wye

There are two regular Masses, Sunday at 9am and Thursday at 10am. The weekly newsletter contains details about social and liturgical events including the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Exposition, Holy day Masses etc. ^[25]

Parishioners play an active part in the life of the parish. The Parish Advisory Council includes parishioners with responsibilities for safeguarding, finances, maintenance and repair etc. Lay ministries include: altar serving, catechist (including RCIA), reader, eucharistic minister, hospitality etc. Periodic activities include: preparation of bidding prayers, church and altar linen cleaning, flower arranging etc.

Tabernacle Calvinistic Methodist chapel, Hay-on-Wye

Following the Welsh Methodist revival in 1762, some Welsh Methodist congregations were nicknamed the 'Jumpers'. ^[26] In 1774, John Wesley preached in St John's Chapel in Hay-in-Wye. ^{[27] [28]} His diary entry for the visit describes the 'Jumpers' behaviour "they clapped their hands with the utmost violence; they shook their heads; they distorted all their features; they threw their arms and legs to and fro in all variety of postures; they sang, roared, shouted, screamed with all their might to the no small terror of those that were near them". ^[26]

The Calvinistic Methodist denomination (now the Presbyterian Church of Wales) are the only nonconformist denomination indigenous to Wales. They formerly separated from the established church, the Church of England (and thus the Church in Wales) in 1811, facilitating the ordination of their own ministers. The Calvinistic Methodist denomination was formally established in 1823.

Thomas Phillips

Richard Owens

In 1828, the Tabernacle Calvinistic Methodist chapel was built in Belmont Rd, ^[29] Hay-on-Wye. The word "Tabernacle" in the church name emphasises the presence of God and the practice of Holy Communion. ^[30] The building of the new chapel was overseen by its minister Rev Dr Thomas Phillips.

In 1834, the antiquary Samuel Lewis described the Hay Tabernacle Calvinistic Methodist chapel as a "handsome place of worship". Many Calvinistic Methodist services were conducted in Welsh, however, it is not known what language was used in Hay. Samuel Lewis states that the Sunday school teachers from the Chapel taught a great number of the local children for free. ^[31] In 1836, after a decade as minister, Thomas Phillips left Hay to become the Welsh secretary of the ecumenical British and Foreign Bible Society. ^{[32] [33]}

By the end of the 19th-century, of the 6,427 known non-conformist chapels in Wales, more than half were rebuilt at least once. ^[34] In 1872, a new stone-built chapel was built at a cost of £700. ^[35] It was partly built on the foundations of the 1828 Belmont Rd chapel, and portions of the original walls were retained. The chapel was designed by the prolific Calvinistic Methodist architect Richard Owens of Liverpool. The architecture was based on the Classical and Gothic style of the gable entry type. ^{[36] [37]} The contractor for the building work was Mr. James Webb of Hay. ^[38] The building of the new chapel was overseen by its minister Rev Richmond Leigh Roose. ^{[39] [40] [41]} He was the father of the Wales international footballer Leigh Richmond Roose, ^[42] who died heroically in the 1916 Somme offensive. Leigh is commemorated at the Thiepval memorial in France. ^{[43] [44]}

Rhys Prytherch

The Calvinistic Methodist minister Rev Rhys Thomas Pryddererch (or Prytherch) was a respected preacher in Hay-on-Wye and the local area. He died heroically in 1917 within 10 days of arriving on the Western front. ^{[45] [46]} He is commemorated on the Hay-on-Wye and Cusop War Memorial. ^{[47] [48] [22] [49]}

The Tabernacle Calvinistic Methodist chapel was closed, sometime in the early 1960s. The last known document is a pulpit supply list for 1963. A pulpit list is a directory of preachers who are qualified and available to lead services when the regular minister is unavailable. ^{[50] [51] [52]} In the late 1960s, the chapel was repurposed to become St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church. ^[53]

St. Joseph's, Hay-on-Wye parish and church history

Hay-on-Wye Map 1889 (displayed at the Cheese Market)

Following the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829, there was a growth in the Roman Catholic population in England and Wales. ^[54] In 1850, Pope Pius IX restored the hierarchy of dioceses in England and Wales in Universalis Ecclesiae. Wales was split between the Diocese of Shrewsbury and the Diocese of Newport and Menevia. ^{[55] [56] [57] [58]}

Hay-on-Wye modern map (displayed at the Cheese Market)

Without a Roman Catholic church in Hay-on-Wye since the 16th century, the faithful had to travel up to 20 miles by road, often assisting one another to get to churches. ^[59] Those that could afford to travel by rail could use the Hereford, Hay and Brecon Railway up until 1962 when the line was closed. The nearest churches included Brecon, ^[60] Weobley, ^[61] Belmont ^[62] and Hereford. ^{[63] [64]} The clergy at Belmont and St. Michael's provided a supportive role for the formative St. Joseph's parish. Belmont was founded in 1859 as a house of studies for the Benedictine monasteries at Downside, Ampleforth and Douai. ^[65] Until 1915, Belmont was also the Cathedral for the Diocese of Newport and Menevia. ^[66] The Gothic St. Michael's RC Church in Brecon and adjoining presbytery date from 1851, and were designed by the architect Charles Hansom (brother of Joseph Hansom). ^{[67] [5] [68]}

H.R. Grant on Castle St. and former flannel mill on Belmont Rd

In 1892, Henry Richard Grant, a Roman Catholic, ran a newsagents and printing business ^{[69] [70] [71]} from 6 Castle Street, ^{[72] [73] [74] [75]} Hay-on-Wye. Henry was married to Jane Victoria Grant (née Hughes). They had seven sons and two daughters. At the start of the 20th-century most parishioners attended Roman Catholic Mass in the Grant's home, served by the Secular Priests from Brecon or the Benedictines of Belmont (formally designated an Abbey in 1920).

Attending Mass in schools was a possibility for families that sent their children to:

• Belmont Abbey school for boys run by the Benedictines in Belmont (opened 1926, closed 1993). ^{[76] [77]}
• St. David's school for girls in Brecon (opened 1903, closed 2020). Originally run by the Daughters of the Holy Spirit (from France). ^{[78] [79] [80]} From 1948, ^[81] the Ursuline Sisters (from Thurles, Ireland) took over the running of the school. ^{[82] [83] [84] [85] [86] [87]}

  

  St. Mary the Virgin at Capel-y-Ffi

The conversion of the Caldey Island Benedictine monks to Roman Catholicism in 1913 meant that the monastery built by the Anglican Father Ignatius (Lyne) at Capel-y-Ffin, ^[88] near Llanthony Priory, ^[89] came under the ownership of a Caldey Island monk. The property was sold to a Roman Catholic lay person of deep faith but shallow morality. The property hosted a Roman Catholic community of artists and craftspeople known as the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic. Consequently, Mass was celebrated at Capel-y-Ffin from 1913, initially by a monk from Caldey Abbey. ^[90]

Some would say that the origins of St. Joseph's parish is Celtic. Henry Richard Grant came from Scotland in 1892. Thomas Joseph Madigan came from Ireland in 1909, as did Rose Jones (née Fitzgerald) in 1926 and the Dewan family. Rose received the Papal award, the Benemerenti medal. Many of the descendants of the Celtic Victorian and Edwardian families are active parishioners. ^[91] Henry Norman Grant, eldest son of Henry Richard and Victoria Grant died heroically in 1916, ^{[92] [93]} on the first day of the Somme offensive. ^[94] He is commemorated on the Hay-on-Wye and Cusop War Memorial. ^{[95] [96]}

First Mass Centre

Cheese Market in 1885 poster - (displayed at the Cheese Market)

Cheese Market timeline poster - (displayed at the Cheese Market)

In 1925, Thomas Joseph Madigan, was a Councillor for Hay Town Council ^[97] and Brecon Town Council. ^[98] He owned a shop in Castle Street, Hay-on-Wye selling motorised vehicles, parts, petrol etc. ^[99] The shop was next to The Plaza Cinema (now Hay Cinema Bookshop) which later became J. V. Likes garage. Thomas Joseph Madigan acquired the lease for the assembly room in Market Street over the Cheese Market hall. ^{[100] [101]} The parish of St. Joseph's was created sometime in the 1920s, possibly when Bishop Francis Vaughan the Bishop of Menevia gave consent for Roman Catholic Mass to be celebrated in the hired assembly room. The hired room was also used as a Masonic lodge until 1972. ^{[102] [103]} Fr Flannery from Belmont spent months decorating the dilapidated assembly room, which was partially furnished with discarded furniture from Weobley ^[104] and Belmont. Colonel Abel Morrell of Wyecliffe and Miss Binney (who later became a Nun) also provided church furniture. Up to 1959 and for different periods of time, the Mass centre was served either by the Brecon clergy (1930, 1948) or the Belmont clergy (1926, 1939). ^[59] Anecdotally, current parishioners remember that the assembly room roof leaked when it rained, and getting coffins up and down the steep stairwell was challenging. ^{[105] [106] [107]} Fr John Brady (RIP-1975), the Parish Priest in Brecon introduced Sunday school in the afternoons in the assembly room. Led by Eileen Biddle, in good weather she would host the Sunday school in her home in Witney-on-Wye. ^{[108] [59] [109]} It took a while before the Mass centre could be formally registered for marriages. In 1951, the first Roman Catholic marriage in Hay-on-Wye since the 16th century, took place in St. Joseph's parish. Fr Cubley married Mr and Mrs Terrence Madigan. ^{[91] [59] [110] [111]} On one occasion Fr Patrick Shannon was called away after Mass on a family emergency, and had to leave the Blessed Sacrament. The bishop gave permission for John Grant and Thomas Joseph Madigan to watch and pray with the Blessed Sacrament in the interim period before collection. ^[59] The need for a larger church building grew as evacuees were billeted to Hay-on-Wye during the Second World War.

First Parish Priest

Old Presbytery, Church St.

In the 1950s, members of the Madigan family ran the “Plaza” cinema in Brook Street, now the “Hay Cinema Bookshop”, opposite the Swan and behind Like's garage. In the late 1950s, John and Clive Grant, Des (aka Dessie) Madigan and other parishioners raised money to buy the Grade II listed Ashbrook House, in Church Street, Hay-on-Wye. ^{[112] [113] [114] [115] [116] [117]} This became known as the old Presbytery. The intention was to build a church in the grounds at some future date. ^{[118] [119] [120]}

In October 1960, Bishop John Petit the Bishop of Menevia appointed Fr Hugh Healey as the resident Roman Catholic Priest for the parish, the first since the 16th century, he lived in the old Presbytery. ^[121] A Church Building Funding Committee was set up, achieving excellent results. External practical and financial support was provided by Cyfeillion Amgueddfa Cymru (Friends of National Museum Wales), ^[122] and from the Sisters of Mercy and school children from Glenamaddy, County Galway.

Fr Healey's zeal for fund raising was tireless. He held monthly jumble sales on the lawn of the old Presbytery. He would drive around the country to collect jumble, furniture and other items and was affectionally known as 'Steptoe' and the ' King of the Totters '. He would often repair and renovate the items to make a few shillings for the parish. He made leather belts and wallets to order. ^{[91] [59] [123]}

Anecdotal evidence by current parishioners reveal that Fr Healey would celebrate a veryearly Sunday morning Mass at St. Mary's chapel, Capel-y-Ffin, a distant outpost of the parish. He would then rush back to Hay-on-Wye to celebrate early Mass.

First Parish Church

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

In 1967, rather than build a new church in the grounds of the old Presbytery, the former Calvinistic Methodist chapel in Belmont Rd, Hay-on-Wye was purchased by Fr Healey for the bargain price of £1,500. It was refurbished, re-roofed and adapted for Roman Catholic use by the firm of architects F.R. Bates, Son & Price of Newport at a cost of £6,000, leaving a debt over £3,000. The firm specialised in modernising Catholic churches across South Wales. ^{[124] [125] [126] [127] [128] [129] [130]} The contractor for the building work was Mr Percy Price of Hay. For the first time the parish had its own church. On May 28, 1967 (Ascension day), St. Joseph's church was blessed and opened by Bishop Petit. The ecumenical spirit of the Second Vatican Council was manifest by the attendance of local Clergy from other Christian denominations. ^[110]

The ecumenical 'Holy Joes' choir was formed in the 1970s. Their organist was Des Madigan (son of Thomas Joseph Madigan). He was renowned for playing the organ loudly. Consequently, the 'Holy Joes' were equally renowned for singly loudly, like the 'Jumpers'.

In 1740, William Seward, a lay preacher from the Calvinistic Methodist theological college Coleg Trefeca, and other outsiders visited Hay-on-Wye to promote the Calvinistic Methodist/Presbyterian cause. A stone thrown from a hostile crowd of locals in Black Lion Green resulted in Seward receiving head injuries. It led to his death a few days later, and him becoming the first Methodist Martyr. ^[131] Current parishioners remember that in 1968, Rev Dr Ian Paisley and other outsiders came to Hay-on-Wye to protest about the repurposing of the Belmont Rd Presbyterian chapel. Paisley did not suffer the same fate as Seward, but he did suffer the same lack of influence over the locals. Richard Booth revealed that the outsiders did not reflect the view of the people of Hay-on-Wye. ^{[110] [123]} In the spirit of ecumenism, Rev Thomas Wright a Presbyterian from Coleg Trefeca said he was pleased with the "link with the building’s past" and he was "pleased that God was still to be honoured on that spot”. ^{[132] [110] [123]} In 2028, it will be 200 years of "honouring God" in the Belmont Rd chapels and church.

Fr Healey was a popular figure around town. He always had time to stop and talk, especially when walking his dog. He was a regular at the nearby Indian restaurant - he would have approved of Fr Jimmy's annual curry night. Parishioner Des Madigan, recounts that Fr Healey said he would "like to die with his boots on". He did, having to be carried from the St. Joseph's altar in 1984, dying soon after. Fr Hugh Healey carved his name into the history of Hay-on-Wye, a revered and much loved character by the parishioners and the people of Hay. ^{[110] [123]}

One of Fr Healey's parishioners also carved her name into the history of Hay-on-Wye. The author Lady Penelope Betjeman (and wife of the Poet Laureate John Betjeman) used to "come into town on her pony and trap, wearing a chunky knitted jumper and jodphurs". ^[19]

First Presbytery adjoining the church

Canon Clyde Johnson

Vatican City

The old Presbytery was later sold, in order to purchase the new Presbytery adjoining the church in 1985. The Parish Priest at the time Fr Patrick Murray lived in a small flat in Oxford Road for a few months until the purchase was completed.

Canon Clyde Johnson advised Bishop James Hannigan to purchase the house which was to become the new Presbytery, "bringing great joy and encouragement to the parishioners". The Presbytery was also used as a parish centre, important in a town with limited capacity social venues. Additional Masses were celebrated in the house for ad-hoc family events. The house and the spacious gardens were used for parish social events.

The house flanking the new Presbytery was previously owned by John Grant (the grandson of Henry Richard Grant). The house on the other side of the Church was owned by another Roman Catholic, Mrs Rose Jones. The house that became new Presbytery was built in 1938 by Mr John Watkins of MiddleWood for Mr Ralph Jones, brother-in-law of Rose. The cluster of buildings was affectionally dubbed by Rose as the 'Vatican City'. ^[91]

More recent times...

Rosalind Grant (RIP - 27th Nov 1936) daughter of H.R. Grant and Jane Grant

• On the 12th June 1992 (Ascension day), the Silver Jubilee of the opening of St. Joseph's Mass was concelebrated by Bishop Daniel Mullins the Bishop of Menevia, the Dean and the Priests of the Deanery. ^[123]
• The patronal feast day is celebrated annually ^[133] with a social event organised by a parishioner(s) in the Hay-on-Wye parish hall ^{[134] [135]} or the Royal British Legion. ^{[136] [137]}
• Fr Jimmy organises an annual Curry night in Brecon for both parishes. ^[138]
• Norman Keylock (and his family) create spectacular Christmas and Easter devotional scenes every year.
• The 'Holy Joes' choir are still flourishing more than 50 years since their formation. The current church organist Pat Hammond leads the ecumenical choir. They lead the music on Sundays and on special occasions in the local area. ^{[139] [140]}
• Martin McNamara was the Clerk of Works for the conservation-led renovation and repair of Hay Castle in Hay-on-Wye. ^[141]
• The garden outside the church is dedicated to Our Lady and was created by Maggie Sims (British Empire Medal) ^[142] c.f. on the right in the top right-hand image. Hard landscaping was provided by John Darlison.

Church interior

"Your word is a lamp to my feet" - Psalm 119:105

Praise the Lord! Alleluia.

The interior curved roof is one of the few original Presbyterian architectural features following the refurbishment in 1967. ^{[143] [53] [38]} The curved roof is waggon-headed, where all the principal ribs are exposed and were originally varnished. ^[38]

The abstract coloured window glazing is thought to be the work of the Architects F.R. Bates, Son & Price of Newport. ^[53] Around the start of the new millennium, the windows either side of the chancel had deteriorated and had to be replaced with new window frames and stained glass. John Darlison oversaw that that the work was in keeping with the Hay conservation area requirements. Another parishioner salvaged some of the original stained glass windows from a skip, and repurposed some of the stained glass windows. The two large stained glass windows at the back of the church date to the 1967 refurbishment.

In the late 1990s, Fr Tim Maloney commissioned a bespoke set of Stations of the Cross. Local Stonemason Caitriona Cartwright carved the Stations of the Cross using stone from local quarries. The text font was inspired by the letter cutting of 18th century headstones. Her other works includes a Baptismal font in a Wiltshire church. ^{[144] [145]}

Church exterior

Presbyterian Chapel in Belmont Rd (1932)-National Monuments Record of Wales: 6370888 - WPW038162

St. Joseph's today with small parishioner car parks in front of the church and presbytery

The church building is within the Hay Conservation area, but is not Grade II listed. ^{[146] [147]} The conservation area includes the entire medieval town of Hay-on-Wye. ^[148] The architecture is based on a thirteenth century Gothic style.

Due to its heritage, the church is not orientated traditionally i.e. towards the east. The altar faces towards the west and the entrance towards the east.

The wall along the nave on the left side (looking from Belmont Rd) terminates with a stepped buttress carried up into a pinnacle. ^[38] The tower above the entrance has deep jambs and sunk heads. Above the doorway is a belfry and a 40 feet tall cornice.

The pitched roof is covered in Welsh slate and local stone was used for the rock-face stone front wall (looking from Belmont Rd). The front walls being square random with dressings of Grinshill and Ruabon stone.

The front has one large triple-light window, and one single window with plated tracery in the heads. The gabled front central pointed window has three simply moulded lights with three hexagons in the tracery. To its left is a single pointed window (looking from Belmont Rd) with a straight head to the main light and a hexagon in the tracery.

Architect Richard Owen's church designs often included a spire and an upper seating area. Historical documentation states that the 1872 chapel included a framed and slated spire 20 feet high c.f. St. Davids. ^{[149] [53]} It is not known when or why the spire was removed. Original architectural documents state that the chapel measuring 41 feet by 30 feet was designed to accommodate a congregation of nearly 260 i.e. 5 square feet per person. If the claim was valid, it suggests that there might have been an upper seating area c.f. Aberystwyth. ^{[150] [38]}

St. Joseph's Parish Priests

Fr Hugh Healey (RIP - 1984). ^{[59] [110] [121] [123]}

Fr Martin McCormack (RIP - 1984). ^[123]

Fr Patrick Murray (RIP - 1991). ^{[91] [123]}

Fr Peter Flanagan (RIP - 2008) SCJ. ^{[123] [151] [152] [153]}  

Fr Tim Maloney (RIP - 2013) IC. ^{[154] [155] [156] [157]}

Fr Patrick Fitzgerald-Lombard O.Carm. ^[158]

Fr Jimmy Sebastian Pulickakunnel MCBS. ^[159]

• 
  Fr Hugh Healy (left) with Bishop Petit (right)
• 
  Fr Patrick Murray
• 
  Fr Tim Maloney - lost an eye playing rugby.
• 
  Fr Patrick Fitzgerald-Lombard
• 
  Fr Jimmy - our current Parish Priest

Notable People

• Lady Penelope Betjeman (née Chetwode) (1910–1986), Roman Catholic who lived in Cusop Hill overlooking Hay-on-Wye. ^[160] English travel writer (and wife of Sir John Betjeman, the Poet Laureate). ^[21] Penelope was influenced to become a Roman Catholic by Evelyn Waugh. ^[161]
• Thérèse Coffey (born 1971), Roman Catholic, former MP and visitor to St. Joseph's church. ^[162]
• Christopher Dawson (1889–1970), Roman Catholic, who lived in Hay Castle, author of books on cultural history and Christendom. ^{[163] [20]}

• 

  Hay-on-Wye & Cusop War Memorial - Henry Norman Grant - RIP

  Henry Norman Grant (1892–1916), eldest son of Henry Richard and Victoria Grant was declared missing in action on the first day of the Somme offensive. It was more than a year before his death was confirmed. Commemorated on the Hay-on-Wye and Cusop War Memorial. ^{[92] [93] [96] [94]}
• Francis Kilvert (1840–1879), Church in Wales curate at Saint Michael and All Angels, Clyro, author of the "Kilvert Diaries" which describes many visits to Hay-on-Wye area and nearby villages, his walking route from Clyro to Hay-on-Wye castle and/or Llanigon may have included Belmont Rd.
• William Edward Thomas Morgan (1847–1940), Church in Wales vicar at St. Eigon, Llanigon, Kilvert's best man and polymath. In 1932, Henry Richard Grant published William's book "Hay and Neighbourhood". ^[164]
• Richard Owens of Liverpool designed up to 300 chapels, mostly in Wales and mostly Calvinistic Methodist. ^{[149] [150] [165] [166] [167]} After moving from Wales to Liverpool, he designed many buildings in Liverpool including 10,000 terraced houses. This included the family home of Ringo Starr (No. 9 Madryn). ^[168] Owens died in his home in Anfield Road, Liverpool at the age of 60 from gallstones and was buried in Anfield Cemetery. ^{[169] [170]}

• 

  Hay-on-Wye & Cusop War Memorial - Rhys Pryddererch - RIP

  

  Goalkeeper Leigh Roose

  Rhys Thomas Pryddererch (or Prytherch) BA,BD (1883-1917). Calvinistic Methodist minister for the Hay-on-Wye area. He volunteered for the infantry in 1914 but was rejected on medical grounds. He declined the officer role of Army Chaplain. On his fifth attempt he was eventually accepted as a private in the King's Regiment (Liverpool). Died on the Western Front in World War I. ^{[46] [47] [48]}

• Leigh Richmond Roose (1877–1916), son of Calvinistic Methodist minister Richmond Leigh Roose. He was a Wales international footballer. He attended the Holt Academy, where he was taught by H. G. Wells. ^{[171] [172]} Leigh survived Gallipoli but died in the Somme offensive in 1916. Commemorated at the Thiepval memorial in France, ^[173] which his family discovered many years later due to the misspelling of his name. ^{[44] [22] [49]}

Gallery

• 
  Welcome to St. Joseph's Church, Belmont Rd, Hay-on-Wye
• 
  St. Joseph's porch and entrance
• 
  Liturgy of the Eucharist - Taking, Thanking, Breaking, Giving.
• 
  Liturgy of the Word - The word of God, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
• 
  The sanctuary lamp, is placed before the tabernacle as a sign of Jesus’ presence within
• 
  'The Holy Joes' - "Singing is the sign of the heart’s joy"- Acts 2:46
• 
  "To whom shall we go? You have the words of Eternal Life" - John 6:68-69
• 
  Christmas nativity tableau
• 
  11th Station of the Cross - Jesus promises his Kingdom to the repentant thief - Luke 23: 39–43
• 
  Easter tableau
• 
  “Do not be afraid, Joseph, son of David, to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit." - Matthew 1:20
• 
  "My soul glorifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour. He looks on his servant in her lowliness; henceforth all ages will call be blessed" - Luke 1:46-47
• 
  Prayer means ".. a cry of grateful love from the crest of joy or the through of despair.." - St. Therese of Lisieux
• 
  "Christ of compassion, you enable us to be in communion with those who have gone before us" - Brother Roger of Taize (RIP)
• 
  The sower - Matthew 13:23
• 
  Madonna and Child
• 
  Petro's Ukrainian family are a blessing to our community
• 
  Lockdown garden
• 
  Lockdown garden is dedicated to Our Lady
• 
  "One is nearer to God in a garden than anywhere else on earth" - Dorothy Frances Blomfield
• 
  Lockdown garden
• 
  Lockdown garden
• 
  Roses and Hollyhocks flower bed
• 
  1st Sunday of Advent 2024: New Liturgical year, new Lectionary & new Altar Server: Dan

References

1. from Diocese of Menevia, retrieved 27 September 2024
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14. "Hay Castle Trust - Would you like to become a Duke, Duchess, Lord, Lady or Leige?". www.haycastletrust.org. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
15. "Maps of Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye". www.hayfestival.com. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
16. "BBC - Childhood Memories of Hay-on-Wye" (PDF).
17. "Hay-on-Wye Tourist Information Bureau". www.hay-on-wye.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
18. "BBC - Eric Lewis Pugh" (PDF).
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