Cymuned Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol

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-I've come home

-to the area I was raised.

-I'm on the hills

-of the Vale of Clwyd.

-Down there is Ruthin and

-further up the valley is Denbigh.

-A couple of miles beyond that

-is the village of Henllan...

-..where I was raised.

-It's an area

-of outstanding natural beauty...

-..and one which delights

-in its warm and friendly community.

-Welcome

-to Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol.

-Tonight, we'll visit

-two different communities.

-The community spirit

-of Ruthin's drama festival...

-..and the good work done by

-Llanfair church in Penrhys, Rhondda.

-Community.

-People coming together

-to enjoy themselves, socialize...

-..and offer assistance

-and support...

-..is what we have tonight.

-We start the programme...

-..by joining the congregation of the

-Tabernacle chapel here in Ruthin.

-Conducting the choral singing...

-..is the composer who's

-made his home here, Robat Arwyn.

-Local history and stories

-from the area are important to us.

-Drama and music

-are also close to my heart.

-Here, in Bethania chapel,

-for over 70 years...

-..a drama festival has been held

-every February half-term.

-The chapel members obviously

-work very hard to organize it.

-Over six busy nights,

-many plays are performed.

-Three on each night.

-Hello, Gruff.

-Hello, Gruff.

-

-How are you?

-Fine, thanks. How's it going?

-Fine, thanks. How's it going?

-

-Not bad.

-Welcome to Bethania.

-Welcome to Bethania.

-

-Thank you.

-Are you the caretaker?

-Are you the caretaker?

-

-Yes, sort of.

-You have a busy week ahead.

-Yes. People are very good

-at helping out, fair play.

-Long plays

-have been here since the 1920s...

-..almost a century ago.

-After a break during World War II...

-..the short plays began

-in the late 1940s and early 1950s...

-..thanks to diligent people

-like Elen Roger Jones.

-Gruff, this festival has been going

-for decades. What's the secret?

-Local interest.

-It's not easy to choose six plays.

-We have two plays by young people.

-It's good.

-It breeds confidence in children.

-We're very fortunate.

-They want to carry on until

-they go to university or get a job.

-Over 100 people are part of it.

-Most of them are members here.

-There are the actors, people

-preparing refreshments, leaders.

-It brings people together.

-Iwan Vaughan Evans is a deacon

-and leads the singing in Bethania.

-He's acted in the plays

-for over 30 years.

-He now casts and produces.

-You obviously derive pleasure

-from doing the work.

-What's the value of holding

-the drama festival at Bethania?

-Its main value

-is that it brings people together.

-Through socializing,

-chatting, having fun...

-..and creating something together,

-it brings us closer together...

-..and creates a healthy community.

-It's a cross-section.

-People get to know each other.

-In a chapel community,

-people live far away.

-We come together and many of us

-haven't performed onstage before.

-We get to know one another and it

-makes for a closer-knit community.

-How many rehearsals

-have there been this week?

-It's been very busy. We devote five

-or six weeks to the event.

-In the week before,

-it's nose to the grindstone.

-It's gone very well.

-Is there a rehearsal today?

-Is there a rehearsal today?

-

-Yes.

-Can I come for a sneak peek?

-Can I come for a sneak peek?

-

-Of course.

-How are you, Mr Parry?

-Not bad. I feel lonely.

-I miss Marged terribly.

-Why do you take part?

-Why do you take part?

-

-I like taking part with friends.

-It's a laugh to do it every year.

-The plays bring people together

-and make them smile.

-Why don't you come over to our house

-for a chat?

-Why do you enjoy it?

-Why do you enjoy it?

-

-Being with a group of friends helps.

-Ruthin is a very good place

-for friends to come together.

-A drama festival at the chapel

-is a good thing.

-What would you like, Mr Parry?

-Tea, scone, bara brith?

-I don't fancy anything

-but I have to try.

-So, a weak cup of tea

-and bara brith, please.

-OK.

-We'll see how the performances

-went later.

-Up until the Protestant Reformation

-in the 16th century...

-..Penrhys was a well-known

-pilgrimage site...

-..as this memorial demonstrates.

-It is situated in the valleys of

-the Rhondda Fawr and Rhondda Fach.

-Today, the area is very active.

-The church

-is a central part of the community.

-At its height, the black gold

-of the South Wales Valleys...

-..was sold worldwide.

-Nowadays, with the mines closed...

-..the community has witnessed

-real poverty.

-Llanfair church is situated in

-the middle of the Penrhys estate.

-It's more than just a church.

-It's a community centre

-with a charity shop, cafe...

-..and rooms

-that are home to various activities.

-I've come to meet Sharon Rees, an

-education worker in the community.

-Llanfair

-has been here for over 26 years now.

-Llanfair is unique.

-It's at the heart of the community.

-Eight denominations came together

-to form Llanfair.

-That is unique.

-It's happened

-in a very special area.

-Yes. It's a deprived area.

-It has a lot of problems

-but it's a close-knit community too.

-The impression I get is it's

-a church but also a special project.

-Yes. It's a missionary project.

-People from different countries

-have been here over the years.

-Miara from Madagascar

-is a volunteer.

-His wife Rebecca is a missionary.

-She comes from Mizoram in India.

-They have two daughters

-who attend the local school.

-They're a part of the community.

-They've been with us

-for seven years.

-Good morning.

-Good morning.

-

-Good morning, teachers.

-Good morning, friends.

-Pupils from Penrhys Primary School

-come to Llanfair church on Mondays.

-They get to act and sing.

-They have a great time.

-# All through the night #

-I love singing because it's fun.

-I like acting with my friends.

-A homework club

-and Welsh lessons are held here.

-I was given the opportunity

-to help the learners.

-Hi, I'm Ryland.

-Hi, I'm Ryland.

-

-Hi, I'm Miara.

-Where do you come from?

-Where do you come from?

-

-I come from Madagascar.

-I'm learning Welsh.

-Do you live in Penrhys?

-I live upstairs in Llanfair!

-Here?

-Great. Excellent.

-The church's charity shop thrives

-due to the kindness of volunteers...

-..who work in the name

-of Jesus Christ.

-Some come from afar,

-like Margaret Davies.

-Hi, I'm Ryland.

-Hi, I'm Ryland.

-

-Hello. Nice to meet you.

-You too. What do you have here?

-Clothes

-for the boutique in Llanfair.

-I've come up from Cardiff.

-I've brought clothes

-from Minny Street chapel.

-Would you like a helping hand?

-Would you like a helping hand?

-

-Please.

-Can you manage?

-Can you manage?

-

-Yes.

-I'll close it.

-There we are.

-Do you come up every month?

-Do you come up every month?

-

-Every two months.

-They sell everything.

-They sell everything.

-

-Yes.

-The shop generates income

-for this close-knit community.

-The kindness of other communities

-is very much appreciated.

-We hope the church will still serve

-the community for years to come.

-It won't be easy - three years ago,

-the church almost closed...

-..as we needed a new roof.

-We had to raise money

-and that's what we did.

-The people in the community

-said the church couldn't close.

-They were very supportive

-and still are.

-The strength of people through

-the church keeping this place going.

-Yes.

-Llanfair church

-has been an inspiration to me.

-I've never seen

-a more modern church.

-A church for the 21st century.

-A church that goes out to the

-community and makes a difference.

-Wonderful.

-Back in Ruthin...

-..a central part of the close-knit

-community is Ysgol Pen Barras.

-They've been successful

-in many choral competitions...

-..locally and nationally.

-# Lord, see us coming

-# Before you to give praise

-# After refreshing sleep

-# We may sit a laden tables

-# Make us true

-to our country and our language

-# In our play and in our work

-# Forgive us our faults

-# For the sake of dear Jesus

-# For the sake of dear Jesus

-# Thank you

-for the sun and its warmth

-# And for fire as winter approaches

-# For our parents

-and everyone who helps us every day

-# Make us loyal

-to our country and our language

-# In our play and in our work

-# Forgive us our faults

-# For the sake of dear Jesus

-# For the sake

-# Of dear Jesus #

-It's Friday night.

-There's another evening of plays

-to come here in Bethania.

-I'm looking forward to witness

-the community spirit here.

-Say something else apart from sorry.

-Say something else apart from sorry.

-

-Sorry.

-Goodness me! You're like a parrot

-who can only say one word.

-Are you three sisters?

-Three sisters!

-Three sisters!

-

-Who are the parrots now?

-Eirlys,

-you've played a very important role.

-You wrote some of the plays.

-You wrote some of the plays.

-

-Yes.

-I wrote for the adults

-for about four years.

-The chapel committee decided they

-wanted to focus more on the youth.

-As I was a Sunday school teacher for

-children from secondary schools...

-..I began writing for them.

-And for you, madam?

-And for you, madam?

-

-Madam! Who are you calling madam?

-I was trying to be polite.

-Everyone's told me

-how well Eirlys knows her people.

-You write with them in mind.

-I know all the young people by now.

-I write for every one of them.

-May I introduce to you

-Mr and Mrs Slim.

-Mr Slim is the local butcher.

-He has the best faggots

-this side of Chester.

-Congratulations, Eilir. It's nice

-to see people having fun onstage.

-Is that what Ruthin drama festival

-is in essence?

-Yes. I enjoyed myself.

-The audience responded well.

-That makes our job easier.

-Drinking this

-is like drinking antifreeze. Yuck!

-Do you come every year?

-Do you come every year?

-

-We try.

-Yes. We enjoy ourselves fair play.

-They make us laugh all night.

-Stop going on about football. We've

-come for a cup of tea and a chat.

-We want to see waiters

-dressed appropriately.

-It's all done

-in Bethania chapel's name.

-It's important,

-especially for the young...

-..that there's a link

-between this and the chapel.

-It was lovely to see people

-of all ages laughing together.

-You can't beat that feeling

-of belonging.

-Feeling safe in the company of those

-who know you better than anyone.

-These days,

-communities are to be treasured.

-What's happening in Ruthin

-is so remarkable.

-Invaluable.

-Llanfair church, Penrhys,

-is at the heart of the community.

-People from all ages come here.

-They feel at home here

-whatever the circumstances.

-We do our best

-to listen to people...

-..their different experiences

-and problems.

-We try to show

-God's love and concern for them...

-..in their everyday lives.

-It's important to remember that the

-way we pour coffee in the cafe...

-..is just as important as the way

-we pour wine in the communion.

-In our busy lives...

-..it's easy to forget our roots

-and what makes us who we are.

-I love being back home

-and appreciate every second of it.

-Thank you for joining me.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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