When I returned home on Friday, from my five day holiday to Loughborough, it was an early to rise on a warm sunny Saturday, for an 8.am start for our parish outing to Cardiff on 10th July. The party of 38 of us really enjoyed the varied scenery, admiring the woods and countryside, as we travelled in our comfortable coach. At about 9.30.am, we had a comfort stop at Membury Service Station, which was bustling with travellers. We then continued along the M4 Motorway, and in sight was the new Severn Bridge, which I always wanted to cross. The tide was nearly out, but as we made our crossing, you could see the old Severn Bridge in the distance, and the coastal views of the Bristol Channel were quite lovely.
Before we knew it, we had arrived in Cardiff City Centre, a short distance from the magnificent fortifications of Cardiff Castle, at 11.30.am, and the City Centre was packed with many tourists of different nationalities. Nearly all of us had an open top bus tour of the City Centre, and of Cardiff Bay, which at one time was the Docklands and poor area of Cardiff, but now a multi-million pound major business, leisure and residential waterfront development area.
The one hour tour included the magnificent Civic Centre buildings, National Museum of Wales, Cardiff City Hall, and the Law Courts all dating from the early part of this Century. After our open top bus tour, we all wandered round the numerous shopping Arcades and Precincts, which was arrayed with shoppers and sightseers in their colourful clothes.
At about 3.pm we boarded our coach for the short journey to the beautiful Llandaff Cathedral, which took about 20 minutes. Along the route, it was interesting to see the many town houses as we drove through the tree lined roads. Upon arrival, we divided into three groups, and had a guided tour of this truly beautiful awesome Cathedral, with many lovely chapels and stained glass windows, but the most characteristic feature which dominates the Cathedral, is the memorable statue of 'The Christ In Majesty' by Ebstien, truly magnificent, blending modern architecture with ancient features of Llandaff Cathedral.
After our one hour tour of the Cathedral, we made the short journey to Fr Graham Holcomb's parish church at Pentrych, for a lovely tea party, which was wonderfully organised by his faithful band of ladies, and was very welcome on a very hot afternoon. When we were refreshed, Evensong commenced, with Fr Graham playing the Organ with all the stops out full! Our Churchwarden, Tony Rice-Oxley read the second Lesson, and Pentrych's Churchwarden reading the first Lesson, and our very own Fr Malcolm officiating.
The Parish Church at Pentrych, is situated in the idyllic tranquil wooded countryside, along with the beautiful interior of the church. All in all, a lovely day was had by everyone, as the Lord above blessed us with really marvellous weather.
Leon Bartosiak
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