Day 121: Praying for Cwmbran (1994)

Join with Salvationists of the Wales Division for day 121 of 150 days of prayer.

• 'Whatever you do and wherever you go, the Lord will always keep you safe, now and for ever' (Psalm 121:8, EasyEnglish Bible). 

1994

A new corps hall was opened at Cwmbran on 5 November 1994. The brochure for the opening and dedication meeting provided some interesting background:

‘By early 1992 plans had been agreed for the rebuilding, refurbishment and extension of the old hall. The estimated cost was £91,000. In November that year planning permission for a car park on the land opposite was given and a price of £5,000 agreed…

‘Within weeks all this was to change with the discovery at the end of December 1992 of serious defects in the structure of the main hall. Immediate action was taken to shore up the building to prevent its total collapse. Investigations revealed an inadequate roof structure and almost non-existent foundations… 

‘The hall was beyond economic repair and so plans were made for a new larger building to include a main hall and a secondary hall with a sliding partition between. At that stage it was thought unlikely that the whole hall could be rebuilt because of the extra cost involved. The rear of the building was structurally sound and could be refurbished…

‘During the following months various fund-raising events took place, including a sponsored walk from London to Cwmbran, a bike ride from Land’s End to John o’ Groats and a concert by the Pontnewydd Male Voice Choir… Then in early September 1993 we were informed that we might be eligible for a substantial grant from the Hong Kong based Bradbury Trust. If so, then a completely new building at a cost of £285,000 would be possible. An application was made and word came at the end of November that the trust would fund 50 per cent of the total. Many prayers had been answered and many prayers of thanks were said!’

Majors Derek and Sue Jones were the corps officers from 1991-1993, followed by Captains Jayne and Jonathan Roberts who were there when the new building opened. Derek recalls how the corps adapted to the closure of the old hall:

‘It was the Friday between Christmas and New Year 1992. As there was no programme, a handy member of the corps and I went to the hall to repair some floorboards and a crack in the ceiling... As we peered through the gap in the ceiling it was evident that large cracks had opened in the joists.

‘Knowing that the then Property Secretary lived nearby, we rang him and he immediately set off to look at the damage. He wandered into the hall, looked at the crack and said these memorable words: “I am going to fetch my hard hat from the car. Can you clear the hall and put a chain and lock on all the doors?” There was no more worship in the hall from that day onwards… What were we to do? Worship was scheduled to take place two days later; a New Year’s Eve party was planned but we had no venue. 

‘There was to be no party, but a group of faithful soldiers gathered at the quarters for New Year’s Eve. Tightly packed in our house, we thanked God for the passing year and committed the coming year to his wisdom and guidance.

‘We secured the Catholic church hall for Sunday morning worship. The local Anglican church allowed us the use of their church hall for Sunday school and evening worship as well as midweek music rehearsals, Brownies and Guides. The United Reformed Church hosted the home league. One soldier obtained some food trays and loaded them with songbooks, tune books, music stands and all sorts of “essential” items and put them and the corps flag in the boot of his car. For more than 18 months corps members carried on their ministry as nomads.

‘On the first Sunday morning in the Catholic hall, I asked the congregation to look around at who was sitting in their row and, if in the coming weeks those individuals were absent, to ring them. During that time without their own building the corps lost no one from its gathered congregation – what a credit to their love towards and care for each other.

‘To this day I am not remembered for any of my pastoral care, my preaching or my organisational skills, but simply as “the officer who was here when the hall fell down”.’

Prayer

• The corps at Cwmbran, like so many others, serves its community in creative and innovative ways. Pray for its continued ministry, its leaders and those encouraged by their outreach programmes.
• Pray also for its work with young people.