Day 140: Praying for communities affected by pit disasters and pit closures (2013)

Join with Salvationists of the Wales Division for day 140 of 150 days of prayer.

• 'Lord, my Lord, you are my strong helper. You keep me safe when I fight in a battle' (Psalm 140:7, EasyEnglish Bible). 

2013

The Salvationist 2 (November 2013) included a letter from Kathryn Stowers (Merthyr Tydfil):

‘I grew up and still live in a former mining community not very far from Senghenydd. The centenary of the worst loss of life in any mining disaster in Great Britain was commemorated on 14 October.

‘When a spark ignited gases underground at the Universal colliery, Senghenydd, 439 miners and one rescuer lost their lives.

‘I worked as the communications officer at Big Pit National Coal Museum for 11 years and I was especially interested in how sensitively the anniversary was marked.

‘The BBC published on its website a series of images from a collection at the National Library of Wales. A professional photographer went to Senghenydd within hours of the disaster and documented the aftermath. The last picture on the website is of the funeral of Colour Sergeant E Gilbert, with the caption “Salvationist pitman’s coffin”. I know that there is a memorial in the hall at Senghenydd, but I never looked very closely at it. Some readers may know more.’

Prayer

• This is a poignant reminder of the many disasters that occurred in the coal mines around Wales. Families still talk about their relatives and friends affected by such tragedies. Pray today for those communities still affected by these events in their history, as they still leave their mark on lives today.