We encourage our members to come together regularly either in small local groups or at larger, more formal meetings. An example of the latter is our Annual History Day which we plan for the month of May.

LLANARTH COURT

The exciting and imaginative project to move, stone by stone, the ancient church of St. Teilo at Talybont near Pontardulais and re-build it at St. Fagan's Folk Museum is the inspiration for the theme of our History Day in 2002. Until now we have concentrated on 18th, 19th and 20th Century Catholic history. Here now is the opportunity to look at how our mediaeval ancestors celebrated the Mass and what their churches were like.

Rev. Tony Parkinson was for many years adviser to CADW on the archaeology and architecture of old churches. From the start he was involved in the Llandeilo project and is best placed to tell the story of the project and the amazing discoveries that arose from it.

Dr. Madeline Gray is an eminent local historian who is an authority on many aspects of ecclesiastical history in Wales before and after the Reformation. She has a particular interest in the Cistercians and Pilgrimages.

We have been extremely fortunate to obtain the services of these two distinguished speakers to give illustrated lectures on a topic which we believe will be of ongoing interest and one in which we would hope the Society will be interested and involved in the coming years.

Further details of the day - programme, directions, costs etc. will be sent on request. For e-mail and postal addresses and telephone numbers - please refer to the information page on this website.

We have held a series of smaller (but well attended) meetings. At a wine and cheese evening, Fr. Michael Lewis gave a wonderful insight into the history of the Catholic parish of Brecon. Sean Cleary , whose knowledge of Irish immigration is encyclopaedic, left his listeners calling for another session and Edward Curran kept his audience intrigued and amused with his account of the early days of St. Mary's Newport. Perhaps the most memorable item in the past year's programme was a unique celebration of the centenary of the death of the Third Marquess of Bute. Cardiff City Council generously granted us the use of the Banqueting Hall of Cardiff Castle in which we had a wonderfully informative lecture by Mrs Diane Walker who brought to life the changing relationship of the Marquesses of Bute and South Wales' Catholic communities. This meeting by a brilliant speaker in so apt a setting concluded with an opportunity to see the Bute's private chapel, where Mass is celebrated occasionally to this day.