What are the aims of the Society ?

• Our aims can be stated quite briefly....... To encourage a wide interest in and further study of, the history of the Catholic Church in Wales and Herefordshire.
• To assist in any way possible all our members and especially those engaged in research into pre- and post-Reformation studies.
• To advise on sources - those we hold and where others can be accessed.
• To encourage to submit for publication articles or "gleanings" - short items of interest
• To organise cluster meetings to discuss areas of common interest.
• To arrange a programme of special talks and visits and to promote an annual Catholic History Day

Why WAM ?

There are quite a number of Catholic History Societies in Great Britain - The North East; The North West; The Midland; The South West. Through the "Links" facility of this website you will be able to look at their web pages and those of the Catholic Record Society. We have decided to adopt as our title "Wales and the Marches" - the ancient usage when the borders were movable - so that Herefordshire which is so important a part of our history is not excluded in our name.

What will members receive ?

Each year every member will receive copies of the newsletter entitled The Old Faith - Yr Hen Ffydd. These will contain a whole range of articles many of them from a rich vein of past writings and extracts from many contemporary studies and dissertations - copies of which we have and whose number we are ever keen to add to. Transactions of the Catholic History Day (see meetings) will be circulated and members enjoy free or discounted access to all ordinary meetings.

Are there Special Areas that Need Attention ?

Yes. We are concerned that primary material - registers, records, photographs, log books and diaries are being lost or could be deteriorating beyond repair. One of our aims will be to recover, copy and safeguard such valuable material from parishes, schools and individuals. Another will be to use modern methods to capture and preserve the memories of older members of our Catholic communities. Tape and video recordings of the reminiscences of senior citizens will be of great use to future historians.

Will the Society be "Old-fashioned" in its Working ?

Certainly not. Most Catholic History Societies are "on the web" and can be contacted by e-mail. We now have, in our second year, this website which we hope you will find to be attractive and informative. We encourage members to let us have their e-mail addresses, if they have them, so that contact with us and other members in the interests of research can be swift and inexpensive.

How Can We Join ?

Click on the box below and simply print out the application form. Fill in the details requested and return. Further information will then be sent. To those who have already joined - thank you for your valuable support