Mass times Sunday:
9.30 Coity, Brackla, Coychurch, Penyfai
11.00 Nolton, Laleston, Merthyrmawr, Newcastle
Wednesday:
9.30 Nolton (in the Rectory) or Coity, Laleston
11.00 Coychurch, Newcastle (not in August)
As there are currently two full time priests serving the Ministry Area, there are 4 Eucharists and 4 lay-led services every week. Please consult the current newsletter for the monthly plan.
Address:
11 The Square, Bridgend CF31 4HA
St Illtyd’s, Newcastle There is reference to a church (originally dedicated to St. Leonard) in the 12th Century, but the oldest part of the current church dates to the 14th Century. Only the West Tower of the 14th Century church remains following reconstruction and enlargement of the church in the 19th Century
Vicar of Newcastle
Greetings to the saints in the 7 churches who stand (physically) beneath the Cross of S. Illtyd’s on Newcastle Hill. The first incumbent of this church is named as Fr Gilbert in 1153 – I’m Fr David, the priest here since 2003. I was born and raised on two council estates in Cardiff; Gabalfa / Mynachdy. My first foray into worship was at Immanuel Baptist Church on the estate and I’m pleased to see that they are still an active presence today. On leaving school I became a laboratory technician at the Welsh National School of Medicine but having become involved in pathology photography, I went on to run the Reprographic Unit for Mid-Glam County Council. Later I joined the family (in-laws) Electrical Engineering company. NOW… although I enjoyed and loved all three careers, it became obvious to me, and the people I knew, that I would never be happy unless I did what God was calling me to do. By this time I was churchwarden at S. Peter’s Anglican Church and had a lovely home in the parish and church under the pastoral care of the late Curate there, The Rev’d Fr Mervyn Morgan. Fr Mervyn sent me to see Bishop +Roy Davies (will we see such a Father in God again?) whose first words (well second really) to me were, “Ah David, I’ve heard a lot about you.” And from then it has been a joyous 20 odd years of serving our Lord’s “flock”. I had a wonderful assistant curacy in Newton, Nottage & Porthcawl, which was just the place for a “traditionalist / Anglo-Catholic” like myself, as spiritually I feel a close connection to the early church as described in the New Testament and the Early Church Fathers. And I try to lead and teach as well as I can, those things which bind us to the Apostles, as well as making them relevant today.