We are most grateful to all those who, over the Hay Literary Festival, manned our car parking in Hay Cattle Market.

A considerable sum of money was raised for St. Mary’s Church. So very many thanks to:
Annette Crampton, Gwyneth Evans, Colin Knight, Jan Like, Bryn Like, Peter Like, Peter Lloyd and Gwyneth's family from Cardiff who stepped in at the last minute due to a lack of volunteers.
Well done everyone.
June Pugh

Many thanks to Frank and Joan Green for the gift of a small table for St. Mary’s Mothers’ Union. This will be used to display M.U. information leaflets in the Church. Diana Jones and Hay M.U. members

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came along and supported the Annual Pink Gig fundraising concert with The Cwmbach Quire, Quintet and Friends on Saturday 7th June at Llanigon Church.  We raised a fantastic total of £826.41 on the night for the Rural Literacy and Health Programme in Mysore, India, and this money has already been sent to them direct.   Don't forget ... if you have a space to fill in your herbaceous border ... Reg and Barbara Price in Cwmbach still have a selection of plants for sale and all proceeds are going to the RLHP project.

For further information, or if you still wish to make a donation contact The Cwmbach Quire / Quintet on 01497 847676 or visit www.cwmbachquire.org.uk
Cheryl Christopher / Dave Newell

The foundation stone of “New Church at Hay” was laid in 17th June 1833, so last month we should have been celebrating the new building’s 175th birthday.

At the back of St. Mary’s Church there is a copy of the poster advertising the stone laying ceremony. It states that “A procession will move from the centre of Town at half past 2 o’clock in the following order - The Band playing a March - A banner with a suitable Inscription - The Committee and Churchwardens - The Parishioners and their Friends, Four abreast - Arriving at the Churchyard, a Sacred Air will be played”.

The rebuilding was undertaken during the curacy of Humphrey Allen; he was the driving force behind the project. The earlier church is shown on the cover page in the engraving by Henry Gastineau, dated 1830.
Editor

I feel that I should write and thank you for your prayers for my husband Don during the terrible illness he is suffering. I know that he finds strength from knowing that people from Hay have such kind hearts that they are prepared to pray for this man in need, and most of them don’t even know him.

As for me well, I was brought up in the Hay way and I know that this sort of caring comes naturally to the people of Hay on Wye.

There is just a little story I would like to tell if possible. I make a few visits to St Mary’s each week and I admit that sometimes these visits are more for myself than my husband Don, but no matter what I am there for I always leave feeling refreshed, lighter and stronger and able to face things again. I mentioned to Father Richard once that I felt like a hypocrite, as I don’t attend the church services. He said something to me that I will never forget he said “when you were a child and you were hurt who did you run to?” I replied “ to my mother or father” “there you are then” said Father Richard. HOW DO YOU ANSWER THAT?
Jill Preston (nee Gibbons)

We would like to send our heartiest congratulations to Peter Lloyd (Treasurer of St. Mary’s) on his election to the office of Mayor of Hay-on-Wye. All his friends in the church wish him and Anne, our Lady Mayoress, a very happy and productive period in office.

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