PROFILE THE PARISH OF BODFARI AND THE PARISH OF CAERWYS St Stephen s Church, Bodfari St Michael s Church, Caerwys
Introduction Caerwys and Bodfari are two separate rural parishes situated about five miles apart and share an incumbent who is the Rector. The parishes are in the Deanery of Denbigh. Bodfari Bodfari has a population of about 500 and lies a few miles from Denbigh just off the busy A541 Mold-Denbigh Road, the other side of which is the small community of Aberchwiler, also in the parish. Housing is predominantly private, and residents include farmers, landowners, commuters, retirees and weekend visitors to second homes. Village facilities include a pub, and a garage. Ysgol Bodfari is a community primary school with 30 pupils on roll. Caerwys Caerwys is the larger parish. It includes the town of Caerwys, the village of Afonwen, and the scattered settlements of Babell and Pen-y-Cefn. Caerwys itself is a small town with a population of nearly 1000, whose wide streets and large square reflect its establishment as a market town and judicial centre following the grant of a charter by Edward 1 st in 1290. Caerwys is well served with shops and services. It has a butcher s, delicatessen, Post Office, chemist, hairdresser, veterinary surgery, two pubs, a golf club and two general stores. Caerwys s population is made up of those who work in agriculture or in local services, commuters and an increasing retired population. The town s primary school, Ysgol yr Esgob, is a voluntary-aided church school, has 69 pupils and maintains close links with the church. The Incumbent is an ex-officio Foundation Governor of the School. The Head Teacher, Mrs Sue Clisham, and the Chair of Governors, Mrs Liz Perkins would both welcome visits to the school from prospective candidates. Local teenagers attend secondary schools in Holywell, Mold and Denbigh. There is a strong community spirit in Caerwys. The town has its own monthly community newspaper, the Caerwys Chronicle, and supports a wide range of voluntary groups, including a drama group, Meals-on-Wheels, Caerwys in Bloom, a football club, an art group, WI, Mothers Union, a historical society, and a male voice choir, which is based in the St Michael s church. There is a bilingual Presbyterian Chapel in Water Street, with which the church cooperates closely. There is a Town Hall and a Memorial Institute. The Church hosts the annual Civic Service. There is a weekly youth club, but it is fair to say that leisure facilities and organised activities for teenagers are limited. The ratio of private to rented property is about two to one.
Churches Mrs Sylvia Harris serves as Reader at both St Stephen s, Bodfari and St Michael s, Caerwys. The churches hold joint services four times per year and participate together in the Exploring Faith course led by the Rector. St Stephen s Church, Bodfari St Stephen s church is located at the heart of the village. The Churchwarden is Gill Gallagher. Tony Jones is the Treasurer. Affording excellent views of the Vale of Clwyd, St Stephen's is an imposing structure. It is believed the original church dates back to Deifar, whose name occurs in the early legend of St Winifred and from which the village itself may have derived its name. Deifar's well, to which, during the middle ages, Ascension Day processions are said to have taken place, is located some 300 yards away. the "Parish of Bodvari" is mentioned for the first time in the Domesday Survey of A.D. 1088. The limestone tower, the oldest part of the present building and build in the 13th century, is plain battlemented in design and supported by western facing short buttresses at the base. The last major renovation was completed in the year 1870. Plans have been made to take out pews running along the south wall of the church in order to facilitate social functions. The regular Sunday service is held at 9.30. The first and third services of the month are Matins and the remaining three or four Sunday Services are Holy Communion. There are no evening services In 2013 the balance carried forward in the church accounts was 22563. The parish finances are healthy. The parish share is paid on time. St Michael s Church, Caerwys St Michael s Church is located on Pen-y-Cefn Road on the south west corner of the medieval planned town grid. It has an extensive churchyard with north and south lychgates. The churchyard is still used for burials, and part of it is designated as a wildlife conservation area. The South Nave The North Nave- The parlour
Caerwys Male Voice Choir Rehearsing Ysgol yr Esgob Christmas Service The church is of the twin-nave plan common to many Clwyd churches. The tower is medieval and the naves thirteenth and fourteenth century. The main church nave currently has pews, and the second nave, the parlour, has portable seating. The capacity of the main nave is approximately 90, and there are 50 chairs in the parlour. Currently there are choir stalls. The seventeenth century font is located at the west end of the parlour, opposite the north door. The church is a grade II* listed building. There is a Bellamy pipe organ beside the north door, which is designated for removal. There is a Makin Village digital organ, located beside the choir stalls. It was purchased new in 2013 for 15500 to replace the pipe organ. In the three months since the launch of the Organ Fund, over 12,000 has been raised from donations locally and through fundraising towards the purchase cost. There are four volunteer organists. There is a Church Singing Group which sings at festivals. The church is equipped with a public address system and an induction loop for use with hearing aids. The Quinquennial Review in 2014 identified repairs needed within two years at an estimated cost of 23,500. These included repairs to plasterwork, damp penetration in the Vestry, window stonework and safe access to the tower. An application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (Repairs to Listed Places of Worship) for a grant of 30,000 is about to be submitted. The PCC has commissioned a feasibility study for improvements to the heating, lighting, seating, and audio-visual facilities to make it more attractive for church, school and community use. The briefs for the feasibility study include provision of new toilet and kitchen in the space vacated by the removal of the pipe organ. The feasibility study will be used as the basis for applications for grant aid for improvement which will total over 100,000. The applications strategy has been agreed with the Diocesan Funding and Development Officer. St Michael s Church is participating in the Flintshire Sacred Doorways Project which is promoting a tourist trail of heritage churches. The church is open every day. As part of the project three rear pews will be removed, interpretation boards and an i-pad will be installed, and the display lighting will be improved. The project is EEC- funded. The Churchwardens are David Bentley and Roland Ward, and the Sacristan is Brian Roberts. David Knights is the Treasurer, Vicky Jones the Assistant treasurer, and Nerys Thomas the Social Secretary. There is a Property Committee and a Fundraising Committee. The Worship Leaders Group meets regularly. The three Worship Leaders lead the first morning service of each month. Lay members of the congregation lead intercessions at Sunday services. There is an active Mothers Union.
In 2013 there was 9591 in restricted funds and 10,504 in the unrestricted funds. This has since been augmented by the funds raised for purchase of the digital organ. The parish finances are healthy. The parish share is paid on time. The parish has no outstanding debts or loans. The regular Sunday service is held at 11.00. The first service of the month is Morning Prayer, led by Worship Leaders, and the remaining three or four Sunday Services are Holy Communion. There are no evening services. The Churchyardigans Group runs Messy Church activities quarterly on Sunday afternoons. We are looking forward to working as part of a Mission Area with churches in the Denbigh Deanery. The Rectory The Diocese has recently purchased 14, Lon yr Ysgol, Caerwys as the new rectory. Details may be found at http://www.primelocation.com/for-sale/details/28878711. Statistics for Caerwys and Bodfari Parishes 2013 Type St Stephen s, Bodfari St Michael s, Caerwys Electoral Roll 37 53 Weddings 2013 4 2 Baptisms 2013 2 6 Funerals 2013 2 8 Easter Communicants 30 47 2013 Average Sunday 16 34 attendance 16+ Average Sunday 3 1 attendance 16- Christmas Communicants 30 64 Our new Rector would be someone who is willing as far as possible to be involved in the life of the communities and the schools, approachable and worthy of respect for his/her faith and manner of
life and as a pastor and teacher. He or she would be prepared to listen as well as innovate and lead, and to help prepare us for new roles and responsibilities within mission areas. The Deanery of Denbigh The parishes of Caerwys and Bodfari are part of the Deanery of Denbigh which is clustered around the town of Denbigh. The parishes of Denbigh Deanery have been working closely together for a number of years, before the present moves to create Mission Areas within the diocese. It is generally agreed that the existing deanery is a suitable unit to become a 'Mission Area' and we are looking to the future with faith and optimism. The Deanery Chapter meets weekly for chat reflection and prayer. The clergy of the deanery regard this as their 'support group'. It is envisaged that these meetings would be widened out to include other lay ministers across the mission area so forming a ministry team which would pray for and support one another. This group would ensure that worship, pastoral and evangelistic ministry was delivered in all our communities. The deanery already promotes various shared activities including worship in the Welsh language, a tent at the local agricultural show, joint celebrations of Holy Week and Ascension as well as social events. The Deanery Conference meets four times a year and is always a lively forum for discussion. As the deanery begins to develop as a Mission Area, the conference will play a key role in defining its vision and setting its agenda. The aim will be to use all the resources at our disposal to support all the viable congregations within the Mission Area. The new incumbent of Caerwys and Bodfari would be expected to be fully supportive of these developments. Further Information Further information can be obtained from Area Dean Revd Jonathan Smith, The Rectory, St David s Court, Denbigh LL16 3EJ 01745 812284