Details of Christmas at Llangollen's churches

Churches Together in Llangollen (Cytun) welcome everyone to any of their services and activities over the Christmas season.

Details of events at individual churches can be found on their websites, which are at:

* St Collen's (Anglican) www.stcollenschurch.org.uk

* St Tysilio's Church - see website for St Collen's Church

* St John's Church - see website for St Collen's Church 

* Llangollen Methodist Church www.llangollenmethodist.org.uk

* Church of the Holy Cross (Roman Catholic) www.rcdwxm.org.uk/llangollen

* City Church, Brook Street www.citychurchllangollen.org.uk

* Glanrafon Evangelical Church www.llangollenevangelicalchurch.com/

* Seion Chapel (Welsh language) Welsh medium chapel

A Cytun spokesperson said: "We wish you all a joyful Christmastime." 

MS welcomes £719,000 lottery boost to transform St Collen's

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has welcomed a huge cash boost to transform St Collen’s in Llangollen. 

The church will receive £719,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to be transformed into a warm, flexible and welcoming space for the whole community, while protecting its unique medieval heritage.

 

He said:  “I am delighted that over £700,000 is being awarded for this ambitious project which will create a real hub for the community.

* St Collen's Church.

 

“It is particularly good to see that the plans are being driven by local people who are all working together to transform the church.

 

“These days more than ever, it is vital our local churches are supported and the work which will be undertaken will mean it can be used by local organisations and for other events.

 

“It is also great that National Lottery Funding continues to help projects in North Wales.”

 

St Collen’s Church, which dates from the seventh century, received a higher figure than originally applied for in recognition of unexpected challenges uncovered during the bid development phase and to demonstrate the confidence that the Heritage Fund has in the project.

The project manager for the reordering of the church, Sue Evans, said they had uncovered some unexpected challenges during the development but was thrilled their submission has been successful.

 

She said: “This exceptional outcome not only propels us towards meeting our match-funding target but also demonstrates the confidence that the Heritage Fund has in our vision, our planning, and the lasting impact of the project.

 

“The next step is to await the outcome of our Faculty (planning) application, which will allow us to move forward with delivery.”

 

A planning team, made up of members of the church congregation and people drawn from across the community, meet regularly to advise on the plans and take decisions. As well as transforming the church, plans are in place to repair the medieval hammer-and-beam ceiling, thought to date from the 15th century.

 

Sue added: “Cadw has agreed that we can submit a funding application for 50% of the costs of the repair! This is huge news as it will help with the amazing fundraising efforts the community has been undertaking.

 

“A huge thanks go to our fundraisers; St Collen’s Players, lots of private donations and bequests from individuals and families and our beautiful Evening of Song, supported by the Penley Madras Community Choir, which raised funds and awareness in equal measure.”

 

St Collen’s Church and its medieval ceiling is considered a masterpiece, and urgent conservation work is necessary to protect its unique carvings, repair extensive damage, and ensure it remains part of the life of St Collen’s and the town for centuries.

 

The church is part of the Valle Crucis Mission Area, a group of churches along the Dee and Ceiriog Valley’s stretching to Bala and Cerrigydrudion. Valle Crucis Mission Area is one of the 20 Mission Areas in the Diocese of St Asaph, one of the six dioceses in the Church in Wales.

Temporary one-way system on Market Street for water works

The county council is reporting that a temporary one-way system has been installed on Market Street, Llangollen, and George Street has been closed, to facilitate urgent works to restore water quality by Hafren Dyfrdwy.

Christmas Festival raffle results announced

Results of the Christmas Festival raffle, which were drawn at the Bridge End Hotel this Tuesday, are below.

The the raffle committee will be contacting the winners over the next few days to arrange handover of their prizes. 

More after-school play sessions available in Llangollen

One of the team's winter activities. 

Both Llangollen and Cowen now have further after-school provision available through the county council’s Play Ranger service.

These sessions are funded through the Welsh Government’s Community Focused Schools funding, which will help to deliver safe play sessions for young people in both South-Denbighshire towns. The sessions are currently funded up until October of 2026.

Parents, carers or guardians are encouraged to fill in the application form for each child to register a place in these sessions. Parents can also register at the session if needed.

The Play Ranger sessions currently run on Wednesdays at Clawdd Poncen playing field from 3:15pm until 4:45pm and in Llangollen’s Pengwern Park on Mondays from 3:15pm until 4:45pm.

These play sessions are held for children aged 6-13 years old whilst children under 6 are welcomed, but must be accompanied by an adult.

Rhiain Morrlle, Head of Children's Service said: “We have this funding up until October of next year, and we are really excited to have these sessions available in both Corwen and Llangollen.

"I’d like to urge and parents or guardians who may have interest in these sessions to register through the form.”

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Lead Member for Education, Children and Families, said: “Play is an integral part of childhood, helping with imagination, development and socialisation from a young age.

"These sessions are run by our excellent Play Ranger service, who run fun and exciting sessions for young people in Denbighshire.

"The team have listened to the community and recognised the need for these sessions in both towns.”

* To attend, parents/carers can fill out a registration form per child: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/leisure-and-tourism/forms/play-ranger-service/play-ranger-service-registration-form.aspx

Bus firm's 'urgent' request to drivers in Llan after vehicles are blocked

A bus firm has made an "urgent" request to drivers in Llangollen after thoughtless motorists have been parking on double yellow lines - causing blockages for larger vehicles.

* For the full story in Wales Online, go to: 'Urgent request' to drivers in popular North Wales town - Wales Online

MS calls for more collaboration to solve parking issues at Maelor

* Sam Rowlands MS at the Wrexham Maelor car park.

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, wants the council and health board to work together to resolve parking problems at Wrexham Maelor hospital. 

Speaking in the Senedd this week, Mr Rowlands, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure highlighted the importance of infrastructure to cope with a growing population. 

 

He said: “In my region of North Wales, at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, there is a particular issue with parking at the hospital, which has been exacerbated because of population growth, which is a welcome thing, but the infrastructure needs to be able to follow that growth as well.

 

“Constituents, patients, visitors and staff report daily difficulties at the site. People arriving for appointments are arriving stressed, anxious and often late because they cannot find safe and available parking. Staff working long, demanding shifts are facing the same challenges. And this is not just a minor inconvenience, of course, it's a barrier to care, a risk to patient well-being and a strain on an already pressurised workforce.

 

“It strikes me that councils are well placed to support health boards with this, not just in terms of developing infrastructure to support these sites, but also perhaps in the management and perhaps enforcement at these sites as well, because councils are experiencing this day in, day out with their own car parks.”

 

Mr Rowlands asked Jayne Bryant, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, did she agree that councils and health boards should be working together to see how issues like this at Wrexham Maelor Hospital can be resolved, considering the expertise that sits within local authorities.

 

The Cabinet Secretary said she would be happy if Mr Rowlands would write to her about the particular issue at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

 

Mr Rowlands added: “It is quite clear that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board need support to help fix these long-running parking issues at the hospital and welcome any move which move the matter forward.

 

“I do think, however,  that it is also something which needs input from the Welsh Government and I will certainly be writing to the Cabinet Secretary in more detail.”