Patronal Festival Report - St Martin’s, Eglwysbach

St Martin’s, Eglwysbach
Patron saint: St Martin
Festival date: 15 June 2025

St Martin’s celebrated the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity with a long awaited Evensong and Benediction, drawing around fifty people rather than the usual fifteen. Visitors came from near and far, some rediscovering an old tradition and others experiencing Evensong for the first time. Voci Chamber Choir, directed by Deborah Catterall, enriched the worship with chant and polyphony, including Tallis, Josquin des Prez and Gladstone, and helped the congregation sing the ferial responses and hymns.

The Blessed Sacrament provided a deeply reverent focus, and the music created an atmosphere that many found profoundly moving. A relaxed reception followed, giving congregation and choir time to talk and reflect. Encouraged by the success, the parish has since introduced a monthly Evensong, with attendance now averaging twenty. There is interest in offering a Welsh language Gosber a Fendith in a neighbouring church, and the Mission Action Plan now includes a long term ambition to appoint a musical director to rebuild the choral tradition across the Aberconwy Mission Area.

The grant made this significant renewal possible, and the parish expressed heartfelt thanks for the support.

Diolch yn Fawr a bob bendith ar gwaith yr Ymddiriedolaeth Gosber (thank you and every blessing on the continuing work of the Evensong Trust).