Our November trip was cancelled when Storm Ciarán decided to pay a visit to Aberdare on the same day. The forecast for this month was only a little better but without the ‘danger to life and limb’ warning.  Some 26 of us braved the weather and were rewarded with two excellent guided tours of St John the Baptist church by David Davies and St Elvan by Rod Jenkins. Thank you.

The contrast between the churches couldn’t be greater.  The small St John church was built around 1189 whilst the large and modernized St Elvan was constructed in 1851.

Interwoven in amongst the ecclesiastical history we had some Welsh history and social history.

Prior to visiting the churches we had been to the indoor market and saw the sight for some of the first modern national eisteddfod in Aberdare 1861.

The inclement weather didn’t encourage people to extend their visit so instead we played a game of seeing how many people could fit in a railway platform shelter

There is so much more for us to see and do in Aberdare so now doubt we will return one day, may be in drier conditions.