Great Western Coffee Shop

MP boosts fundraising appeal for Llangybi's historic church

(http://images.tindle.org.uk/2015/N%20d%20davies%20train.jpeg)

Two first-class train tickets will be auctioned off to the highest bidder as part of a major fundraising campaign to repair the damaged ceiling at Llangybi^s church.

Monmouth MP David Davies has boosted the appeal for St Cybi^s Church by giving Reverend Pamela Love, assistant curate for the four churches in the Llangybi group, two open return first class train tickets. Donated by First Great Western, the tickets can be used to travel on any of its routes during peak or off-peak times and are valid for 12 months.

Last year, a large triangular crack appeared in the curved plaster ceiling of the nave at St Cybi^s, above the pipe organ ^ one of only two working models in the UK. Immediate emergency permission to dismantle the organ was granted by the diocese and the following day the plaster fell down.
After numerous professional inspections, it was revealed that the rest of the large ceiling was at risk and several rare 15th and 17th century paintings were in danger of falling off the walls from hidden damp. The eventual total cost of saving the historic church is currently unknown but there are fears the bill could top ^100,000.

Mr Davies said: ^I was very sad when I read about the problems parishioners in Llangybi are having with the roof of their church. Major repairs such as this are incredibly expensive and it is always a challenge to get the funding in place. Oddly enough, on the day I was reading the article, First Great Western sent me two complimentary tickets with the proviso that they are used for a charitable or voluntary purpose in the constituency. It therefore seemed like the natural thing to do to pass them on to Reverend Love.
 
^The tickets are first class return tickets for use anywhere on the First Great Western network on or off-peak times and are worth a few hundred pounds. Maybe someone would like a holiday in Cornwall over the summer or perhaps someone travelling to London on business with a colleague might like to make a commercial offer. If the tickets were needed in a hurry, especially with Valentine^s Day approaching, then Reverend Love may be persuaded by a very generous offer!^

Reverend Love said: ^The congregation in Llangybi are very grateful to MP David Davies and Jane Jones external relations manager of First Great Western for their generosity in giving us our next fundraising opportunity in our Keep St Cybi^s Open campaign, which needs to raise ^100,000 plus to restore the ceiling and protect its medieval structure and wallpaintings.^

To bid for the tickets, send your offer and contact details to Reverend Love by Sunday 1st March via email to pljl13@aol.com or by telephoning 01633 450347.

All content ^ of Monmouthshire Beacon unless stated otherwise.

Last year, a large triangular crack appeared in the curved plaster ceiling of the nave at St Cybi^s, above the pipe organ ^ one of only two working models in the UK.

You know, I swear there are more than two working pipe organs in the UK. Heavens, I've played quite a lot more than two.

The National Pipe Organ Register does not say very much about the organ either.