NOSON LAWEN 2020 VIA ZOOM

You may now view the recording of our terrific event in its entirety, which took place via Zoom on Saturday September 26, 2020. Please click play below.

Photos from our sixth annual noson lawen 2018

Many thanks to our emcee James Balmer, and as always, Don Farrow for organizing this fun event!

SEPTEMBER'S 2017 NOSON LAWEN OUR BIGGEST EVER

Immediately following our Homecoming Service, our congregation and friends gathered together to share their various talents in a Welsh tradition called noson lawen. This has become an annual event, and this year's was our best yet! Many thanks to Don Farrow for arranging the afternoon fun.

October 2016 Noson LAwen a huge HIT!

Our annual noson lawen (roughly translated: happy evening) transpired on Sunday October 9th, after the service. We extend our hearty thanks to all of our participants, our emcee, Simon Owen-Wiliams, and most especifally to our fearless leader, Don Farrow, who makes these wonderful events happen seemingly on their own - diolch yn fawr!!

St. David’s Dinner Celebration 2020 an event to remember!

A great time was had by all at the Welsh Congregation of New York City’s annual St. David’s celebration. It was a fitting climax to all the fun events of Welsh Week that occurred in early March all around the city. Thanks to a rather comic delay with the food, the event began and ended with a singalong of all those Welsh favorites: from Calon Lan to Tom Jones hits led by our musical minister Rev. Matt Harrington, and the unfaltering bass vocals of Chris Evans. As we waited for the tasty food to arrive, violinist Susan Mitchell who’s become a fond regular at the event, calmed rumbling tummies with instrumental versions of popular Welsh tunes. (This year she added Manic Street Preachers and Catatonia to her repertoire - much appreciated!) In recent years, we’ve added a lively raffle to the proceedings, with lots of great prizes, including gift vouchers for British-themed shops and restaurants, a bottle of Maker’s Mark and some best-selling books thanks to the generosity of Penguin/Random House. Young Marco Mauro stepped up to the plate to pull out the winning tickets. Thank you, everyone, for making this a lovely event indeed!

OUR ANNUAL ST. DAVID'S DINNER A SMASHING SUCCESS!

It was a packed happy house with over eighty people in attendance for our annual St. David's Dinner bash, complete with a roasted lamb and leeks dinner, lots of wine, much singing and antics, a raffle - including a $100 gift certificate to a Welsh pub called Sunken Hundred, and some hearty laughter! Thank you to Susan Mitchell for playing violin so beautifully; Marc Pomije and staff for their culinary skills; Ricardo and Juan for waiting on the tables and helping in the kitchen; Rhodri, Sioned, Tom, Chris, Don for decorating the room; Chris Evans for doing check in; Tom Eley for selling raffle tickets; Rhodri for emceeing and leading the singalong; Mary Nelson for accompanying at the piano; Margaret Williamson for handling the money; Audrey Roberts for the delicious mint sauce; Caroline Von Reizenstein, Simon Owen-Williams for the raffle prizes - and especially Kathy Zuckerman at Knopf for the books! We'd also like to thank Audrey Roberts and Tegwen Epstein for the super moral support; and for Don Farrow for his tireless efforts masterfully masterminding the celebration!!! ❤️💚

A Lovely Surprise

WELSH BIBLE DONATION

We were met with a surprise when we received the gift of a very old Welsh Bible! We couldn’t stop marveling at its beauty when we saw it.

If you have old books in Welsh that you would like to donate, please contact us.

Diolch yn fawr!

The Women's Welsh Club celebrates 93 years!

The Women's Welsh Club celebrated the holiday season with a special performance of song by James Balmer, accompanied by Mary Nelson at the piano - and along with the usual exquisite Welsh cakes and other goodies, there was a very special chocolate confection!

JUNE BALLINGER DELIVERS AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE!

Hosted by the Women's Welsh Club, June Ballinger gave a wonderful one-woman show about a remarkable woman who worked at Bletchley Park to break the code, which helped to bring about the end of World War II. The event took place on February 4th, to a packed house - and many were brought to tears by this moving performance.

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR Rev. Dr. Philip R. Newell

We celebrated the life of our former pastor, Rev. Dr. Philip R. Newell through the readings of eulogies, poetry and scripture, with Colleen Kennedy, David E. Morgan, Willie-Mae Perry, Simon Owen-Williams, Caroline von Reitzenstein, Don Farrow, James W. Thomas, Thomas E. Bird and Mary Lynne Bird and Dr. Madeleine Tramm.

REV. Dr. PHILIP R. NEWELL PUBLISHES HIS MEMOIRS
 

Rev. Dr. Philip R. Newell, who was our longtime pastor at the Welsh Congregation of New York City until his retirement last year, has penned a book called, What Is Your Calling?: A Memoir, published by Balboa Press. Always with much wisdom and love to share, we congratulate him on this most impressive accomplishment! Please click here to view excerpts and various purchasing options.

LONGTIME CHURCH MEMBER JEAN PEETZ HAS DIED

"My Memories of Jean" by Willie-Mae Perry, Council Member

One of the Welsh Congregational Church’s long time members, Jean Williams Peetz, died February 16, 2018.  She was 96 years of age. 

I came on the scene to the Welsh Church in the early 1990’s.  I remember her as an intelligent woman; good-natured, dedicated, capable and proud to be Welsh.  She was a great support to the church not only financially but served as the Head officer of Communion, on the Finance Committee, and Treasurer.  Of course, she was a member of the Welsh Council as well as active with the Welsh Women’s Club. 

Academically, Jean could be considered a woman ahead of her time. She had a degree in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, came to New York City upon graduation and worked for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for 40 years.  She was proud of her accomplishments at Met Life.  She was equally proud of being a Handwriting expert (Certified Document Examiner). A career she took up after retirement. If a document was forged she would spot it.  As a young woman upon meeting Jean, I thought she was cool!  She was smart, non-conventional, caring, and a sharp dresser.

Jean Williams was born in Oak Park, IL on September 14, 1921 and grew up in Hibbing, MN.

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR Rev. Dr. Philip R. Newell

We celebrated the life of our former pastor, Rev. Dr. Philip R. Newell through the readings of eulogies, poetry and scripture, with Colleen Kennedy, David E. Morgan, Willie-Mae Perry, Simon Owen-Williams, Caroline von Reitzenstein, Don Farrow, James W. Thomas, Thomas E. Bird and Mary Lynne Bird and Dr. Madeleine Tramm.

NANCY WILLIAMS HAS DIED

Longtime friend of the Welsh Congregation, Nancy L. Williams passed away quietly at home.  No arrangements have been announced.

OUR CAROLINE VON REITZENSTEIN'S SON HAS DIED

Caroline von Reitzenstein's beloved son, Paris has died in an accident. Friends and members who attended the December 13th Advent Service may remember Paris who attended worship as well the te bach and Carol Sing after the service.

The congregation hosted a memorial for Paris at the January gathering of the Welsh Congregation of New York City.

The Rev. Dr. Philip R. Newell returned from his retirement to give the homily and offer the prayers. David Morgan provided worship leadership and worked out the order of worship and Mary Nelson directed an extraordinary music program.

2018 READING OF DYLAN THOMAS'S UNDER MILK WOOD AGAIN A great SUCCESS!

This year the Welsh Congregation of New York City, along with Don Farrow's tireless efforts managed to raise well over $500 for the Rutgers Refugee Relief Fund, making this event truly a meaningful one. If you'd like to make a donation to the fund, which is at present responsible for the care of four refugee families in New Jersey, please click below. Diolch yn fawr!

READING OF DYLAN THOMAS'S UNDER MILK WOOD our best yet

An annual tradition hosted by the Welsh Congregation of New York City, our 2017 reading Under Milk Wood took place on Sunday, February 12th, and attracted a larger audience than ever! The community read was a big hit despite foul weather that reduced the mammoth cast from 32 down to 27. Well done, everyone! And a hearty congratulations to Don Farrow for his tireless efforts with getting everyone organized.

Lovely Music at our 2017 Gymanfa Ganu

New York Welsh Joins Our Annual Summer Picnic

We had our annual summer picnic on Saturday July 8th, in Riverside Park. This year, alongside our church, the event was also co-hosted by New York Welsh, creating a fun mix of people of all ages! Thank you to all who came to make this such a lovely gathering 💚

ANNUAL WELSH POTLUCK PICNIC IN CENTRAL PARK

We braved the weather and despite the predictions of rain it was dry for the duration of the picnic. There were Welsh cakes, sausage rolls and lots of music thanks to our three guitarists Simon, Tom and Doug...all we were missing was a charabanc. Two highlights of the event were an impromptu recital of a Dylan Thomas poem to improvised guitar. And the appearance of a couple from Anglesey who were visiting the Imagine mosaic and spotted our Welsh flag from a distance (thank you, Simon!) and came over to say hello. It was a jolly mix of old, familiar faces and some new faces too.

SEPTEMBER 2016 SERVICE FILMED!

A very special service indeed took place as the folks from Welsh channel S4C came to record for an episode of Rhys Meirion Duets (Deuawdau Rhys Meirion)!  Rhys invites Welsh guest singers to sing duets with him and his guest on September 11th was the incomparable and beloved Iris Williams.  They sang a lovely a rendition of Calon Lan.
 
There were interviews with members of the congregation during the Te Bach afterward which were also be filmed.

OUR CYNTHIA DAVIES IN AN EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE

Two term President of the Welsh Congregation Church Council, Cynthia Davies recently performed at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem as member of Breathless Choir.

The choirmaster was none other than the internationally acclaimed Gareth Malone, and, yes, he has Welsh roots: his grandmother is from "Breathless" because all eighteen members of the choir suffer from severe breathing difficulties. The Breathless Choir includes two first responders from September 11th who suffer chronic breathing difficulties and other debilitating illness since exposure to the toxic dust of the World Trade Center disaster.

Cynthia has managed a condition called Bronchiectasis for 35 years (as well as a very full time career as an art teacher.) She now requires oxygen on exertion, which gave her the opportunity to receive instruction from the most famous choirmaster in Britain, and the chance to return to the gym and something she always loved, singing. It was an unique and gratifying opportunity.

Cynthia, a fluent Welsh speaker is from Ammanford in Carmarthenshire in Wales, and has been a member of the Welsh Congregation since 1983.

More about Breathless Choir from the British press can be found here and here. A video was launched on November 14, 2015 for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day to create awareness of COPD, which can be seen below.

Cynthia has also been invited by BBC Radio Cymru's Shan Cothi to talk in Welsh about her experiences with the choir.