St. Johns Church, Tenby, opens its doors today (Friday) for the beginning of their annual Festival of Daffodils in celebration of St. David's Day.
The church has been 'alive' since Monday, when strategists began placing artefacts in readiness for 'clothing' with daffodils.
Each artefact is symbolic, of course, and each represents a verse in a poem, written especially for the event, by a member of the congregation, Mrs. Marion Griffiths. The poem is entitled 'Hands Together' and will be available to all visitors as they tour the sanctuary, in order for them to fully appreciate the thoughts and ideas behind each display.
Represented in flowers are the various uses we make of our hands, to do good and to do what is wrong. At the font, for example, is a demonstration of 'caring' hands, and portrayed is the 'evidence' of what caring hands can do. At the pulpit, quite the reverse idea is shown, as we see the cross and the figure of the kneeling Mary, mother of Christ. In yet another area, we see demonstrated the 'talented' hands, and in another, the hands of the despairing and broken-hearted.
The Festival of Daffodils is the centre-piece of a four-day event, and there is much cultural activity to enjoy, also. Tonight, the Quaynotes give a concert in the Sanctuary. Tomorrow (Saturday), the Tenby and District Brass Band play from 10.30 am and St. Mary's hand-bell ringers from 2.30 pm, while there will be Irish dancing at 3.30 pm.
A Noson Llawen is a ticket-only event, mainly for chapel members and friends, on Saturday evening, but Sunday evening is an open, free event for everyone, a Gymanfa Ganu, during which there will be individual items from Tenby Male Choir, the Cymrodorion Ladies and St. Mary's Church Choir. At this event, Dr. John Harrison will play the organ and Graham Stubbs will conduct the congregational hymns. These hymns will represent some of the best hymns in any hymnal.
This event follows Celtic Worship at 10.30 am, a Faith Lunch at 12 noon and Mezzin Remembrance at 2 pm.
Monday will begin with a coffee morning, as will Saturday, and on Monday evening, Tenby Male Choir will be giving a St David's Day concert, beginning at 8 pm.
Tickets for all paying events are available from Mrs. Margaret Day. If you wish to buy tickets for all three, there is a discount of £1.
Welsh cakes will be made every day except Sunday, weather permitting.