On Sunday, September 29, as part of the Harvest Festival service, a plaque in memory of Mrs. Gwyneth Margaret Shaw will be dedicated.

Gwyneth Shaw (nee Board) attended Tenby Congregational Chapel (now St. Johns) in her younger years before moving to Nottinghamshire.

On her death, she left significant bequests to several organisations in Tenby; one of these has allowed St. Johns to undertake certain modification works.

St. Johns Church was originally built in the 1860s and was subsequently extended by the addition of halls to the rear and the erection of a clock tower. It is currently a Grade II listed building; thus any modification work was subject to approval of the relevant committees, in addition to standard building regulation approval.

In the view of the elders and members, the frontage of the church presented a forbidding aspect, with heavy wooden doors, and there was a desire to create a more welcoming aspect and also to use the church for more community activities.

A specialist ecclesiastical architect was commissioned to prepare a plan which would include glass front doors, a glass screen between the foyer area and the sanctuary and the removal of a section of intervening wall. This was done with the added inclusion of a disabled toilet in a side annex and some storage units. The plans were approved and after the appropriate tendering process, a contract for the work was placed.

The church now has an area which is used as a welcoming place for members and visitors and allows people to see from the doors, through into the church, to an illuminated cross on the end wall beneath the rose window.

On Thursdays, during the summer months, a special Celtic-style service is held in the foyer and visitors are warmly welcomed. On Wednesdays, when the Church Hall is open for coffee, the very popular Welsh Cake bake takes place outside the church and the foyer area is proving a valuable facility, especially in wet weather.

During the Christmas Tree Festival in December, the foyer area is perfect for serving coffee to everyone who comes to see the lovely displays. Nearer Christmas, there is carol singing with mulled wine - also in the new foyer area!

In the longer-term, it is hoped to develop the area as a drop in centre for quiet reflection/discussion over tea or coffee.

The church is very appreciative of the bequest from Mrs. Shaw which has made the development possible, thus making a valuable contribution to the future life of St. Johns.