A History of St. Pauls Church, Cwm

The next incumbent was the Rev. D. Morgan Jones, who had served as a curate at St. Marks, Newport and St. Marys Abergavenny. While in Cwm he had to overcome many financial problems. The war had taught us our buildings were not properly insured and many things needed attention - the heating and lighting systems for example.
Mr. Morgan Jones introduced a Gift Day which brought in a lot of money each year.
He was a much loved Priest, a good visitor and an extremely hard worker¹. He left for Caerleon in 1963.
The Rev. David Elias, a former curate of Aberavon and vicar of Magor was inducted in December, 1964 and many important changes took place during his ministry.
There was the question of Anglican - Methodist relations, and the revision of the Prayer Book in the Church of Wales with a revised Eucharist.
There were many problems to overcome. Many of our church people had by this time left the parish to live on the new housing estates at Ebbw Vale and Beaufort.
We were facing the difficulties of higher costs and smaller congregations. The quota was now £321.
Members of the P.C.C. made visits to people on the Electoral Roll and a follow-up was made by the vicar. Gift Day was kept and a home box system was introduced.
In June, 1972, Mr. Elias moved to Pengam.
During the short term of the last vicar of Cwm, the Rev. Roy Cale, we were discussing having to become part of the rectorial benefice of Ebbw Vale.
He left at the end of 1973, for Abersychan.
Around our church we have many memorials to many people who have taken an active part in the life of St. Pauls.
Soon after the Rev. J. L. Croft came he went down to the church one morning and found all the windows at the east end had been broken.(Rev Croft was made vicar in 1900) These were replaced by the three stained glass windows which are there now. One was given by the Croft family, one by the Church Wardens and people, and a third one by Mr. Croft with the following wording which I doubt will be seen on any other stained glass window: "For the wanton act of vandalism perpetrated by two boys, March 11, 1902".
St. Pauls became part of the Rectorial Benefice of Ebbw Vale in 1974, by Diocesan Decree. The new parish incorporated the former parishes of St. David, Beaufort (including Beaufort Hill), St. Johns Parish, Christ Church, St. Mary, Victoria and St. Paul, Cwm.
So after nearly a hundred years the situation reverted to what it was in 1870.
The first Rector of the new Benefice was the Rev. Royston Clifford Wright, who appointed the Rev. John Peacock as vicar of St. Davids, the Rev. John Ellis as vicar of Christ Church and the Rev. Peter Price as vicar of St. Pauls.
Canon Wright left in 1977 to become Archdeacon of Newport; John Ellis in 1976 to become vicar of Lianddewi Rhydderch; John Peacock in 1978 to become vicar of Caerwent and Peter Price in 1977 to become vicar of Llanfihangel Crucorney.
In 1977 the Rev. Alfred Pryce Hawkins was appointed Rector and the Rev. Walter Jones was appointed vicar of St. Mary, Victoria. The Rev. John Humphries became benefice curate. Because of the reduced manpower situation Vicar Jones also looked after St. Pauls and, although there has been an increase in staff since, he has continued to look after the needs of both southern parishes.
What of the future?
That is in the hands of God, but Cwm carries on much as it has in the past, and, given the continuing work and enthusiasm of the congregation, it seems set fair to last at least another hundred years.


¹and a dedicated pipe smoker. He invariably spent Friday evenings sitting in front of the Read kitchen hearth both he and Mr Read puffing away 19 to the dozen while they discussed church affairs and general matters. The pipes needed constant attention and relighting with the result that by the end of the evening the hearth was full of matches and ash