The South Wales churches grew out of the campaign of autumn 1974 when various members of the church, already in South Wales, excitedly boarded a minibus after the Feast at Minehead to conduct the campaign in Cardiff and surrounding area. Of those original pioneers we still have Ivy Griffiths and Eric Wood. Following the festival, a Bible Study began at the home of Peggy James, this extended later to meetings at the Royal Hotel at Cardiff, becoming a church meeting at the Rhiwbina Memorial Hall, then moving to Llanelli until 1996 when the decision was made to have 2 congregations to help with the amount of travelling being done by the members. The best home for the Cardiff congregation was their original home in Rhiwbina where we were still remembered fondly by the hall administrators. We look back over years of campaigns, years with the PT on the news-stands. The time when we went from door to door with leaflets, blanketing areas of Cardiff as well as surrounding centres. Ministry in South Wales spans both Cardiff and West Wales. A large percentage of growth in South Wales has come from members immigrating from England and Scotland, but we are proud that our youngest, newest speaker is home-bred - Gary Glenister was born during the campaigns of 1975. Ministers (still with the WCG) who served South Wales, Robert Harrison, David Bedford, Andrew Silcox, Anthony Lodge, (Those who served but have left, Derek Seaman, Paul Suckling, Michael Bousefield, all early days visits before the church was established. Then Bruce Kent, Melvin Rhodes, Peter Shenton and John Meakin). Mrs Griffiths was particularly excited at the prospect of Robert Harrison becoming a minister, as she had been friends with his parents and frequently baby-sat him when his parents were out for an evening. Eric Wood | 
