In 1975 the Vicar, Rev R Rhys, reported on the confirmations at the Old Church of 15 candidates: John Card, Oliver Cowles, Pauline Corcoran, Alison and Sheila Cutter, Joyce and Nicholas Diston, Cheryl and Susan Gleed, Christopher Pugh, Clare, Stephen and Robert Tyler, Lorraine Whiley and Maurice Williams.
‘Two of the candidates were the first persons that I baptised soon after my advent as Vicar of the Parish… After the ceremony candidates and parishioners had an opportunity of talking with the Bishop when sherry, soft drinks and biscuits were served by invitation of our PCC and courtesy of Professor and Mrs Tucker at Church Cottage.’
This drew forth reports of a 60 years earlier confirmation when:
‘…the party of youngsters assembled at Pentwyn and processed to the Llan-y-nant copse, cut through and came out near the barn. They walked by the public path alongside the Pen-y-garn hedge over the brow and down to Troy Wood, to the Bridge and up Monnow Street to the Parish Church. The girls were dressed in dark skirts and white blouses…’
Bertha Vaughan added her memories of the occasion:
‘If I remember rightly there were 200 candidates. After the service we were entertained to a very nice tea at Sterrett’s café in St John’s Street, by Rev du Heaume. We had Troy Park to climb for the journey back, which we all enjoyed in spite of the wintry weather.’
Other candidates were Hildred Summers, Eunice Bevan, Laura Spencer and ‘two or three lads’.
Confirmations tended to be mostly at St Mary’s, Monmouth, in earlier years and old parish family names appear regularly. Our latest confirmation in June 1987 took place at St Woollos – a very impressive ceremony – when Vanessa Bentley, Suzannah and Belinda Macintosh were the Penallt candidates.
[from: Penallt – A Village Miscellany]