GWENT pastor, the Rev. Shem Morgan has spent the last 12 months delving into records of his church, the first non-conformist one in Wales.

His fascination with history has seen the 89-year-old put pen to paper and write down his findings about Tabernacle United Reformed Church, Llanvaches, in a book launched this month.

It tells the tale of how the place of worship, founded in 1639 by William Wroth, began in a barn in Carrow Hill, not far from its current location.

Before that date, members worshipped in each other's houses as they were not allowed to hold public services.

Carmarthen born Rev. Morgan, a non-stipendary minister in that town in his younger days, came to the Llanvaches church in 1983.

Before that date, he worked as a fundraising director for charity Barnardo’s and now lives in Parc Seymour.

He said: "I came here to retire and I joined the church and they asked me to look after them for a few years."

Rev. Morgan ended up taking services, the order of which is decided by the congregation, for the next 14 years.

After reading around 12 books on the history of non-conformist history, some from the library, Rev. Morgan thought it would be a good idea to write one himself.

He traced dates through the records office, Croesyceiliog, finding services in the 17th century were in Latin.

Today, the membership of the church stands at 40, but it has fluctuated over the years.

In 1798, just one person kept it going, and Rev. Morgan said this is what he finds most interesting.

He said: "It is the fascination of the struggles and the way the people on a small income have sustained the church."

Attendance at the church was taken seriously with 19th century absentees having to give reasons for not going to services.

Figures also tell the story of church outgoings over the years.

In 1909 a full length of pews cost £1 with small ones at 15 shillings.

While in the 1980s, members raised £2,000 for an oxygen concentrator, used in hospitals, to be sent to Africa.

More recently, the church has forged links with outside organisations such as Health Help International, collecting for charities at Christmas time and fundraising for the aftermath of natural disasters.

  • The book is published through the church and is available, priced £3.50, from Roger George, Woodstock, Llanvaches, NP26 3AY. Proceeds will go to charities supported by the church.