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Dianne Williams
Twin banners graced the chancel of the Salem Presbyterian Church in Venedocia, Ohio on Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007, with the invitation to “Come Sing to the Lord. Deuwch Canwni'r Arglwydd.”
Three hundred or more came filling the sanctuary at the annual Gymanfa Ganu, raising voices in song and praise as the evening sun flowed through the stained glass windows. The evening was an incredibly glorious celebration of rich musical Welsh heritage. Simply stated, we heard Heaven singing.
Mr. Eric Foster served as director. Susan Leffel, soloist, Connie O'Neill and Mary Ann Mathews, accompanists. All were raised in Venedocia and were influenced by the church and the community’s Welsh musical history.
WSCO members attending were Myron Cherry and daughter Diana Wafe, Jim and Ann Gillard, Mary Ellen Morgan and Bob Donaldson, Homer and Dianne Williams, Dr. and Mrs. Ranck, Marian Davies and Meg Hukill.
Mark your calendars for Sunday, Sept. 1, 2008!
Photo by
Myron Cherry
WSCO members Bob Donaldson, Mary Ellen Morgan, Homer and Dianne Williams and Ann and Jim Gillard.
Editor’s Note:
When WSCO sent out the email message with the details of the upcoming gymanfa in Venedocia, we received responses from two members who shared fond memories of the church and area:
Sue Ranck, who has several generations of ancestors from Venedocia, let us know that the soloist, Susan Leffel, is a cousin of hers and that other cousins where planning on coming from as far away as California for the event. Sue’s ancestors owned property in the area and one of her cousins financed one of the stained glass windows in the Salem Presbyterian Church where Sue’s grandparents were married in 1904.
From Lois Edwards Hall:
Oh my dear Central Ohio Welshmen (and ladies) -- this is the place I first came to know my Welsh heritage through song. Nearly every Labor Day Sunday evening through my childhood and young adulthood, we traveled from near Gomer, Ohio, to Venedocia. They sang in parts of course, and they sat in parts, and they sang in Welsh because they spoke Welsh.
The church used to fill up so early that we’d go to be there at 6:00 and sometimes still not get a seat. I remember sitting in the car outside -- listening through the open windows and singing from there as well.
You’ve brought many happy memories to me by even sharing this note ... and for that I thank you!
Mary Ellen Morgan
Here’s a chance to hear your favorite hymns at our events!
Below is a list of the hymns (with hymnal page numbers) that we’ve sung more than once in the past ten years, and you can vote for your favorites in a variety of ways: by email – centralohiowelsh[at]aol[dot]com; by regular mail -- Hymns. %WSCO, PO Box 12023, Columbus, Ohio, 43212; by telephone – (614) 470-4999; or drop your voting form in the basket that will be provided at the Te Bach following the October 2007 Gymanfa. Use the form provided or list titles by Most Favorite, Second Most Favorite, and Third Most Favorite.
Rules: You needn’t be a WSCO member to vote, just familiar with the hymns. The hymns don’t have to come from the following list, but should come from our hymnal. You may vote only once.
We’ll publish the top ten hymns in the next issue of Dragon Tales, and sing them at our 2008 St. David’s Day celebration on Saturday, March 1st.
Favorite Welsh Hymns
Aberystwyth 17, Arglwydd Dyma Fi 98, Blodwen 60, Bryn Calfaria 3, Calon Lan 66, Crimondd 76, Crugybar 38, Cwm Rhondda 40, Deemster 29, Diadem 13, Ebenezer (Ton-y-Botel) 11, Huddersfield 19, Llef 56, Mad D’eisiau de Bob Aur 62, Morte Christie 116, Penpark 26, Rachie 1, Rhys 89, Sanctus 30, Sandon 27, Sarah 57, Y Delyn Aur 41.
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2008 --
Celebrate WSCO’s 60th Year!