Churches step in to help flooded communities

Church volunteers stepped in to help their communities during this weekend's floods.

In Pontypridd, one of the most badly affected towns, volunteers from Citizen Church helped their neighbours clear up the damage while St Catherine's Church opened up their cafe space to provide refreshments to those clearing away the flood water.

In a statment the clergy of Pontypridd Ministry Area said it had been a tough weekend. They said, "For many, Sunday brought back the trauma of 2020, when Ponty was decimated by the flood storm Dennis brought about.

"We offered space in St Catherine’s Church, which was dry and unaffected by water, to small businesses to store stock. Nobody took us up on the offer for space, but none the less, they were grateful for the offer of help.

"It was a joint effort with Citizen Church who were also on hand giving sandwiches and helping to clear up. 

"We got in touch with parishioners who live close to the river to check on them and thankfully, they were safe. They too had been out helping neighbours with water defence and clean up.

"On occasions such as this, it is so important for the church to not only be open to welcome those who are in distress, but to be out there, in the community, being Christ's hands, feet and heart. Jesus asked us to love our neighbour as ourselves, and that is all we were doing." 

Amber Baker, Curate at Citizen Pontypridd, said, "Lots of people from the community came together and it was a privilege playing our part."

The Archdeacon of Llandaff, Rhod Green, said he had been inspired by the work the churches had done. He said, "In the face of heartbreaking scenes of flooded homes and businesses, I have been inspired by the hard work of our local churches out on the streets, wading through flood waters to comfort, care and clean up.

"In particular, in my archdeaconry, the ways in which teams from the Pontypridd Ministry Area and Citizen Pontypridd responded to the terrible floods in Pontypridd, as they dropped everything to help and encourage the relief effort, has been an extraordinary example of the church at its best.

"They remain in my prayers as the clean up effort continues."