Historical pilgrimage highlights poverty in the Vale
St Baruc, the patron saint of Barry
A TRADITION that is over 1,000 years old was resurrected in the Vale recently and used as an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for the Vale Foodbank.
September 27th is the feast day of St Baruc, the patron saint of Barry. In centuries past, this date would have been marked by a pilgrimage from the monastery he belonged to at Llancarfan to his chapel on Barry Island. Money would have been given to the support of alms houses to feed and clothe the poor. Followed by a week of merry making, known as the ‘gŵyl mabsant’.
This year, 30 ‘pilgrims’ marked the date by joining a cornucopia of history experts who brought to life the stories of all the places the pilgrims passed through.
At Llancarfan Church, Ian Fell showed off the incredible mediaeval murals on the church walls. They are vivid in colour and capture St George slaying the dragon, a dandy marrying a skeleton and a beast with multiple heads devouring those indulging in the seven deadly sins. All date back to around 1450.
Then at Penn Onn, Gareth Thomas, author of I Iolo was standing outside the birthplace of the sometimes controversial but always interesting Iolo Morganwg and told the pilgrims all about his contributions to Welsh culture, including the Gorsedd of the bards at the Eisteddfod festival.
Outside Penmark Church, Dr Andy Seaman from the Archaeology Department of Cardiff University told everyone about the amazing finds at the 6th century cemetery at Fonmon. Then Nic Hodges of the Victorian Barry Experience talked about the boom years of Barry as the walkers passed through the town.
The pilgrimage ended at the remains of the 13th Century chapel of St Baruc on Barry Island. Then everyone popped across the road to the Barry Island Community Centre where foodbank volunteers had prepared teas, coffees, refreshments and some home-made Welsh cakes and brownies.
As with any true pilgrimage, there was more to it than a leisurely walk and some talk. The event had two important aims to fulfil.
First of all, it was a fundraiser. Vale foodbank has been put under increased strain in the past 12 months as the cost-of-living crisis has bitten hard. The result has been a perfect storm as demand for emergency food parcels for people in the county has increased by 29% from 2023-2024, whilst donations of food at the supermarket collection boxes have dropped by 15%. To help plug some of that gap, all the pilgrims paid a fee. Over £600 was raised on the day, and foodbank is hoping that by running the event and raising awareness of the situation they are facing; more donations will be forthcoming in future weeks.
The second goal is part of something much bigger being run by foodbanks up and down the UK who are part of Trussel. To listen to the people who need to use food banks and uncover the drivers of poverty locally. Then to take action to get those things changed. The long-term vision is to remove the need for foodbanks all together.
This event was organised for Vale Foodbank by campaigner and historian Graham Loveluck-Edwards. He said: “The event was a lot of fun for everybody who took part, but of course there is a serious side. Food bank was never intended to be a permanent solution for people in the UK who do not have enough money to cover the essentials despite being in paid work or on benefits.
“Over recent months we have been asking visitors to foodbank to lay it all out on the table. They have written comments on tablecloths we have provided outlining the causes, symptoms and solutions to poverty in our county. Those tablecloths were displayed at the start and finish of the event. People taking part, and those supporting us in other ways had a chance to read what people with lived experience are telling us.”
The MP for the Vale of Glamorgan, Kanishka Narayan attended the event. He said: “I have volunteered at foodbanks, and I have seen the current need for the work they do.
“I share their vision and I am committed to work towards the phasing out and eventual removal of the need for food banks locally and across the UK.”
If you would like more information about Vale Foodbank, visit www.vale.foodbank.org.uk or if you would like to donate or contribute to the work they do, please call 07581 398446.
All photographs by Gildas Griffiths.
This article first appeared in the printed edition of the Glamorgan Star on 17/10/24.
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