By Rev. Cyril Jenkins

It was not long after our arrival in the USA in 1957that the Rev. Lewis Jones of Jersey City made contact with me and I soon found out about the existence of the Welsh churches in the megalopolis and beyond. In 1964 a call from Rutgers Church in Manhattan led to many contacts with some of the Cymry of Efrog Newydd, and participation in the Presbytery of New York City introduced me to a little of the history of the growth of the Welsh Church in America over the years.

I led a weekly Welsh class in the early 70’s, and among those who I met were Robert Fowkes, Thomas Bird, Robert Evans, and a Margot Adler, staff member of one of the many radio stations of NYC whose interest in Wales came from reading translation of the Mabinogi. Then in 1979 Olwen Roderick and her brother-in-law Clifford Roderick, together with David Allen requested a meeting with me at Rutgers Church to discuss reviving the Welsh Church in NYC. It was then I had a marvelous lesson on the Welsh in New York City. There had been a Welsh Church on St. Nicholas Avenue in the Bronx and the representatives informed me that there was a sum of money held in escrow which would enable them to pay a rental fee for use of the facilities at Rutgers and to pay an honorarium to both minister and organist.

The proposition was made to the session of Rutgers about the use of the space and me being asked to officiate as Gweinidog Eglwys y Cymry and that Organist Marshall Williamson would be asked to provide the music. It was approved.

The next meeting with the Rodericks and David Allen was augmented, at which time it became clear that the Governor of the State of New York had the authority to approve the release of money held in escrow. It was then I recalled meeting a lawyer, Richard Taliesin Davies. He was very helpful in providing all the necessary documents needed for the release of the funds. One thing led to another and thanks to the efforts of all concerned, a sum of $120,000 was made available. Now, thanks to the endeavors of David Morgan and others in the Church, this sum has almost doubled.

Things have changed considerably since the beginning of the Welsh Church in Nov. 1979. The current Eglwys y Cymry will be 30 years old in November 2009. May all those who are currently members or friends of the Capel be participants in the joyous occasion.