Community rallies to help Noddfa Church recover after break-in

The brand-new equipment included keyboards and guitars still in their boxes and had been bought to give local children free music lessons.

Gwent Police believe the church, on Abersychan’s Church Road, was broken into some time on Tuesday or Wednesday last week.

Following the burglary, the community have rallied to recoup the losses, with many donating money or unused instruments and equipment to the church, and one fundraising page has already reached £1,300 in donations.

This included the postmen at the Pontypool Sorting Office, who donned fancy dress costumes on their Friday rounds to raise funds for the church.

(Staff at the Pontypool Sorting Office as they dressed up to raise money for Noddfa Church after the break-in. Picture: Pontypool Sorting Office.)

Instead of their usual postie, residents were served by Batman, Mrs Brown, smurfs, cowboys, and even a bottle of vodka.

On Friday alone, the posties raised more than £300 for the church, and are in the process of setting up a JustGiving page for further donations.

Matthew Morgan, a manager at Pontypool Delivery Office, said: “We were going to dress up and raise money for charity already, so we had a vote on who to raise money for.

“The church has been broken into three times in the last five years and are raising money for a new security system after the instruments were stolen last week.

(Staff at the Pontypool Sorting Office as they dressed up to raise money for Noddfa Church after the break-in. Picture: Pontypool Sorting Office.)

“The church does a lot in the community, so it seemed quite fitting to raise money for them.

““It spread on social media quite quickly and was very well received.

“I think a few were a bit nervous about it at first, but after how well it went, we can’t wait to do it again.

“I’d like to thank all our posties. We are having more parcels now than Christmas, but we will get there.”

(Staff at the Pontypool Sorting Office as they dressed up to raise money for Noddfa Church after the break-in. Picture: Pontypool Sorting Office.)

Pastor John, from Noddfa Church, said he was “eternally grateful and humbled” by the support shown for the church.

“It’s uplifting for the whole community to see our letters delivered by sailors and pirates,” he said.

“I can’t get over the whole community’s response.

“We have a message of hope, love and forgiveness that we give our community. We offer that to those who stole the equipment.”

(Pontypool Sorting Office staff in costume, and below, Pastor John and Cllr Giles Davies with staff collecting the money raised. Pictures: Pontypool Sorting Office/Noddfa Church)

Elsewhere, members of the community have also taken to fundraising for the church. Claire Kennedy, 34, from Blaenavon, set up a crowdfunder for improved security at the church.

“Noddfa Church is a place which is close to my heart. It’s a great place where everyone is welcome - religious or not it really doesn’t matter what your background is,” she said.

“Pastor John and his volunteers carry out an amazing duty to the community and are always thinking of others and how he can best serve them.

(Claire Kennedy set up a fundraiser for the church which has raised more than £1,300. Picture: Claire Kennedy)

“When I read that the church had been burgled of musical instruments I thought it would be a nice gesture to try and help to give something back that other community members could contribute too.

“Within a day the target of £500 was hit. I was overwhelmed with the generosity.

“As it stands the JustGiving Page has now doubled its target. This just goes to show how wonderful Noddfa Church is and the dedication Pastor John shows to our little community. I would like to thank each and everyone who has donated.”

Anyone with information about this incident should contact Gwent Police by calling 101, quoting 2000165419, or sending a direct message to the force’s Facebook or Twitter accounts, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.