Pastor Gareth writes: In recent weeks, I have been gathering information from archives and parishioners enabling me to document the history of our parishes. This is very much a work in progress, and if anyone has additional information, corrections, or documents, photographs or video material we can add to the archive, please let me know.

The Rhondda Parish / Ss Gabriel & Raphael, Tonypandy

I am especially keen to collect photographs showing how Ss Gabriel & Raphael looked before the 2013 re-ordering, and before the changes made in the 1970s following Vatican II’s encouragement to bring altars forward. The only Tonypandy-specific document I have created recently is a partial record of the Parish Priests.

We also have dedicated pages for the heritage of our former churches at Ferndale and Treorchy and a report on the closure of Treorchy. I am keen to gather photographs of these churches, and to document the date of the last Masses celebrated there.

The Rhondda Registers have also been documented. And we have the fascinating story of Canon Thomas Crowley who founded Treorchy parish, served in Tonypandy and cleared the debt at St Dyfrig’s.

St Mary Magdalene, Ynyshir

I would be especially grateful for photographs of the original (1929-1993) church. Documents we have recently assembled cover:

All Hallows, Miskin

I am particularly keen to obtain photographs of services in Llanharan and the old Southgate All Hallows, also of the exterior of the Llanharan chapel. Recently we have produced:

St Dyfrig’s, Treforest

St Dyfrig’s already has an extensive collection of historical documents on the website. One has been added recently, regarding the re-ordering of the church. A plaque in the church indicates the altar was consecrated in 1975. I have always assumed this means the current altar; one parishioner has said that this was the original altar, and the new one was installed later. I would be interested to know if there is any corroborating evidence for a post-1975 consecration.