1936 - Missions to Seamen's Reading Rooms, Penarth. - A letter to the editor as published within the Penarth Times during November 1936 penned by Mr. W. Bentley, the Port Missionary for the previous 25 years, whom expressed a sad and fond goodbye to all at Penarth. The press cutting and image of the Mission is courtesy of the Hull History Centre which has been cleaned up using AI - plus the colourised image generated by the technology. This image is based upon the photo but I feel it provides us with a real sense of the impressive building which was constructed from locally made, supplied and donated materials. [AIX] [1389] [101]

1936 - Missions to Seamen - To The Editor - Dear Sir, - My last thoughts before leaving Penarth are thoughts of gratitude, gratitude in that I have had the privilege of being the Port Missionary here for more than a quarter of a century to the men of our splendid Merchant service and to sailors of many other nationalities ; gratitude to the many who have supported me in this work, some by their personal activities at the Church and Institute, or on board ship, others in collecting the necessary funds, others again in subscribing so willingly in cash or in kind, or in entertaining our sailors, etc.

The Mission known throughout the world as the " Flying angel " Mission had its birth in 1835 in Penarth Roadstead, and the Mission always found warm and devoted friends in our town.

It has been no easy task on anyone's part to close down after such a long run, but circumstances over which the Mission had no control compelled the head office to take this step.

Will our friends, my friends, accept this parting word of thanks and gratitude, and I most sincerely include those who subscribed to make me a parting gift, and believe me to remain very affectionately their friend.

W. Bentley - Missions to Seamen, Penarth, Nov., 24th., 1936.

26th November 1936 - [101] - Penarth Times - [Hull History Centre File Reference : U DMS/11/1/335] [1389]

1936 - Penarth's St. Martin's-in-the-Fields - The closing of the Missions to Seamen Church and Institute is arousing very great interest among many residents of Penarth. The London committee admit they are conscious that "to many this Institute Chapel had become a spiritual home." There is no doubt of this. The simple, but spiritual services were a blessing to many, as well as the institute where none who were destitute were sent away, and I feel certain that the general committee in London could not have been conscious of this fact that the closing of the Mission would be a hardship that those more closely acquainted with its work know it to be. A movement is afoot to continue the work in another quarter. This, perhaps, is the second best method of dealing with the situation, but I say most definitely that the closing of the Mission was ill-timed and precipitate, and the London committee has not recognised, as they should, the loss and the hardship that their decision has imposed.

26th November 1936 - [101] - Penarth Times - [Hull History Centre File Reference : U DMS/11/1/335] [1389]