Volume Nine - Pre-Victorian to the present day - even more aspects - The Missions to Seamen at Penarth . . .

The Summary of the Minutes of the Port of Bristol Mission Society from February 1856 record that the London Society will act in harmony with the Bristol Society and ultimately unite and incur their liabilities. The Bristol Society was in debt and it was proposed that 10% of the Central Association be used to liquidate the debt. In July 1856 the minutes record that a letter has been sent to Dr. Ashley with reference to delivering up "Eirene." The Bristol Society was revived by September of the same year and by 1875 a special fund to maintain the Institute had been set up which included a grant from the Bristol Church Aid Society. [1389]

Over at Cardiff the minutes state that in a 1856-57 report 'The work here at this time was in conjunction with the Bristol Channel Mission, before its amalgamation with The Missions to Seamen in 1858.'

In 1863 the minutes report 'Lord Bute and his Trustees have taken a lively interest in the work and very thankfully do we acknowledge their valuable co-operation. At their request the Government has kindly sent a fine vessel to Cardiff, the "Thisbe." She has been fitted up as a Mission Ship, at the sole expense of Lord Bute. Reading Rooms have been provided in her for sailors and the Scripture Reader lives on board. A regular service is there arranged for every Sunday by the Incumbent of the Parish.' By 1867 'The Ship is now the Mariner's Church.'

The minutes record the success of the Church.

In 1887 it was recorded that 'It is with great thankfulness that we are able to report that the Bute Docks have consented to grant a suitable plot of ground as the site for the much needed church and Institute on shore. In addition the Directors have promised a generous donation of £500 towards the building fund.' [1389]