Monmouth Wyedean Catenians
Monmouth Wyedean Catenians
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The Catenian Association
We are a worldwide network of Catholic men who meet regularly to enjoy eachothers company and to help and support each other. The Catenians were established in Manchester in 1908, originally known as the Chums Benevolent Association. The name Catenian derives from Catena, which is Latin for chain. Circles exist in Great Britain (GB), Ireland, Australia, Malta, India, Bangladish, Israel and South Africa.
On 31 March 2016, when our Circle was inaugurated, the worldwide, Great Britain and Province 12 membership stood at 9,590, 8,061 and 437 respectively. Numbers have sadly reduced by 31 March 2025 to 6,844 5,329 and 227 respectively.
A Restructure Review Group was commissioned in 2021 by GB National Council, to urgently and comprehensively review its structure and address its membership decline. It consisted of three Catenians, chaired by Lt. Gen. Louis Lillywhite (Walsall and Bath Circles), Robert Derricott (Monmouth Wyedean Circle) and Iain Stitt (Harrogate Circle). It concluded that on current trend and without significant action membership would become non-viable in the UK within 10 years. Its final report, with urgent recommendations, was submitted to GB National Council and Central Council in October 2022. So far, no action has been taken on the major recommendations and membership continues to decline as a result of resignation, forfeiture and death.
Monmouth Wyedean Circle
Our Circle serves Welsh Monmouthshire and the English Forest of Dean. It is the only circle in Province 12 that was set up to serve areas of both England and Wales. We were inaugurated in 2016 with 17 members.
We begin 2025/2026 as strong as before
On the close of Hereford Circle 190 on March 2024, 2 of our joint members from Hereford transferred in as full members and we gained 1 new member from Hereford who transferred in. Despite losing 2 members on transfer out during 2024, by 31 March 2025, we have maintained a membership of 19, increasing our original complement by 2 members.
The Province 12 challenge
We fully embraced the Province 12 challenge to be relaxed and lively. In line with the Province 12 Membership, Recruitment and Retention Strategy Report, published in September 2022, we let people see that being a Catenian is fun; our meetings are short; with dated and non value-added formality dropped; with a smart casual dress code; with members engaging and socialising with Parish life; and opening our social events to parishioners including non-Catholics who reguarly attend Mass.
🥂 Please save the date! 🥂
On Thursday 19 June 2025, we will celebrate our 100th meeting.
In 2016, we became the first new Circle in Province 12 for 48 years
Charity and Entertainment
Covid 19 impact on Circle and Parish
We meet at lunchtime in Monmouth
Since October 2024, we meet in a new venue at Bridges Community Centre, Monmouth, NP25 5AS on the third Thursday of each month except December. All our meetings are followed by with Ladies dining and all of our meetings are held at lunchtime, except where otherwise notified in our monthly circulars and on the Province 12 website where we also notify times for registration, meetings and meals. Our dress code is smart casual. We believe informality, good food and keeping our local costs as low as possible is essential.
Bookings should be made with our Dining Secretary, contact details in our monthly Circulars and on the Province 12 website no later than 10:00am on the Monday preceding a meeting, after which menu choices may not be changed and cancellations may have to be charged.
Visitors are always most welcome
Please note that only our Circle President will wear insignia at his discretion. Visiting Officers may of course wear insignia at their discretion. It is no longer necessary to stand in our meetings when speaking.
Our development plan
We have been impacted by the pandemic as a result of which potential members attending Mass regularly have reduced. The continuing national and provincial membership decline, if not corrected, may render membership unaffordable unless national and provincial expenditure is reduced. Without replenishment Circles will age and viability may be threatened by an inability to function as intended. We are a rural Circle which does not have access to a Catholic school, tertiary college or university, or military establishment from which to recruit younger members. We are committed to keeping our local fees and dining costs down to the minimum sustainable levels, and to maintaining a friendly atmosphere in our informal meetings and meals. This recipe has so far enabled us to grow against trends. However, we cannot be complacent in the face of a rising costs, reducing national and provincial membership and a reducing source of new members, and without check, an ageing profile.
About our Circle
About our Circle
Monmouth Wyedean Circle was inaugurated in April 2016, becoming the first new circle in Province 12 for 48 years. Our current roll has members drawn from a wide and largely rural area centred on Monmouthshire, the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. In the wider area, we have joint members living in Bath, Bicester, Herefordshire and Powys. Our membership also boasts a healthy Scottish and Irish heritage!
We welcome vistors from other Circles. Our social calendar traditionally includes dining with ladies, family visits to places of interest, theatres and walks and these are open to friends. So far we have visited Harvington Hall in Worcestershire notable for its seven priest-holes, the Royal Mint at Llantrissant, the seminary at St. Mary's College Oscot, the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley and Tredegar House and Orangery in Newport.
In addition we have had a number of guest speakers including Sir Gerald Davies CBE DL of the Welsh Rugby Union and the British Lions, Andrew Blake of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and representatives of various local charities that we support. We host an annual Provincial Race Night in April, an annual Clergy Meal for our priests, and annual Masses for Vocations and for Deceased Catenians.
Our small Circle has raised some £25,000 for our Presidents' charities since 2016, and has also spawned a musical group known as the Celtic Collectors who comprise Catenians and valued guests and ladies. They have performed Welsh- Irish- and Scottish-themed entertainment following our meetings, concerts for our parish and community and a concert for a local charity, so far raising some £15,000 for local charities; they can be seen in our Photo Gallery below.
The Catenian Bursary Fund exists to support young people who volunteer to individual or group projects overseas. A young member of our parish has received a bursary matched by additional support from our Circle to undertake voluntary service in India.
We love to welcome any visiting Catenians with their ladies, and to hear from any gentlemen interested in joining or hearing more about us; please see contact details below.
The Coronavirus pandemic
The Coronavirus pandemic
2020-2021 was like no other year, with no formal meetings for months at National, Provincial or Circle level other than by Zoom, when virtual meetings became the order of the day for most Circles. The internet did allow members to “visit” other Circles not only in GB, but also worldwide!
Parish Mass was celebrated for much of the year streamed on-line without congregations. National Conference, due to take place in 2020 in Edinburgh, was cancelled and in May 2021 was conducted by Zoom. There is no doubt that the pandemic has caused major problems for the Church, the Association, Circles and venues. Equally, while Zoom has held us together, there is nothing as good as meeting with colleagues with a meal and a glass of wine. Happily, we were able to resume both face to face Mass and meetings from August 2021. However, Brexit, the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine and the Middle East wars have all conspired to cause a huge challenge, in which energy, fuel and food costs have led to increases in the cost of traveling, accommodation and meals. In order to maintain being a Catenian affordable, we continue our commitment to keep our costs down.
Group formation in just 7 months
Our Formation as Monmouth Wyedean Group 932
Our Formation as Monmouth Wyedean Group 932
Our journey really began on 9th March 2015 with the first meeting of a project team set up to consider the potential for membership growth in Monmouth, the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean.
Initially the project team consisted of four members of Abergavenny Circle 238: Chris Cherry, Robert Derricott, Geoff Quinn and Dave Andrews, all of whom are parishioners of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Monmouth. The parish priest of Monmouth, Canon Nicholas James, and the then Provincial Membership Officer, Gervase O'Donovan, were invited to join the project team and pulpit presentations were held in Monmouth, Chepstow and the Forest of Dean parishes, and a social evening was held for interested parishioners to learn more about the Catenian Association.
In all just seven monthly meetings of the project team were held, and Monmouth Wyedean Group 932 was inaugurated on 15th October 2015 by the then Provincial President, Pat Burbidge, with 12 founder group members including the four Abergavenny brothers who formed the project team, plus four more Abergavenny brothers, and one brother from Hereford 190 and another from Bath 192.
Circle inaugurated just 6 months later
Inauguration as Monmouth Wyedean Circle 374
Inauguration as Monmouth Wyedean Circle 374
Within six months of the Group being formed by Province 12, our membership had increased to 17, including four new Catenians and a brother from Bicester 360.
Chris Cherry was elected Founder President and he accepted the Charter granted to the new Monmouth Wyedean Circle 374 from Great Britain National Grand President Peter Woodford on 21stApril 2016.
Our Photo Gallery
Our Photo Gallery
Tour of Harvington Hall, Worcestershire, for tales of devotion and Catholic persecution arranged by Geoff Quinn, 9 July 2017
Assembling for a Royal Mint Tour, Llantrissant, arranged by Geoff Quinn, 25 November 2017
Anniversary celebration aperitifs, AGM, at Forest Hills Golf Club, Coleford, 19 April 2018
Ralph Fitzpatrick, Australian National President, generously presented Circle with a crucifix on his first visit to Monmouth on 17 May 2018. He was accompanied by his wife, Liana.
WRU and Lions Rugby legend, Gerald Davies was guest speaker at our Clergy & Ladies Night at Forest Hills Golf Club, Coleford, 20 September 2018
Third Provincial St. Patrck's Day Charity Race Night, hosted by Monmouth Wyedean 374 and arranged by Dave Andrews at Whitchurch & Ganerew Community Hall, 16 March 2019
Joint walk with Abergavenny 238 arranged by Chris Cherry and hosted by Monmouth Wyedean 374 in the Cyril Hart Arboretum, Forest of Dean, attended by 24 brothers and wives, 10 June 2021
Joint Industrial Heritage Walk with Abergavenny 238 arranged by Larry Thomas and hosted by Abergavenny 238, starting at Llanfoist Car Park, following the disused railway line to Govilon and returning along the Monmouthshire and Pontypool Canal toepath, 29 July 2021
Visit to Tredegar House, Newport on 14 October 2021
Joint walk with Abergavenny Circle around Llanthony Abbey on 29 October 2021
Christmas Party at the Three Salmons Hotel, Usk, 28 January 2022, delayed by the pandemic
Joint walk with Abergavenny Circle around RSPB Newport Wetlands, 30 March 2022
Presidential Handover Meal at the Kilpeck Inn, Herefordshire, 24 April 2022
Eyes down for Province 12 Royal Ascot Race Night, held at the Whitchurch & Ganarew Memorial Hall, Herefordshire on 18 June 2022
Before the deluge! Circle fielded a party of 12 to attend an open-air performance by The Lord Chamberlain's Men of "As You Like It" at Raglan Castle on 24 June 2022. Hats off, the show had to go on to the end!
Picnic at Lydney Harbour, after the Joint Walk with Abergavenny Circle on 13 July 2022
Visit to Kentchurch Court & Gardens, 10 August 2022
Advent Music and Shared Supper Event, 15 December 2022
Dr Rob Jones' presented “Stuck in the Middle with You – the Marches, Monmouth and the Forest of Dean in the Middle Ages” to 20 members, wives and visitors, 19 January 2023
Mine host Dave Andrews at the microphone, with the winners at Provincial St. Patrick's Race Night held on Saturday, 18 March 2023, attended by over 40 Catenians, visitors, parishioners and wives
Presidents' Handover Lunch at the Three Salmons, Usk, St. George's Day, 23 April 2023
Intrepid Walkers in the Forest of Dean, about to walk off the Coronation weekend festivities, 10 May 2023
Mike Bushell, presented with his 50-year Anniversary Scroll at our 77th Circle Meeting held on 18 May 2023, in the presence of 38 attendees including Mike's wife, Christine and visitors from Newport and Bristol Circles and their wives
At our July 2023 meeting, President Tony (pictured centre) welcomed Glyn Jones back into the Circle, bringing our membership to 20 in the presence of 11 visitors. After lunch all 43 present were entertained by the Celtic Collectors (pictured left) consisting of three Monmouth Catenians: President Tony Forster (guitar), Dave Andrews and Glyn Jones, together with Mike Keating (mandolin), and singers Chris Lowry, Pat Stewart and Helen Quinn. Plaudits received from attendees asserted this was our best ever meeting, hopefully securing the future of the ensemble!
The Celtic Collectors performed at the opening and closing ceremonies, and during a 24-hour sleep-out at the medieval bridge in Monmouth, which began at 10 am on Thursday 29 February and ended at 10 am on Friday 1 March 2024. The event was organised to highlight homelessness, poverty and loneliness, and was supported by local schools. The High Sheriff and Lord Lieutenant of Gwent also attended.
The 2024 Provincial St. Patrick's Racenight, held on 16 March 2024 and hosted by Monmouth Wyedean Circle under the presiding guidance of Dave Andrews, was attended by more than 50 people, including Provincial Membership Officer Stephen Lake, Catenians from Swindon, Newport and Abergavenny Circles, and parishioners from Monmouth and Ross parishes. Here are this year's winners!
In June 2024, President Martin led a visit to Hellens, a Tudor/Jacobean home with beautiful gardens and a history dating back to 1057. Attractions included heirlooms of Anne Boleyn, Queen Mary Tudor's bedroom, and paintings by Gainsborough, Van Dyke, and tales of three ghosts!
On 8 July 2024, parishioner Charles Boase led a Historical Walk of Monmouth, attended by 18 Catenians, wives and friends, which included St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Mary's Priory Church, Monmouth Castle (pictured here), the Robin Hood Inn where Mass was celebrated in penal times, and inside the Medieval Bridge, ending with Afternoon Tea at the Bridges Centre.
On 18 July 2024, we celebrated our 90th meeting in the presence of 30 Brothers, wives and visitors including Provincial President Steve Elliot. Here, Immediate Past President Tony Forster (right) presented a cheque for £3,034.14 to ReachOut Monmouth volunteers (left to right) Mary Boase, Fran Kelly and Joe Facchiano. This was a record amount raised for our Circle President's Charities so far.
On 30 September 2024, our Circle hosted a second visit to Monmouth by Ralph (second left) and Liana (fourth on the right) Fitzpatrick. Ralph is currently Immediate Past President of the Australian National Council of the Catenian Association.
Tony Forster, Dave Andrews, Martin Flach and Glyn Jones attending the Circle Visit to the National Motorbike Museum in Birmingham on 12 February 2025.
9 Celtic Collectors, who have now grown to 11 members, performed a "St. Patrick's special" at Bridges Community Centre on Saturday 15 March 2025, raising a further £800 to be split between Bridges and the President's charities. The event, which saw the audience singing and dancing, was attended by the Mayor of Monmouth Town Council, Councillor David Evans.
Newly installed Circle President at the AGM on 24 April 2025, Dave Andrews (right), presented Mike and Christine Bushell with an Apostolic Blessing, a gift of Circle, to commemorate their 60th Wedding Anniversary on Saturday, 19 April 2025. 15 Brothers including visitors from Cardiff, Newport and Malvern and 9 wives witnessed the presentation following lunch.
Our Presidents
Our Presidents
Chris Cherry: 2016-2017
Geoff Quinn: 2017-2018
Rob Derricott OBE JP: 2018-2019
Dave Andrews: 2019-2020
Glyn Jones: 2020-2021
Malcolm Rebeiro: 2021-2022
Chris Cherry: 2022-2023
Tony Forster: 2023-2024
Martin Flach: 2024-2025
Dave Andrews: 2025-2026
How to contact us
How to contact us
If you live in Monmouthshire or the Forest of Dean and you wish to enquire about our activities, membership, transfer-in or ask about joint membership, please contact Head Office in the first instance for our current Secretary's contact details, or if as a Catenian already you wish to visit us as we hope you will, our Secretary's and our Dining Secretary's contact details are published on the Association and Province 12 Websites.
Thank you.
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