St Fagan’s Church Marks Ten Years of Christmas Day Dinners for Those Alone

A church is commemorating its tenth year of hosting a Christmas Day gathering for individuals who would otherwise spend the holiday by themselves. The initiative, known as Company at Christmas, is organized by St Fagan’s church in Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, specifically for people who have no other place to go. The event provides a complimentary Christmas dinner, entertainment, and transportation, all funded through donations and gifts. Carolyn Walton, 63, a co-organizer, recounted attending the inaugural event with her mother. She stated, “We loved it so much, my late mum and I had no where else to go so we thought we would give it a go. After that, I volunteered and have come every year.” The event originated in 2015 after a man approached the church inquiring if anyone could prepare dinner for him. Carolyn explained, “We thought, well if he is asking, there are bound to be others spending the day alone.” Initially held in the church hall, the event has since relocated to the local St John Baptist Church in Wales High School due to increasing attendance over the years. Gordon Evans, 64, a resident of Cwmaman, first participated in the event in 2023 and plans to attend again this Christmas Day. He remarked, “I didn’t know it existed, someone told me about it and I thought shall I sleep through another Christmas day alone or shall I give it a try?” Gordon admitted to being “quite nervous” initially. He elaborated, “For two reasons, going alone and meeting strangers and also the shame of being alone on Christmas day, you feel odd about it,” adding that he considered abandoning his plan until he reached the car park. He ultimately decided to enter, stating, “One of the volunteers was directing cars and was so kind to me I decided to go in.” Once inside the school, Gordon found that it “immediately became OK,” and he began conversing with other attendees. He concluded, “By the end of the day, it became overwhelmingly good.” In 2015, Company at Christmas served 40 people; this year, they anticipate providing dinners for 130. The event relies on approximately 50 to 60 volunteers, including 15 drivers, with a local minibus company supplying transportation. Carolyn confirmed that “Every attendee will get a two-course dinner, a present that has been wrapped by the school children and a bag full of pantry goods to take home.” Volunteer Sarah Kochalski described it as an enjoyable way to spend the day with her family. She shared, “My son plays the piano in the background, playing all sorts of Christmas music and me and my daughter help greet people and serve food.” Sarah mentioned that both her children are pupils at the school, and she views their involvement as a meaningful way of “giving back.” Peta Maidman dedicates her Christmas Day to volunteering in the kitchen, characterizing the effort as “faith in action,” rather than merely “people in a building on a Sunday.” She reflected, “Every year I cry, the first year was a wing on a prayer, we didn’t have a clue what we were doing.” Peta expressed her amazement at the event’s expansion. She commented, “It is sad in one way that so many people find themselves in that situation but we are blessed that we can provide that little respite on Christmas Day for anybody who needs it.” Angela Clark from Aberdare has also been assisting with the event since its inception. She stated, “Myself and my husband help cook and serve all the food, I’ve even got myself a food hygiene certificate.” She explained that with her children having other plans for Christmas Day, she and her husband were pleased to contribute. Angela reported that feedback from attendees indicated it was “the best Christmas they ever had.” She quoted participants saying, “‘if I didn’t come here [to the event], I wouldn’t speak to a soul or see anyone on Christmas day.'” She also noted the diverse attendance, observing, “We’ve had a one-year-old and a 101-year-old on the same table, it’s a real snapshot of life.”