LAST week ,we featured a picture of Malpas Road Presbyterian Church, Newport.

This photo was from a souvenir pamphlet produced in 1937 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the church.

The area of Malpas is based on the north side of Newport Town Centre and has developed with the town centre.

At the industrial area near the town centre and the River Usk,on the flat land called Crindau, are where the oldest houses in the industrial area exist.

A religious presence in Malpas has been witnessed since the early 12th century.

This is through the foundation of a Cluniac monastic cell, linked to the Montacute Abbey in Somerset, and was a part of the Benedictine Monastic Order founded at Cluny in Burgundy.

There are many churches in the Maplas area including St. Mary’s Church in Wales, St. James Church in Wales, Malpas Road Evangelical Church, All Saints Church in Wales, Graig Park Gospel Hall, St. Anne’s Roman Catholic Church, Crindau Gospel Hall and Trinity Presbyterian Church.

THIS is the Presbyterian Church on Maplas Road.

I have very fond memories of starting there with my friend aged seven in 1937 as a cadet in the gin life brigade and also as a choir member.

The minister was the Reverend David Owen and the other building is the hall where we held displays and socials.

The church was a very happy church and well attended.

Mrs Mollie Philips, Llantarnam

THE now and then photo is of the Presbyterian Church on Maplas Road.

In 1979 my father did a job (the brick work) for that church as part of the company Dawlan Construction.

They did the work on the littler church on the side/next door.

Once the work was completed the priest from the church presented a bible to my father and my uncle.

Susan Freeman, Caldicot