Day 3 – St. Matthew’s Church, Church Road
On a wet and cold day pitching our camp in the gateway of the defunct St. Matthew’s Church seemed something of an optimistic long shot. Church Road on first appearance is anything but bustling, there appears little in the way of commuters despite the historical context of the old drovers road and main thoroughfare to town. Appearances can be, and are often, deceiving. Whereas Chepstow Road openly bears its wounds, Church Road is quietly flourishing with independent businesses that are… just getting on with it. Both cafes were busy, the baker sold out of bread and the butchers has a reputation for quality cuts across the whole City. There is an anglers shop, a printers, a grocers and a genuine feeling of optimism from the Umbrella Project, a creative collaboration of arts and crafts. But then many of these shops are on the side of the road that is considered not to be Maindee. Some of those shop keepers are quite adamant about that. This is the boundary according to many, including those that create wards, and so we stand upon the cusp of an invisible divide and ponder the relevance of identity from the Maindee side of the road.
From the shadow of the building that the Church in Wales seems to have abandoned, failing to meet its targets or business plan expectations, we speculate upon and ponder its further use to the community. This becomes a topic of much interest that instigates much rhetoric that seems somehow to lead to the big question of responsibility. Or have I imagine that? Am I clutching at some miraculous conclusion fevered from a cold day in the presence of a former place of worship. Maybe… but what we heard was that the church offered excellent community activities, much needed respite and a safe play space. And then we met people who had voluntarily run sessions and clubs at the Church, who were now putting themselves through college to become youth workers… to further their skills in the community. We also spoke to young parents who articulated their concerns and their hopes in a rational and realistic fashion despite some common difficulties. We talk about perceptions, about the different cultural idenities of the area and of how fear grows. A young unemployed father, with tattoos on his neck and a 4 year old at his side, breaks his discussion to remonstrate with his boy about the unacceptability of littering. He describes how he protects his children from areas that are littered with drug paraphernalia and acknowledges that this is more than a local issue. A young mother who has faced difficult times talks about how she found out about ways to volunteer and help others in a similar situation. Said mum is also keen to help with the festival road closure squad on the weekend. A young skater, arm in plaster, describes how his group of friends have developed through their interest in blading, skating and tricking. Discussing how the group formation transcended the boundaries of race, religion and even appearance. He eloquently describes an ethos that is about equality, respect and awareness. We meet some of those starting their after school trek from one end of Maindee to the other and talk of GCSE’s, of further hopes and of very real issues. And throughout the day there is more… much more including a fog of complaints about the lack of support or provision.
In this originally unpromising location we were left feeling differently. Promising feels like a cautious teachers assessment of progress but here we should embellish on its positive connotation and perhaps reflect on it’s further meaning.
Tomorrow we spend time at Jubilee Gardens and look forward to reestablishing some new acquaintances.
Gareth
Finding Maindee is a commission by Maindee Festival, supported by Arts Council of Wales