Little Remains

"Originally owned by the Bishop of Llandaff, its name is said to come from 'God's Plot'. Little remains of its holier days. It is more commonly known for its once vast steelworks and rows of tightly-knit houses." So begins the archived BBC Wales' article on Splott. The land of Splott did indeed belong to the Bishop of Llandaff, in some bygone age (probably in an age when the Bishop was absent from the diocese: here, there, everywhere, except at home!) But it begs the question of whether or not that brash statement is correct at all. Yes, of course, since the marshy, boggy splatt-like land of Splott has given way to industry and homes much has changed, much has happened, much has disappeared, emerged and converged. But throughout it all, and in the present day, is there really 'little remaining' of the so called 'holier days?' What really are the remains of holiness in Splott? Is there any to be found?

I have an interest, of course, appointed as I am as priest to the parish of St Saviour, with a church that stands on the corner of Splott Road and Carlisle Street. There the stones have stood for over 120 years, watching the changes, and welcoming the steady stream of people flowing through its doors to worship and wonder. But it's the people who inhabit this house of the church that are the important ones. They, after all, are the ones who, in so many ways, have heard the call to holiness. But there are other church communities too. Behind St Saviour's stands St Alban's, home to the Roman Catholic Community and, further down Splott Road, stands the Methodist Church and further on still the Salvation Army and other churches too. There still remains those who yearn for holiness, those who gather and digress from the norm to try to discover a sense of holiness in their lives in this land called Splott!

When I began at St Saviour's I inherited what could be termed a Mission Statement or a slogan, a catchphrase to catch your attention 'St Saviour's Church: A place to grow in the love of God.' I'm not certain how or when it was adopted or why it was adopted at all. But it is both a bold and humble statement. It shows a confidence that is not couched in pride but rather passion. It shows that the people who posed this pointed phrase are not (and never claim to be) perfect and that they, too, are on a journey. It shows that they too are growing, moving, searching, seeking, on their way, stumbling at times yet all too certain of the love that makes their journey possible, the love that makes their steps and steering a more than suitable way for the people of Splott. It shows them to be a people with an open invitation and that they have something worth inviting people to. We do not claim to be great or good. In fact, we are rather 'little' people: little remains of holiness in a world where, for so many, the word means little at all.

'Who has despised the day of small things?’ we are asked in the book of Zechariah. (Zechariah 4:10) The world is full of so many small things, seemingly insignificant circumstances and events, so many little things that can easily be overlooked but are, in reality, so important and profound. 'We are asked to do no great thing,' said Mother Teresa, 'only small things done with great love.' God is able to make a mountain out of a molehill, he is able to do great things with the smallest seed, he is able to take our small ‘yes’ to him and make our lives something beautiful and wonderful. Remember how Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish, and still had food left over? (Luke 9: 12 – 17) Remember how he said that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed? ‘When sown in the ground it is smaller than any other seed, but once sown it springs up and grows taller than any other plant, and forms branches so large that birds can roost in its shade’ (Mark 4: 30-32). Yes, with God, small really is beautiful!

Perhaps, on one level, little remains of the former so called 'holier days' of Splott but there are many 'little remains' of holiness: small seeds, small lights, little lives (in the best sense of the word), people who are trying to find the way in the world. And for that we are grateful and we wait and wonder what God will do with us.

This blog then, I hope, will reflect and record, explore and express what we, the people who inhabit the house of St Saviour's in Splott, strive for and seek. The people who, in some small way, share the 'little remains' of holiness and love. Sometimes the entries will be a little elaborate and more involved and, on other occasions, will simply record an item of news or bring something to the attention of those who happen to come this way. Either way, I hope it will serve some purpose to someone!

So, yes, there are little remains of holiness in Splott!