A tradition that spans over a hundred years has returned to a Van Wert County church.
Salem Presbyterian Church in Venedocia put on their 103 Gymanfa Ganu Welsh festival of song. The event was started back in 1915 to celebrate the Welsh heritage of Venedocia's settlers. The songs are performed in a four-part harmony as per Welsh tradition.
If you do not know Welsh, no need to worry. You do not have to know Welsh in order to participate.
"We sing most all the songs in English and they're all very familiar to us," says Kathy Pugh McCollow, Music Committee President from Salem Presbyterian Church. "There are just two hymns [in Welsh] that are pretty familiar to us because we were all taught to sing those in Welsh."
This year's director was Welshman Trefor Williams. Williams has directed the program seven times before but this year will be his last as he is moving home to Wales later this month (9/2/18).
