Our Aims
The Cambrian Coast Evangelical Trust is a Christian charity who exist to facilitate gospel work on the Llŷn Peninsula. The Trust owns three houses; Olgra and Olgra Bach in Abersoch, and Pendorlan in Nefyn. The houses were purchased through gifts and donations to provide practical bases for the Scripture Union Beach Missions at Abersoch and Nefyn each year.
The Trust also lets the houses as self-catering holiday accommodation when they are not being used by the Beach Mission teams. In particular we hope to support the work of churches and promote a Christian witness in Abersoch and Nefyn by providing affordable accommodation suitable for families, church groups and youth groups.
The Trust also lets the houses as self-catering holiday accommodation when they are not being used by the Beach Mission teams. In particular we hope to support the work of churches and promote a Christian witness in Abersoch and Nefyn by providing affordable accommodation suitable for families, church groups and youth groups.
Our Future
We have recently completed a renovation of Olgra Bach. This was made possible through the generous gifts of supporters of CCET so that the property could be better equipped to support Christian ministry. Our hope is to continue renovations to our other properties so that they may be used to support Christian ministry throughout the year.
Our History
The Cambrian Coast Evangelical Trust was set up in 1969 to purchase Olgra as a base for the Abersoch Beach Mission team. Since then the trust has also been able to purchase Olgra Bach (1986) to provide further accommodation for the Abersoch team and Pendorlan (1978) as a base for the Nefyn Beach Mission team.
Olgra & Olgra Bach
In the early 1960s the Abersoch mission team was based at Fron Oleu, a rented house on the Sarn Bach Road. The increasing number of boats on the Abersoch main beach made it difficult for the mission to make its presence felt and the size of the Warren Caravan site was increasing, so over the next few years the focus of the mission switched to working on the Warren beach. When Fron Oleu ceased to be available, the mission was able to rent Isgarth in Llanbedrog and the team commuted from there to the Warren. In 1968 we were warned that Isgarth would not be available for mission use in 1970 and possibly not even in 1969.
Derek Simmons, an electrical contractor who owned a caravan on the Warren and whose children came to the mission, was one of those who suggested the purchase of a property for the use of the mission team. In February 1969 David Cundy (leader of the Abersoch mission, and a maths teacher in a London school) and Derek visited Abersoch (in a snowstorm!) to look at Olgra. Shortly afterwards a meeting was held at the Clothworkers Hall in the City of London to discuss the formation of the trust. John Laird (who had retired as General Secretary of Scripture Union the previous year, and whose daughter Janet was associate leader of the Abersoch mission) was in the chair. Also present were Revd Nick Carr, who owned a cottage near Abersoch and whose seven children were regular attenders at the mission, Derek Simmons, David Cundy and Chris Mowll, John Laird’s son-in-law, who worked at the Clothworkers Hall. As we were agreeing to set up a charitable trust to buy and look after Olgra, John quietly asked if we had the funds to do this. Within a few minutes promises of sufficient gifts and loans were made to cover the purchase of Olgra. The mission had been running its teenage work under the title Cambrian Coast Club, and so the trust decided to borrow that name. In retrospect, it probably meant to call itself the Cambrian Coast Evangelistic Trust, but nobody queried the title at the time. (It may also have been relevant that John Laird was president of the Evangelical Alliance at the time.) The trust deed is dated 2nd June 1969 and the founding trustees were Nick Carr (chairman), David Cundy (secretary), Derek Simmons, Tom Jones (treasurer), a former house parent of the Abersoch mission team, John Vevar, rector of Botwnnog, and Cyril Grove, a Llanbedrog resident and supporter of the mission. Nick had recently left the family business (Carr’s of Carlisle – biscuits), been ordained and was currently a curate in Reigate; Cyril was a company director (ladies ‘foundations’, I seem to remember) and Tom was an estate agent (and chartered auctioneer), living and working in Purley, Surrey.
In a further development, Olgra Bach, the adjacent property to Olgra, was purchased by the Trust in 1986.
Derek Simmons, an electrical contractor who owned a caravan on the Warren and whose children came to the mission, was one of those who suggested the purchase of a property for the use of the mission team. In February 1969 David Cundy (leader of the Abersoch mission, and a maths teacher in a London school) and Derek visited Abersoch (in a snowstorm!) to look at Olgra. Shortly afterwards a meeting was held at the Clothworkers Hall in the City of London to discuss the formation of the trust. John Laird (who had retired as General Secretary of Scripture Union the previous year, and whose daughter Janet was associate leader of the Abersoch mission) was in the chair. Also present were Revd Nick Carr, who owned a cottage near Abersoch and whose seven children were regular attenders at the mission, Derek Simmons, David Cundy and Chris Mowll, John Laird’s son-in-law, who worked at the Clothworkers Hall. As we were agreeing to set up a charitable trust to buy and look after Olgra, John quietly asked if we had the funds to do this. Within a few minutes promises of sufficient gifts and loans were made to cover the purchase of Olgra. The mission had been running its teenage work under the title Cambrian Coast Club, and so the trust decided to borrow that name. In retrospect, it probably meant to call itself the Cambrian Coast Evangelistic Trust, but nobody queried the title at the time. (It may also have been relevant that John Laird was president of the Evangelical Alliance at the time.) The trust deed is dated 2nd June 1969 and the founding trustees were Nick Carr (chairman), David Cundy (secretary), Derek Simmons, Tom Jones (treasurer), a former house parent of the Abersoch mission team, John Vevar, rector of Botwnnog, and Cyril Grove, a Llanbedrog resident and supporter of the mission. Nick had recently left the family business (Carr’s of Carlisle – biscuits), been ordained and was currently a curate in Reigate; Cyril was a company director (ladies ‘foundations’, I seem to remember) and Tom was an estate agent (and chartered auctioneer), living and working in Purley, Surrey.
In a further development, Olgra Bach, the adjacent property to Olgra, was purchased by the Trust in 1986.
Pendorlan
Pendorlan was purchased by CCET in 1978, however it was initially purchased for the benefit of the Nefyn Mission, then known as the CSSM by George Everard in 1966 so that the C.S.S.M., might have a secure base for its work.
George Everard was a retired headmaster from Southport who lived with his wife Kitty in Morfa Nefyn. He was the organist at St Mary’s Church in Morfa Nefyn and he was a strong and enthusiastic supporter of the C.S.S.M. George died in 1975 and subsequently Kitty sold Pendorlan to the Cambrian Coast Evangelical Trust at a favourable price in 1978. Kitty died in 1979: she and George are buried in St Mary’s churchyard Morfa Nefyn, where their headstone reads “Together they faithfully served the Lord locally through the C.S.S.M”. Tony and Joan Wragg were the grateful Mission leaders when the house was procured in 1966. The role of the Everards in securing the future of the Mission at a time of uncertainty must be thankfully remembered.
In 1977 the future of a base for the Nefyn mission was once more in doubt. However, the leader at the time, Peter Green, was informed that the Abersoch mission had been in a similar position some years ago and that the Cambrian Coast Evangelical Trust had been formed and consequently purchased a property, Olgra, in Abersoch. Liaison between Peter and the CCET trustees took place, along with bold fundraising activities from members of the team and supporters of the mission. A large amount of money was raised and loans were offered towards the £12,000 asking price. The Trust accepted the plans from the Nefyn group and three new trustees were accepted to represent the interests of Pendorlan. They were Peter Green, Laurie Hamilton and Walter Hurst. The purchase was undertaken in 1978.
The Trust has changed its trustees over the years but has managed all 3 properties. David Cundy is the only living member of the original trustees and still serves faithfully as treasurer of the Trust.
George Everard was a retired headmaster from Southport who lived with his wife Kitty in Morfa Nefyn. He was the organist at St Mary’s Church in Morfa Nefyn and he was a strong and enthusiastic supporter of the C.S.S.M. George died in 1975 and subsequently Kitty sold Pendorlan to the Cambrian Coast Evangelical Trust at a favourable price in 1978. Kitty died in 1979: she and George are buried in St Mary’s churchyard Morfa Nefyn, where their headstone reads “Together they faithfully served the Lord locally through the C.S.S.M”. Tony and Joan Wragg were the grateful Mission leaders when the house was procured in 1966. The role of the Everards in securing the future of the Mission at a time of uncertainty must be thankfully remembered.
In 1977 the future of a base for the Nefyn mission was once more in doubt. However, the leader at the time, Peter Green, was informed that the Abersoch mission had been in a similar position some years ago and that the Cambrian Coast Evangelical Trust had been formed and consequently purchased a property, Olgra, in Abersoch. Liaison between Peter and the CCET trustees took place, along with bold fundraising activities from members of the team and supporters of the mission. A large amount of money was raised and loans were offered towards the £12,000 asking price. The Trust accepted the plans from the Nefyn group and three new trustees were accepted to represent the interests of Pendorlan. They were Peter Green, Laurie Hamilton and Walter Hurst. The purchase was undertaken in 1978.
The Trust has changed its trustees over the years but has managed all 3 properties. David Cundy is the only living member of the original trustees and still serves faithfully as treasurer of the Trust.