Thursday, May 16, 2019

People of Wales immigrated to Fond du Lac and Winnebago counties in the 1800s, building five churches and bringing with them their worship practice of singing hymns in four-part harmony. Members of the Peniel Chapel in rural Eldorado began in 1923 to share their event, Gymanfa Ganu (translated as Gathering for Singing), which continues today.

At the 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday, May 16, History at Home programs at the Fond du Lac Public Library, Peniel Welsh Chapel Association board members Carolee Schultz, Tom White and Diane Owens Lemke will talk about the chapel and the Oshkosh Welsh Settlement. They’ll talk about efforts to renovate the chapel, one of only two churches of the original five still standing. They might even share a traditional song or two in the Gymanfa Ganu mode, which is celebrated as an annual event at Welsh churches across Wisconsin. The program is free; no registration required.