Churches

   dWales is known for its music for starters the tune Blaenwern of the well known Wesley hymn Love Divine, sung at marriages, funerals and state occasions, is named after Blaen-wern Farm near Tuothe Llys-y-frân Reservoir, where author William Penfro (Welsh for Pembroke) Rollands sent his son to stay with friends to convalesce. 

Christianity was brought to Pembrokeshire along time ago in 500AD. The county has been  blessed with a number of early saints such as St David, St Teilo, St Justinian, St Ishmael, St Brynach and St Caradog and with them come many colourful myths and legends. My favourite I reckon concerns St Justinian who was allegedly murdered on Ramsey Island by having his head cut off, he then picked it up and walked across the water to the mainland. 

St David himself, the patron saint of Wales, was born at St Non's. St Non is reckoned to have been his mother, she was born around 475. According to legend gave birth to her son on the cliff side spot in the middle of a storm. It was said she was in so much pain, that she gripped the rocks around her making permanent marks in the cliffside. It's unknown when the ruined chapel was first built, but it was believed to have been originally the site of St Non's house and is one of the oldest Christian buildings in Wales.

Saints and Stones have reproduced the ancient walks of the old saints including one from St Ishmael's to Roch. There are still old saints resident in Roch to this day. 

Moving closer in time. Newcastle Emlyn is the grave of the very influential Welsh minister Martin Lloyd Jones 1899-1981. As pointed out elsewhere Laura and I nearly had our first date hearing him preach in Manchester. 

On the west coast near Dale and Marloes is The Hookses. The retreat of the great Anglican theologian John Stott 1921-2011 where he wrote  many of his books. It is still used as a retreat which I assume is bookable somehow, but you might be able to turn up at random for a cup of tea and Welsh cake. If you do spot a handyman called Peter Cole please pass on my regards and let him know there are a couple of light bulbs needing replacement at Trinity. 

Wales is known for its music for starters the tune Blaenwern of the lknown Wesley hymn Love Divine, sung at marriages, funerals and state occasions, is named after Blaen-wern Farm near Tufton anthe Llys-y-frân Reservoir, where author William Penfro (Welsh for Pembroke) Rollands sent his son to stay with friends to convalesce. 

Not a million miles away in Carmarthenshire, Cath Woolridge with husband Dai founders of Sound of Wales were born in Ammanford 

It's a bit sad to see the many old preaching houses /churches that are now not in use for their original purpose. However it is good to see new churches popping up in community centres etc in Saundersfoot, Cardigan, Lamphey, Narberth, Carmarthen, to name a few, by people who are inspired to bring the good news of Jesus to local people in a way that is understandable and real.