A BISHOP has added the 500th slate to repair the roof of a Great Orme church.
Rev. Andrew John, the Bishop of Bangor, has supported a fundraising campaign to re-roof St Tudno’s Church in Llandudno.
In 2009 friends of the church made a plea to Llandudno residents and visitors to help repair the church roof. Supporters of the cause have paid £10 to sponsor a slate, which will then be inscribed with their names when the church is re-roofed. The foundations of the site date back to the sixth century.
Christine Jones, secretary of the group, said: “We are delighted that Bishop Andrew’s sponsorship marks the half-way point in this part of our fundraising and we are sure that there are many people who would like to join the Bishop in having a slate in their name.”
Canon John Nice, Rector of St Tudno’s Church, said additional funds will need to be raised by applying for grants. He added that friends of the church have applied for Cadw funding, which protects built heritage in Wales, but said the bid was recently rejected. He said: “I think it is because there are so many other buildings that need funding across Wales. There is high demand and limited funding available. We will keep trying and can apply every six months.”
In 1855 the church was saved from ruin by generous benefactor, William Henery Reece, who paid for extensive restoration work as a thank-you to the people the people of Llandudno, after his daughter recovered from ill health in the town.
Mr Reece’s great-granddaughter Anne Morris and her husband Barry, visited Llandudno recently to add their names to the list of sponsor, continuing the maintenance work started by their ancestor.
Rev. Nice said: “People have been very generous. It is because St Tudnos is such a beautiful place, I think it has a special place in peoples’ hearts.”
To sponsor a slate visit the parish website at www.llandudno-parish.org.uk. The church is open every day during the summer and open air services are held at 11am each Sunday, until the end of September.