In just four hours time, Rhuthun/Ruthin sees the start of a fortnight's celebration marking the 700th anniversary of the consecration of St Peter’s Church, interrupted an hour and a half later by a service led by the dean of Westminster, the Very Revd Dr John Hall. His 16th century predecessor was Nantclwyd y Dre-born Gabriel Goodman, who restored St Peter's and the position of Warden (Rector). Today's service will be the third occasion in modern times that a dean of Westminster has been celebrant. Today is therefore the 409th annual occasion of Goodman's commemoration.700 years isn't really that old, for a church. The tiny and attractive St Meugan's Llanrhydd is Rhuthun's mother church, and was founded much earlier, in what is said to be about 400AD, though the present building dates from the 15th century and is therefore actually younger than St Peter's.
St Peter's was built by John de Grey after Reginald, his father, built Rhuthun Castle. Reginald de Grey was of course favoured and rewarded by the English king Edward I during Edward's campaign to deal with rebellious Llywelyn ap Gruffydd.
700 years later, and at the start of the world cup we're all friends again, now, aren't we.
Catch the celebrations at St Peter's from today till 27th June. Promised are memorabilia and floral decorations. Indeed, in an act of serendipity, some will have noticed a wedding there, yesterday, taking full advantage of the floral displays. Quite nice timing and the money saved may have paid for the liverymen, horse and bride's carriage. The highlight of the celebrations, planned from three years ago, clashes with the medieval weekend, which must be disappointing for the parochial church council. Or may be it fits together well.
As of last month, there is a new Warden in our midst. The Revd Stuart Evans was formerly of Rhosllanerchrugog. He has the unenviable task of joining together the chalk of St Peter's with the cheese of SS Mwrog & Mary, Llanfwrog (an obvious and sensible expedient but the two have their differences). With the imminent departure of the vicar of Llanbedr, this leaves just two Anglican priests in the Rhuthun area, one at Rhuthun and one at Llanfair, both of whom are new here.