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Dictionary

Words on this page

Bishop

‘Bishop’ comes from the Greek word for ‘overseer’. So a bishop is a senior Christian minister authorised to have oversight for God’s people. As well as duties given to deacons and priests, bishops confirm and ordain.

Diocese

‘Diocese’ refers to the geographical territory in which a bishop exercises oversight. The Church in Wales is divided into six dioceses each with its own cathedral in which is housed the cathedra (the bishop’s ‘chair’ or ‘throne’).

Holy Communion

At Holy Communion blessed bread and wine is shared, by which we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The congregation gives thanks for Jesus’ life, his death and resurrection and his continuing presence. See also Eucharist.

Home Pobl Dewi: December 2023 A unique testimonial

A unique testimonial

100 Objects Book Cover

Time to Tell: St Davids Diocese in 100 Objects

Author: Caroline Jones

Publisher: The Author 2023

ISBN: 978-1-739509309

Price: £32 fromcaroline.jones08@btinternet.com / 07530959547

This unique celebration of art works, artefacts and architectural features to be found in churches across the Diocese of St Davids takes us from a 5th Century Romano-Christian carved boulder at St Clears to a 21st Century Cedar Covid Chair at Golden Grove. It is quite simply a feast to delight our eyes, hearts and minds.

To mark the designation of 2023 as a Year of Pilgrimage, Revd Dr Caroline Jones invited churches to nominate objects for inclusion in a collection compiled as a companion to fascinate, inform and encourage journeys of faith and spiritual nourishment whether undertaken physically or virtually.

In his introduction to England’s Thousand Best Churches Simon Jenkins describes how, into their Parish Churches, “men and women have for centuries poured their faith, joy, sorrow, labour and love.” Now our Diocese has its own testimonial to that self-same dedication.

Each object is pictured with a commentary telling its story, explaining its significance and pointing to its contemporary relevance. Here are reminders of how local communities lived, worshipped, and marked rites of passage over 16 centuries. Dr Jones has taken the trouble to research the often idiosyncratic role of Church furnishings and fittings - bells, organs, lychgates etc - and shares her findings with infectious enthusiasm.

We can see a Holy Well at Llanwnda where two hermits fell out with each other in the 6th century, an early Welsh Bible in St Davids Cathedral and a Miner’s Lamp Millennium Window at Gorslas. relics from significant events in the history of Wales such as a Bible burnt during the failed French invasion of Fishguard in 1797, and distinctive tributes to Welsh celebrities such as R.S. Thomas, Dylan Thomas, Bishop Harvard and Phil Bennett underline the role of churches in preserving the corporate memory of a community.

But it is staple features such as quaint carvings, sanctuary furnishings and stained glass windows which capture changes in taste, technique and beliefs across the centuries.

The photographs are consistently impressive with every detail lovingly and vividly brought to our notice. These complement a sprinkling of Caroline Jones’ own paintings mostly relating to churches in the Diocese where she has ministered. She is an accomplished artist.

All in all, this wonderful collection succeeds in capturing essential features characterising our unique corner of God’s vineyard. My personal favourites include the Howard Memorial (Rudbaxton), the WW2 Memorial for Mollie the Dispatch Rider (Garnant), and the concrete icon in St Martin’s, Haverfordwest. What will your favourites be I wonder?

John Saxbee