Stones Shout Out - revitalising five ancient north Wales Churches

Working strategically with the diocese of Bangor, local area ministers and their architects we are producing a masterplan based on RIBA Stage 2 development plans for the cathedral of St Deiniol - which celebrates its 1500th anniversary in 2025 - and three other churches founded during the Age of Celtic Saints by St Beuno, St Cadfan and St Cybi - in the old Roman fort on the edge of empire in Holyhead at the tip of Anglesey - as well as St Mary’s Conwy, the former Cistercian abbey now at the centre of a World Heritage Site.

The overarching aim is to retain the numinosity of these ancient places of worship while making them more accessible and welcoming for worship, community use and visitors. We plan to introduce new facilities and renewable heating and energy regeneration. We want to tell the stories of the ancient churches better and make it possible for wider audiences to visit and contribute to the development of these extraordinary buildings, their settings and their future.

There is huge potential for partnership work including on archeological and historic research, for improving community facilities, biodiversity in the churchyards and in the materials we use, for reviving ancient pilgrimage routes we hope with champing in the churches and by providing unusual place so stay. The plans include a social enterprise cafe in an ancient chapel, better display of the stone inscribed with oldest written Welsh and other incised stones and treasures, to tell the stories of the Princes of Gynedd and much more.

We are currently busy consulting with ministry area councils and communities and many experts and partners.

We hope you will join us on the journey.