Official opening for Mary Jones World visitor centre

Mary Jones World, a new visitor and education centre, created by Bible Society on the edge of Lake Bala in North Wales, will be officially opened on Sunday 5 October.

The centre will give people the opportunity to discover the story of Mary Jones and Thomas Charles and learn about the impact of the Bible, not only in Wales, but the rest of the world.

In 1800, 15 year-old Mary Jones walked 26 miles from Llanfihangel-y-Pennant to Bala to purchase a Bible from Revd Thomas Charles. Mary had saved for six years and Revd Charles was so moved by her determination to own a Bible that he helped establish Bible Society four years later. He is one of a number of notable figures buried in the churchyard at Llanycil near Bala.

Bible Society Group Chief Executive, James Catford, says, ‘200 years after Mary Jones walked to Bala to buy her Bible, we’re still enabling people in the UK and abroad to access the Bible. And that story will be told at Mary Jones World.’

Workmen have been on the site at the church since February this year. The Grade 2 listed building has been transformed using traditional materials. It has under floor heating supplied from two 300-foot boreholes dug on the site. The site at Llanycil has been a place of Christian worship for more than 1,500 years and a team of archaeologists has monitored all the excavations.

Head of Bible Society Wales, Christine Daniel says, ‘Mary Jones World is a hugely exciting development for Bible Society, Wales and the world. The official opening on 5 October will be a significant day. The centre will demonstrate that the story of Mary Jones and Thomas Charles is not simply of historical note, but ongoing significance today.’

Hear more from Christine Daniel, Head of Bible Society Wales.