Recently I visited the home of Mary Jones (1784-1864) in Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, Wales.
As mentioned in a previous post I have visited places associated with the story of Mary Jones and her Bible over the past few years.
My intrigue in this historic story is continuing to broaden.
On this leg of my journey we returned to Bala and to the grave of Thomas Charles eventually making our way to the home of Mary Jones.
It was from Llanfihangel-y-Pennant that Mary worked and saved for around six years to buy her Bible. From this house (known locally as Tyn-y-ddol) Mary set off on her voyage to walk around 26 miles across the Welsh countryside to get her Welsh Bible from Thomas Charles. The story is legendary!
For me however, visiting this house is like being on a Protestant pilgrimage. It’s a beautiful little place and there’s a local church where the parents of Mary Jones are buried. Contrary to the published Sunday school versions of the story Mary’s father had died long before she got her Bible. Jacob Jones died in “1789” and his gravestone confirms this. At that time Mary Jones would have been about 4 years old.
Nevertheless the story is true in it’s essence and it’s impact on history is incredible.
Simon Peter Sutherland 