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ST.TUDNO AND ST TUDNO'S CHURCH
Link to Home page SANT TUDNO AC EGLWYS SANT TUDNO

Welcome to St. Tudno’s Church
Croeso i Eglwys Sant Tudno


The ancient church of St. Tudno is a place of pilgrimage, peace and prayer and is an active place of worship within the Parish of Llandudno, including weekly open air services during the summer. 

The first open air service in 2010 will be on Sunday May 30 at 11.00 am and the final service will be on Sunday 26 September.  The Parish provides a taxi to the Sunday morning services. 
There are also a number of special services during the year and the first of these in 2010 will be the Easter Vigil on Saturday 3 April, while the last will be Carols by Candlelight on Sunday 19 December at 3.00 pm and at 5.00 pm.  Please use this link to see the list of services at St. Tudno's  in 2010, while details other services and events in the Parish can be found on the Calendar and Special Events pages. 

A Friends of St. Tudno's Church Group has now been formed and welcomes anyone who would like to join St. Tudno's extended family.  Please see the Friends' web page for further details. 

We hope that you will be able to visit St. Tudno's and a warm welcome awaits you at our services.  If you are unable to visit in person, we hope that visiting this web site will help you to experience something of this very special place, where Christians have been worshiping for more than 1400 years.

Open air service at St. Tudno's Church

The church is open every day from April till October and on Saturdays, Sundays, Wednesdays and bank holidays from November till March, weather permitting.  Visitors are encouraged to sign the Visitors' Book and to write prayer requests in another book.  When the church is closed each day, prayers are said for all who have asked and for all visitors.

A prayer for all who visit St. Tudno’s Church:

Father God, who led St. Tudno
To this blessed and holy place,
Lead us through life’s joys and sorrows,
Help us feel your peace and grace.

Amen


If you would like more information on St. Tudno's Church, please click here to contact one of the wardens  or the Rector.  Please see the map for directions to the church.   For the Sunday morning services, transport is available between Holy Trinity Church in Llandudno town centre and St. Tudno's Church.  

Thank you for visiting
 Diolch am eich ymweliad

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St. Tudno

St Tudno window

Window in Holy Trinity Church
In the sixth century the young Tudno (pronounced “Tidno”) entered the monastery of Bangor is Coed, near Chester, which was renowned for its learning, patriotism and missionary zeal. In faith, Tudno then came to the ancient rock of the Great Orme and climbed the steep paths of the windswept headland to bring to the little round stone huts the message of Christianity. 

St. Tudno’s Church, on the Great Orme, is an emblem in stone of the witness of men down the ages to the faith first brought to this part by Tudno, Saint and Confessor. 

St. Tudno is now the patron saint of Llandudno and his feast day is celebrated on 5th June.



Extract from T.F. Wynne's booklet  St. Tudno and St. Tudno’s Church,
available from the church
Celtic cross

One of many Celtic crosses in the churchyard

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St. Tudno's Church

St Tudno's Church

St. Tudno founded his cell on the Great Orme in the sixth century but no trace of the original building remains.  The present church was built in the 12th century but extended in the 15th century.  In 1839 the roof was damaged by a severe storm and it was decided not to repair the church but to build a new church nearer the centre of what was then the village of Llandudno.

St Tudno's Church from NW

In 1840 St. George's Church was built in Church Walks and served the mainly Welsh-speaking population.  St. Tudno’s Church was neglected until 1855 when an appeal was made for £100 to repair the roof and Mr. W.H. Reece of Birmingham and Plas Tudno, Llandudno, "gratefully resolved to restore the church at his sole cost as a thank offering for Divine Goodness".  The repair work began on St. Tudno’s day and the church was re-opened for public service on St. Luke’s day (18th October) 1855.


Stigmata boss
Stigmata boss
The oldest part of the present building is the north wall of the nave, which dates from the 12th century.  The font dates back to the 12th century and fixed to the south wall are two fine old stone coffin lids, which date back to the 13th century.  On either side of the east window are painted tablets with the Lord's Prayer, the Creed and the Ten Commandments in the Welsh language. 

In the roof is a wood carving, above the sanctuary step where people kneel to receive Holy Communion.  This is the stigmata, or representation of the five wounds of our Saviour, which depicts the two hands, the two feet and the side, each bearing a wound.  There is a similar boss in the neighbouring church of Llanrhos.  Obviously the work of a local craftsman, these two bosses are thought to be the only examples of their kind in the country.


Information from T.F. Wynne's booklet  St. Tudno and St. Tudno’s Church, available from the church

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 St Tudno’s Churchyard

The churchyard, within the boundary wall surrounding the church, was for many years the main burial place for the people of Llandudno, whose coffins and gravestones had to be brought up the steep roads of the Great Orme.   The earliest inscribed stones date from the 18th century and can be found close to the south wall of the church. 

St Tudno's churchyard

St. Tudno's churchyard has been closed for burials for many years and the Church in Wales regulations do not permit scattering of ashes in churchyards.  Please please click here to contact one of the wardens or the Rector if you wish to locate a particular grave in the churchyard.  However, there is often confusion as to whether a grave “on the Orme” is in the churchyard or in the adjoining Cemetery, which is administered by Conwy County Borough Council (01492 544677).

The large cemetery and the cemetery chapel are shown in the foreground of this photograph.  Just beyond the cemetery are St. Tudno's Church and churchyard, surrounded by a boundary wall. 

The cemetery opened in September 1903 and the majority of burials after this time would have been in the cemetery rather than the churchyard. 
Cemetery and St. Tudno's Church and churchyard


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Children

Sophia's drawing
Children are very welcome at St. Tudno's.  The open air services are ideal for children: the service style is relaxed with plenty of hymns, there are interesting things to look at (birds, boats on the sea, maybe even some of the Great Orme goats), younger children can wander about and older ones might like to ring the bell before the service (it's quite a small bell) or help to take the collection. 

Don't worry if the service is inside the church instead of outside - everyone is welcome and no one minds a bit of noise. 

Many thanks to Sophia (aged 8) for this lovely, and very accurate, picture of St. Tudno's, which she drew during an open air service.


Pet Blessing service





Dogs


Dogs are very welcome and there are some who are regular members of the congregation.  Nobody minds if they try to join in the hymns!

Don't worry if the service is inside the church instead of outside - dogs are welcome to come in too. 

If your dog is thirsty, a bowl of water can be found in the porch.

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News, services and events in 2010

Please use this link for a list of all services

Sponsor-a-Slate
The roof of St. Tudno's Church needs to be replaced and there is an oportunity to have your name on the new roof for £10.00 a slate.  Sponsor-a-Slate is a fundraising scheme being organised by the Friends of St. Tudno's Church.  In June 2010 this appeal passed the half-way point when the Bishop of Bangor sponsored the 500th slate.  Please see the Sponsor-a-Slate page for further information and sponsor forms. 


Morning Prayer
Morning Prayer is said at St. Tudno's at 9.00 am every Saturday throughout the year (weather permitting). 


Open air services
Open air services are held at St. Tudno's at 11.00 am on Sundays during the summer, though if the weather is poor the service will be held in the church. 

The first open air service in 2010 will be on Sunday May 30 at 11.00 am and the final service will be on Sunday 26 September. 
On the first Sunday in the month, the open air service is followed by a shortened Eucharist service in the church. 

During the summer, the parish provides a taxi service between Holy Trinity Church in Llandudno and St. Tudno's Church for the Sunday morning services.  The taxi(s) depart from Trinity Square, outside the entrance to Holy Trinity Church, at 10.30 am and will return from St. Tudno's at 12.00 noon (this allows time to attend the short Eucharist service on the first Sunday in each month).  The service is free to the users but donations towards the cost are welcome. 


Compline by Candlelight

Once a month during the summer there is a service of Compline by Candlelight in the church at 7.30 pm.  The services in 2010 will be on the following dates.
Tuesday 8 June
Tuesday 13 July
Tuesday 10 August
Tuesday 14 September


Fair
Saturday  4 September, 10.00 am – 2.00 pm

Stalls, refreshments, soft toy bungee jump – is your soft toy brave enough?


In aid of re-roofing St. Tudno’s Church


Ray Millington’s Open House
Saturday 18 September
10.00 am – 4.00 pm

1 Pine Grove Court, Rhos-on-Sea

Refreshments, etc

In aid of re-roofing St. Tudno’s Church on the Great Orme



Open Churches Day
St. Tudno's will again be taking part in the national Open Churches Day on Saturday 18 September.  The church will be "manned" from 10.00 am - 5.00 pm and the Friends of St. Tudno's Church will be serving refreshments and selling their special souvenirs, Christmas cards and photographs of the Great Orme.  There will also be opportunities to have a guided tour of the church, consult the churchyar records and take part in Sponsor-a-Slate.


Evening Prayer
The last service of the summer season will be Evening Prayer at 4.00 pm on Sunday 26 September.  The service will be followed by tea and cakes. 


Carols by Candlelight
The annual services of Carols by Candlelight will be on Sunday 19 December at 3.00 pm and at 5.00 pm.  There are two services as the church is small and the service is very popular.  Please note that there is no heating in the church - but the welcome will be very warm!  The paths will be lit, weather permitting.


Please use this link to see the full list of services at St. Tudno's  in 2010
Please use this link to see photographs and details of similar services and events in 2009

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Recent events

Songs of Praise
The annual open air Songs of Praise was held on Sunday 28 August at 4.00 pm.  Unfortunately, due to very high winds, the service was actually held in the church. 

Concelebrated Eucharist
St. Tudno's was pleased to welcome the Bangor and St. Asaph branch of the Society of Catholic Priests, who again held their annual Concelebrated Eucharist in the church.  The service was on Tuesday 29 June at 7.00 pm and the main celebrant was Bishop Andrew of Bangor. 
SCP service at St. Tudno's Church


Country Park Anniversary Service
The open air service on Sunday 6 June was a special one to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Great Orme Country Park


St. Tudno's Day
Pilgrims at Holy Trinity ChurchOur Patronal Festival was on Saturday 5 June.  Celebrations began with a short act of worship at Holy Trinity Church at noon.  This was followed by a pilgrimage walk up the Great Orme to St. Tudno's Church. 

There were pauses for prayers and reflections (and lunch) on the way and there was an act of dedication at St. Tudno's Well, which we visited by kind permission of the landowner. 

At 3.00 pm there was a Eucharist service in St. Tudno's Church, at which Llandudno Town Council was represented by the Mayor of Llandudno, Councillor Mrs. Ann Yates.  The service was followed by tea and cakes in the church grounds.






Pilgrims on the Great Orme       Pilgrims on the Great Orme  The Mayor of Llandudno

Rally car passes St. Tudno's Church

During the day the road past St. Tudno's was closed for the "Three Castles Classic Welsh Trial" for classic cars, so it was not possbile for cars to leave until 5.00 pm but the churchyard offered a "grandstand view" of this part of the rally!














Spring working party
The annual working party was held on Saturday 15 May, starting at 10.00 am.  This will included setting out the benches for the open air services, checking stability of the headstones and cleaning and tidying the church and churchyard.  Tea and cakes were provided and there were jobs to suit everyone!


Spring Fair
The Friends of St. Tudno's Church Spring Fair was held at Holy Trinity Church on Saturday 17 April and was well attended.  The Friends are raising money towards re-roofing St. Tudno's and as part of this are offering the opportunity for anyone to Sponsor-a-Slate


Easter Vigil
The Easter Vigil was held at St. Tudno's on Saturday 3 April.  The service began with lighting of the new fire and blessing of the Pascal Candle.
Easter vigil


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Winter at St. Tudno's

St. Tudno's Church in the snow in 2010
St. Tudno's Church in the snow in January 2010.


Carols by Candlelight 2009
The annual services of Carols by Candlelight were held at 3.00 pm and at 5.00 pm on Sunday 20 December and these photographs were taken at and after the second service.  Many people braved the "severe weather" warnings to attend the services but instead of snow the day ended with a clear, starlit night.  The candles and path lights were prepared by the Friends of St. Tudno's Church and there are more photographs on the Friends of St. Tudno's Church and Special Events pages. 
St. Tudno's Church

St. Tudno's Church



Please use these links for information on and photographs of events and services at St. Tudno's during 2006-7, 2008 and in 2009


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Prayers

These prayers were written by Revd Jane Allen, for some of our St. Tudno prayer cards and were inspired by the presence of God which can be felt in the church and the beauty of the surrounding countryside.

Lord and Father, we thank you for the beauty of this place which you created.

In all the uncertainties of our world, may the hills which stand steadfast and sure about us speak of the steadfastness of your love; may the sea around us with its eternal ebb and flow keep us aware of your ever-flowing grace; may the open sky above us remind us that your mercy is always offered to us. 

Help us to remember that we are part of your Creation and that you cherish us and hold us in the palm of your hand. 

Amen
Great Orme near St Tudno's Church
Great Orme near St. Tudno’s Church




Snowdonia fron the Great Orme
Snowdonia from the Great Orme
Loving Father, when the way seems difficult, when the day seems weary, when we are troubled, or lonely, or sad, lift us up into your presence, just as the hills are lifted up. 

Comfort us with the knowledge of your love, nourish us with the beauty of mountain and valley, sea and sky spread out before us. 

Thus strengthened and refreshed, may we journey on, trusting that you will guide us in the steep places, show us the pathway when it is hidden or uneven, walk with us wherever our road may lead. 

We ask this in the name of your dear Son, who is the way, the truth and the life. 

Amen



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Please use these links for websites with information on Llandudno and the Great Orme and on events and businesses in Llandudno
Information on other churches in Llandudno can be found on the Cytûn (Churches Together in Llandudno) website: 
Cytûn - Llandudno Churches Together
Information on other ancient churches in Wales can be found at this website:  http://attractions.walesdirectory.co.uk/Churches_and_Chapels.htm 




Photographs © C. Jones
Site map                                Web site co-ordinator           Last updated: August 2010