Home    |    Holy Trinity    |   St.Tudno's   |    Parish life    |    Bells   |    Contacts
Parish of Llandudno
Welcome    |    St Tudno    |     St Tudno's Church    |     St Tudno's Churchyard    |   Children     |    Dogs
Events      |       Prayers       |     Services at St Tudno's      |     Friends of St Tudno's Church       |   Wildlife 
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 2013 will be on Sunday May 22 at 11.00 am and the final service will be on Sunday 29 September.  The Parish provides a taxi to the Sunday morning services. 
There are also a number of special services during the year including Carols by Candlelight.  Please use this link to see the list of services at St. Tudno's  in 2013 - 2014, while details other services and events in the Parish can be found on the Calendar and Special Events pages.  St. Tudno's Day is celebrated on 5 June. 

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

top of page



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

top of page




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

top of page




 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


top of page



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.

top of page


News, services and events in 2013


Opening times
From 1 April to 31 October, St. Tudno's is open every day.
From 1 November to 31 March the church is open weekends, Wednesdays and bank holidays, weather permitting.

 
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 normally be held in the church. 

The first open air service in 2013 will be on Sunday May 26 at 11.00 am and the final service will be on Sunday 29 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 (or at 12.15 pm to allow 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. 



Please use this link to see the full list of services at St. Tudno's  in 2013 - 2014. 


Spring working party
This will be held on saturday 11 May at 10.00 am.  The jobs will include setting out the benches for the open air services, tidying the churchyard and cleaning the church. 

top of page

Recent events

Winter Service Season 2012 - 2013
Durind 2012 - 2013 there was, for the first time, a series of services at St. Tudno's throughout the winter, as shown below.  As a result of this successful experiment, there will be monthly services at St. Tudno's from autumn 2013 - spring 2014. 

November 4th      11.00 a.m. An ‘All Saintstide’ Service

December  23rd   3.00 p.m. & 5.00 p.m. Carols by Candlelight

February 3rd        11.00 a.m. Eucharist for Candlemass Sunday

March 27th (Wed) 7.00 pm A service of Light and Shadows for Holy Week, with Rhoscystennin Parish.  During this service the old Pascal Candle will be extinguished.

March 31st          6.30 a.m. Easter Liturgy for Easter Day: Blessing of the new Easter Candle, Vigil Readings, Renewal of Baptismal Vows and the First Eucharist of Easter.  This service was followed by a shared, cooked breakfast. 

April 28th             11.00 a.m. Eastertide Praise


Easter
At 6.30 am on Sunday 31 March the Easter Liturgy was held at St. Tudno's and included lighting of the new Pascal Candle from a new fire, renewal of Baptismal Vows and the first Eucharist of Easter.  The service was followed by a cooked breakfast, provided by the Friends of St. Tudno's Church.

Easter Vigil


Candlemass
On Sunday 3 February there was a Eucharist for Candlemass, as part of the winter service season.  The service was followed by hot drinks and cakes. 

Candlemass


top of page


Carols by Candlelight

Carols by Candlelight at St. Tudno's Church

The services were held on Sunday 23 December, and were attended by about 120 people at 3.00 pm, including the Holy Trinity Choir, and about 60 at 5.00 pm.  This photograph was taken at the first service and shows the choir performing a carol. 
There are some more photographs on the Special Events and Friends of St. Tudno's pages.


top of page

Remembrance Service
There was a short Service of Remembrance at 9.00 am on Saturday 10 November, for those who lost their lives in the Boer War.  Wreaths were laid at the Boer War memorial in the churchyard by the Mayor of Llandudno, Cllr Mrs Myra Wigzell, and by the Lions Club of Llandudno.  There is another photograph on the Special Events page.

Boer War remembrance

top of page
Winter service season
The new winter service season got off to a good start with a well attended "All Saintstide" service on Sunday 4 November.  In the beautiful weather it was almost tempting to have an open air service!  The service was followed by hot drinks and home made cakes. 


Autumn Working Party
This was on Saturday 13 October.  There was a good turnout on a lovely day and we were able to clean the church, tidy the sheds and churchyard, put away the benches and check the tombstones, as shown below.  There is another photo on the Friends of St. Tudno's page

Working party


top of page

Harvest Thanksgiving Evening Service
This year we revived an old tradition of Harvest Thanksgiving services at St. Tudno's - the last service was in 1988.  The service was at 4.00 pm on Sunday 30 September and this was the last service of the summer season.  During the service there was a collection of packets and tins of food for Conwy Food Share and the service was followed by tea and cakes.  The Friends of St. Tudno's Church decorated the church and provided the refreshments and there are more photographs on the Friends' and Special Events pages. 

Harvest Festival

Harvest refreshments



Service for International Day of Peace
On Sunday 23 September we were delighted to welcome to St. Tudno's members of Soropotomists International, Llandudno, for an afternoon service to celebrate the International Day of Peace.



Rector of Llandudno and Bishop of BangorEucharist for the Friends of St. Tudno's Church
The Friends' AGM was held on Saturday 22 August and began with a Eucharist service at St. Tudno's at 11.00 am, at which the celebrant and preacher was Bishop Andrew of Bangor. 

The photograph shows the Rector and Bishop Andrew (right) after the service.


























top of page

Church open day
On Saturday 15 September the Friends of St. Tudno's Church "manned" the church for an open day.  This included refreshments, stalls, a slideshow of old pictures of St. Tudno's and tours of the church and churchyard.  There are more more photographs on the Friends' and Special Events pages. 

Open church day 2012



Open Air Songs of Praise
The annual service was held on Sunday 26 August at 4.00 pm.  Following the success of last year's service, members of the congregation again chose and introduced a favourite hymn.


Bumblebee nest
August:  we are delighted that a bumblebee nest has been found in the churchyard.  You can find out more about the bumblebees and other wildlife in the churchyard on this new webpage. 

top of page

Concelebrated Eucharist
On Tuesday 10 July St. Tudnno's was pleased to welcome members of the Bangor and St. Asaph branches of the Society of Catholic Priests (SCP), who held their annual Concelebrated Eucharist at the church.  The photograph shows SCP members and the organist after the service. 

SCP members at St. Tudno's


Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication
On Sunday 1 July at 3.00 pm there was a special Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication to celebrate the completion of renovation work at St. Tudno’s Church on the Great Orme.  The church was founded in the 6th century by Llandudno’s patron saint, with the present building dating from the 12th – 15th centuries.  Major restoration work, including re-roofing, was carried out in 1855 but by 2009 time and the exposed position of the church had taken their toll and the roof needed to be replaced again. 

In September 2009 the Friends of St. Tudno’s Church launched Sponsor-a-Slate as part of the fundraising, with the aim of finding sponsors for 1000 slates.  In the end, 1071 slates were sponsored, with “landmark” slates sponsored by The Right Revd Andrew John, Bishop of Bangor (number 500); Mr. Guto Bebb, MP for Aberconwy (number 750); and the Most Revd Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales (number 1000). 

The work began at the end of February 2012, when the roof was stripped back to the timbers.  The sponsored slates were all labelled and fixed to the roof on the south side of the church.  The labels are not visible, due to the overlapping slates, but the forms recording sponsors and their messages have been bound into four Books of Sponsors which will form part of the Parish Archive.  The work on the roof was completed with a traditional lime plaster on the under surface and other work included stonework repairs and renovation of the bell turret.  The total cost of the work was £69,000 and this was achieved by fundraising and from St. Tudno’s Church funds, without any grant aid. 

At the service the preacher was the Very Revd Alun Hawkins, Dean Emeritus of Bangor and Patron Emeritus of the Friends of St. Tudno’s Church, while Llandudno Town Council was represented by the Deputy Mayor of Llandudno, Cllr Garry Burchett.  Refreshments were provided after the service by the Friends of St. Tudno's Church, when there was also an opportunity to view the Books of Sponsors.  These books will be kept at St. Tudno’s during the summer, and so will be available for viewing after services, before being transferred to the Parish Archive at Holy Trinity Church.  Many of the supporters of Sponsor-a-Slate attended the service, which began outside with a procession around the church.  We apologise to anyone who was unable to enter the church for the service, due to the number of people who attended. 

There are more photographs on the Friends of St. Tudno's and Sponsor-a-Slate pages. 

Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication

top of page

Working Parties
There have been two working parties at St. Tudno's this spring and summer:
Friday 25 May at 6.00 pm, to set out the benches for the open air services;
Saturday 23 June at 9.30 am, to return the church to normal use after the restoration work. 
There are some photographs on the Friends of St. Tudno's page.


St. Tudno's Day - Tuesday 5 June
Each year on St. Tudno's Day there is a Pilgrimage Walk up the Great Orme, from Holy Trinity Church to St. Tudno's.  This year the Pilgrimage began with a Eucharist service at Holy Trinity at 11.00 am.  The walk began from Holy Trinity at 12.00 noon and on the way to St. Tudno's there were pauses for prayers and to say some of the Psalms of Ascent. Packed lunches were eaten in St. Tudno's churchyard at the end of the walk.  There is another photograph on the Special Events page

St. Tudno's Day pilgrimage

top of page

Service in the Shed
The renovation work was not completed until just after the start of the 2012 season of open air services, so alternative arrangements had to be made for bad weather.  One of the sheds was therefore turned into a temporary chapel and was used for the service on Sunday 3 June.

Service in the shed                Service in the shed

Friends of St. Tudno's Church Spring Fair
This was held at Holy Trinity on Saturday 14 April, in aid of the current restoration work at St. Tudno's.  There are more photographs on the Special Events and Friends of St. Tudno's pages. 

Friends of St. Tudno's fair

top of page

Preparation for re-roofing

St. Tudno's Church

The final service before St. Tudno's was closed for re-roofing was Morning Prayer on Saturday 18 February.  The Friends of St. Tudno's Church then held a working party to clear the church in preparation for the work, which will include replacement of the roof lime plaster, in addition to re-slating. 


Carols by Candlelight 2011
The annual services of Carols by Candlelight were held on Sunday 18 December at 3.00 pm and at 5.00 pm.  The Friends of St Tudno's Church prepared the church but it was not possbile to set out the path lights due to the squally weather.  However the weather did not put people off and we were delighted to welcome 120 to the first service (first photo) and 55 to the second (second photo).  There are more photographs on the Friends of St. Tudno's and Special Events pages. 

Carols by Candlelight at 3 pm

Carols by Candlelight at 5pm


top of page


Please use these links for information on and photographs of events and services at St. Tudno's during 2006-7, 2008, in 2009, in 2010, and in 2011


top of page

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



top of page



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: May 2013