Pererindod 60 milltir ficer Dolgellau i achub tŵr yr eglwys
Mae ficer Dolgellau a'i ffrind yn ymgymryd â thaith gerdded 60 milltir ar hyd un o lwybrau cerdded newydd blaenllaw Ewrop i godi arian ar gyfer atgyweiriadau brys i dŵr eglwys Santes Fair.
Mae'r Parchedig Carol Roberts a Jo Lang yn cerdded chwe rhan o lwybr pererindod Llwybr Cadfan, yng Ngogledd Orllewin Cymru sy'n cwmpasu tua 60 milltir o Dywyn i Borthmadog. Dechreuodd y pâr eu taith ar ddydd Sadwrn 21ain Mehefin yn Eglwys Cadfan Sant yn Nhywyn, yr arosfan gyntaf ar Lwybr Cadfan.
Maent bellach wedi cwblhau pum han, sy'n cwmpasu tua 50 milltir, gydag un cam arall i fynd o Landecwyn i Borthmadog. Bydd yr arian a godir yn cefnogi Apêl Atgyweiriadau Tyrau Eglwys Santes Fair.
Mae angen ailbwyntio'r tŵr ac amcangyfrifir y bydd y gost tua £200,000. Ailbwyntio yw'r broses o amnewid hen forter , wedi'i niweidio neu sydd ar goll rhwng cymalau muriau carreg, bric a choncrit. Bydd hyn yn adfer cryfder strwythurol y tŵr ac yn atal difrod dŵr.
Mae Eglwys Santes Fair yn Nolgellau yn adeilad rhestredig Gradd II sy'n sefyll ar safle eglwys ganoloesol sy'n dyddio'n ôl i o leiaf 1254, pan gafodd ei chrybwyll gyntaf mewn cofnodion. Mae'n debyg y dechreuwyd adeiladu'r y tŵr sydd angen atgyweiriadau tua 1727.
Yn ogystal â gweithgareddau codi arian, mae'r eglwys hefyd yn edrych ar grantiau a ffynonellau incwm eraill.
Dywed y Parchg Carol Roberts, "Mae atgyweiriadau'r tŵr yn hanfodol ar gyfer diogelwch yr adeilad ac i gadw'r rhan bwysig hon o dreftadaeth a thirwedd Dolgellau. Mae'r gymuned leol wedi bod yn hael iawn ond mae angen inni godi mwy o arian ar gyfer yr atgyweiriadau hanfodol hyn."
Wrth fyfyrio ar ei her pererindod, dywed y Parchg Carol, "Mae cerdded yn ystyriol, cymryd i mewn harddwch y greadigaeth, ac ymweld ag eglwysi hynafol wedi bod yn ysbrydol gyffrous ac yn heriol yn gorfforol i mi. Mae pobl yn mynd ar bererindod i gysylltu â'r dirwedd a dyfnhau eu perthynas â Duw. Mae hyn yn sicr yn digwydd i mi!"
Mae Llwybr Cadfan, a enwyd ar ôl Sant Cadfan o'r 6ed ganrif, yn ymestyn 128 milltir o Dywyn i Ynys Enlli. Datblygwyd y llwybr gan Esgobaeth Bangor a'i ariannu gan yr Eglwys yng Nghymru. Cafodd ei bleidleisio'n ddiweddar fel un o deithiau gorau Ewrop nad ydych wedi'u rhoi cynnig arnynt eto gan The iPaper.
Mae'r llwybr llawn yn cymryd tua 12 diwrnod i'w gwblhau ac yn cynnwys ymweliadau â 17 eglwys hanesyddol a chwe ffynnon sanctaidd. Mae'n mynd trwy ardaloedd o harddwch naturiol eithriadol ym Meirionydd, Eifionydd, a Phenrhyn Llŷn, cyn dod i ben yn Ynys Enlli.
Mae tudalen Just Giving wedi'i sefydlu i bobl roi arian i her pererindod y Parchg Carol.
Dolgellau vicar’s 60 mile pilgrimage to save church tower
A Dolgellau vicar and her friend are taking on a 60 mile hike along one of Europe's acclaimed new hiking routes to raise money for urgent repairs to St Mary’s church tower.
Revd Carol Roberts and Jo Lang are walking six stages of the Llwybr Cadfan pilgrimage trail, in North West Wales covering approximately 60 miles from Tywyn to Porthmadog. The pair began their journey on Saturday 21st June at St Cadfan's Church in Tywyn, first stop along Llwybr Cadfan.
They have now completed five stages, covering around 50 miles, with one more stage to go from Llandecwyn to Porthmadog. The funds raised will support the St Mary's Church Towers Repairs Appeal.
The tower needs repointing and the cost is estimated at around £200,000. Repointing is the process of replacing old, damaged or missing mortar between the joints of stone, brick and concrete masonry walls. This will restore the structural integrity of the tower and prevent water damage.
St Mary's Church in Dolgellau is a Grade II listed building which stands on the site of a medieval church dating back to at least 1254, when it was first mentioned in records. The tower requiring repairs was probably begun around 1727.
As well as fundraising activities, the church is also looking at other grants and sources of income.
Revd Carol Roberts, says, "The tower repairs are essential for the safety of the building and to preserve this important part of Dolgellau's heritage and landscape. The local community have been very generous but we need to raise more money for these essential repairs.”
Reflecting on her pilgrimage challenge, Revd Carol says, “Walking mindfully, taking in the beauty of creation, and visiting ancient churches has been spiritually uplifting and physically challenging for me. People go on pilgrimage to connect with the landscape and deepening their relationship with God. This is certainly happening to me!”
Llwybr Cadfan, named after the 6th-century Saint Cadfan, stretches 128 miles from Tywyn to Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island). The trail has been developed by the Diocese of Bangor and funded by the Church in Wales. It was recently voted as one of Europe's best hikes you haven't tried yet by The iPaper.
The full trail takes approximately 12 days to complete and includes visits to 17 historic churches and six holy wells. It passes through areas of outstanding natural beauty in Meirionydd, Eifionydd, and the Llŷn Peninsula, before culminating at Ynys Enlli.
A Just Giving page has been set up for people to donate to Revd Carol’s pilgrimage challenge.