Gŵr a gwraig o Dywyn ymhlith derbynwyr Arian Dydd Iau Cablyd
Mae gŵr a gwraig o Dywyn ymhlith y rhai o Esgobaeth Bangor a gaiff eu cydnabod gan y Brenin yng Ngwasanaeth Cablyd Brenhinol eleni.
Bydd Susan a Roger Whitehouse yn derbyn Arian y Cablyd yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Llanelwy ddydd Iau 2 Ebrill, y tro cyntaf i’r achlysur gael ei gynnal yng Ngogledd Cymru, a dim ond yr ail dro erioed yng Nghymru yn ei hanes 800 mlynedd.
Mae Susan wedi gwasanaethu ers blynyddoedd lawer fel Darllenydd yn Ardal Gweinidogaeth Bro Ystumanner, gan arwain addoliad a chynnal angladdau ar draws y gymuned, yn ogystal â chefnogi’r eglwys drwy ei rôl fel swyddog diogelu. Mae ei gweinidogaeth wedi dod â hi ochr yn ochr â phobl ar adegau arwyddocaol yn eu bywydau, yn aml mewn cyfnodau o golled.
Er nad yw Roger yn weinidog trwyddedig, mae hefyd wedi chwarae rhan allweddol yng nghynnal bywyd yr eglwys, yn enwedig yn ystod cyfnod hir o salwch ymhlith y clerigwr. Bu’n helpu i sicrhau bod addoliad a gweinidogaeth yn parhau, gan gefnogi bywyd yr eglwys a galluogi eraill i wasanaethu.
“Dim ond ceisio gwasanaethu lle bynnag yr oedd angen yr ydym ni,” meddant. “Mae ein ffydd yn llywio’r hyn a wnawn a’r rheswm dros ei wneud, ac mae hynny wedi ein dwyn yn nes at fywyd yr eglwys, gan ein hannog hefyd i edrych tuag allan at y gymuned ehangach.”
Mae Susan wedi datblygu gweinidogaeth arbennig wrth arwain angladdau a chefnogi teuluoedd ar adegau o alar. Dywedodd fod y rôl wedi rhoi cyfle iddi “gyrraedd y mannau na all ficeriaid bob amser eu cyrraedd”.
“Yr hyn sy’n fy nghadw’n ymrwymedig yw’r cyfle i rannu llawenydd adnabod cariad Duw a pherthnasedd Iesu,” meddai.
Disgrifiodd Roger ei gyfraniad fel ymateb i alwad, yn enwedig yn ystod cyfnod hir o salwch ymhlith y clerigwyr, pan helpodd i gefnogi bywyd a threfniadaeth yr eglwys.
“Weithiau mae Duw yn eich galw i gyfeiriad na fyddech yn dewis mynd iddo,” meddai, “ond rydych yn dod i sylweddoli bod Duw yn gweld ymhellach nag y gallwn ni.”
“Yr hyn y byddem yn ei ddweud wrth ein cymuned yw diolch,” meddant. “Ni fyddem wedi tyfu mewn ffydd a hyder heb gadarnhad a chefnogaeth nifer fawr o bobl sydd wedi dod yn deulu o gyfeillion eglwys dros y degawdau diwethaf.”
Ymhlith y rhai eraill a gaiff eu cydnabod mae’r hanesydd lleol Christopher Medley o Gaergybi. Fel Trysorydd ac Ymddiriedolwr Eglwys Sant Cybi, mae wedi bod yn rhan o’r gwaith adfer yn yr eglwys ac yn parhau i oruchwylio prosiectau, digwyddiadau ac allgymorth cymunedol, gan helpu i gadw’r adeilad yn agored ac yn weithgar yng nghanol y gymuned.
Maent ymhlith nifer o dderbynwyr o bob rhan o Esgobaeth Bangor y mae eu gwasanaeth yn adlewyrchu eu hymrwymiad gwirfoddol i eglwysi lleol.
Yn ystod y gwasanaeth, bydd y Brenin yn cyflwyno rhoddion Brenhinol Dydd Iau Cablyd i tua 77 o ddynion a 77 o ferched, yn bennaf o Gymru ond hefyd o esgobaethau ar draws y DU. Mae Arian y Cablyd yn rhodd symbolaidd a roddir i gydnabod gwasanaeth Cristnogol eithriadol y derbynwyr a’u cyfraniad at fywydau pobl yn eu cymunedau lleol. Bydd Ei Fawrhydi yn cyflwyno dau bwrs i’r derbynwyr yn cynnwys yr Arian y Cablyd unigryw. Yn y pwrs gwyn bydd set o ddarnau arian arian y Cablyd wedi’u bathu’n arbennig, yn gyfanswm o 77 ceiniog, i gyfateb â oed y Brenin, ac yn y Pwrs Coch bydd darn £5 sy’n coffáu 100 mlynedd ers geni’r Frenhines Elizabeth II, a darn 50c sy’n dathlu 50 mlynedd ers sefydlu Ymddiriedolaeth y Brenin. Dyma’r rhai fydd yn derbyn yr anrhydedd:
Mrs Susan Whitehouse, Bro Ystumanner
Mr Roger Whitehouse, Bro Ystumanner
Mrs Mary Hughes, Bro Moelwyn
Mr Edwin Evans, Bryncroes
Mrs Norah Davies, Bro Peblig, Caernarfon
Mr John Jones, Penmaenmawr
Mrs Michele Bathers
Mr James Boughton, Bro Gwydyr, Betws-y-Coed
Mrs Elinus Rogers, Eglwys Sant Llonio
Ms Nia Heledd Hall, Bro Dwynwen
Ms Carys Lloyd-Griffith, Bro Cybi
Mrs Sally Thomas, Bro Padrig, Llanfechell
Mr Trevor Jones
Mr Alan Roberts, Bro Deiniol, Eglwys y Groes, Maesgeirchen
Mr Paul Handby, Sant Cybi a Sant Garmon
Mr J Richard Williams, Bro Cyngar, Llangefni
Mr Christopher Medley, Bro Cybi
Mrs Angela Swann
Tywyn husband and wife among recipients of Maundy Money
A husband and wife from Tywyn are among those from the Diocese of Bangor who will be recognised by The King at this year’s Royal Maundy Service.
Susan and Roger Whitehouse will receive Maundy Money at St Asaph Cathedral on Thursday 2 April, the first time the occasion has been held in North Wales, and only the second time ever in Wales, in its 800-year history.
Susan has served for many years as a Reader in Bro Ystumanner, leading worship and taking funerals across the community, as well as supporting the church through her role as safeguarding officer. Her ministry has brought her alongside people at significant moments in their lives, often in times of loss.
Roger, while not a licensed minister, has played a key role in sustaining church life, particularly during a prolonged period of clergy illness. He helped ensure that worship and ministry continued, supporting the life of the church and enabling others to serve.
Susan and Roger said they were “very surprised” to be recognised together, having never sought recognition for their service over nearly 50 years of marriage.
Their shared Christian faith has been central to their life together, shaping both their involvement in the church and their wider outlook.
“We’ve simply tried to serve where needed,” they said. “Our faith informs what we do and why we do it, and it has drawn us deeper into the life of the church while also helping us look outward to the wider community.”
Susan has developed a particular ministry in leading funerals and supporting families at times of loss. She said the role has given her the opportunity to “reach the parts that vicars can’t always reach”.
“What keeps me committed is the opportunity to share the joy of knowing the love of God and the relevance of Jesus,” she said.
Roger described his contribution as a response to a sense of calling, particularly during a period of prolonged clergy illness, when he helped support the life and organisation of the church.
“Sometimes God calls you in a direction you’d rather not go,” he said, “but you come to realise that God can see further than we can.”
“What we’d say to our community is thank you,” they said. “We couldn’t have grown in faith and confidence without the affirmation and support of a large number of people who have become a family of church friends over the past few decades.”
Also among those to be recognised is local historian Christopher Medley of Holyhead. As Treasurer and Trustee of St Cybi’s Church, he has been involved in the restoration work at the church and continues to oversee projects, events and community outreach, helping to keep the building open and active at the heart of the community.
During the service, The King will present the Royal Maundy gifts to approximately 77 men and 77 women mainly from Wales but also from dioceses across the UK. The Maundy Money is a symbolic gift given in recognition of recipients’ outstanding Christian service and for making a difference to the lives of people in their local communities. His Majesty will present recipients with two purses containing the unique Maundy Money. In the white purse will be a set of specially minted silver Maundy coins totalling 77 pennies, to match The King’s age, and in the Red Purse will be a £5 coin commemorating 100 years since Queen Elizabeth II’s birth, and a 50p coin that celebrates the 50th anniversary of The King’s Trust.
Mrs Susan Whitehouse, Bro Ystumanner.
Mr Roger Whitehouse, Bro Ystumanner.
Mrs Mary Hughes, Bro Moelwyn
Mr Edwin Evans, Bryncroes
Mrs Norah Davies, Bro Peblig, Caernarfon
Mr John Jones, Penmaenmawr
Mrs Michele Bathers
Mr James Boughton, Bro Gwydyr, Betws y Coed
Mrs Elinus Rogers, St Llonio’s Church.
Ms Nia Heledd Hall, Bro Dwynwen
Ms Carys Lloyd‑Griffith, Bro Cybi
Mrs Sally Thomas, Bro Padrig, Llanfechell
Mr Trevor Jones
Mr Alan Roberts, Bro Deiniol, Eglwys y Groes, Maesgeirchen.
Mr Paul Handby, St Cybi’s and St Garmon’s.
Mr J Richard Williams, Bro Cyngar, Llangefni
Mr Christopher Medley, Bro Cybi
Mrs Angela Swann