The Mural 1406

Aneurin Jones 1406 Welsh Assembly has come to embody in a very special way the spirit of that very unique event that took place in Pennal 600 years ago – Glyndwr’s last parliament (his only house of lords) held in his Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vinicula – a dedication that he shared, by coincidence, with his chef protagonist Henry IV whose own chapel royal in the Tower of London also continues to this day. In fact it is the parish church of the Tower! It was to this historic site (the southern most point of his predecessors, the Prince of Gwynedd) that Gylyndwr summoned the nobles and of his race to hold a parliament that was also a great synod of the medieval church of Wales. Matters political and religious were discussed since the medieval mind did not distinguish between the two. Leasing the princess and clerics joined him to debate the Pennal Policy that was eventually summed-up in the famous Pennal letter, sent to the French king Charles VI and the pope in Avighon, Benedict XIII, on 31st March 1406. the original is housed in one of France’s National libraries, the Archives Nationales, Paris. A Facsimile hangs in Pennal church.

Aneurin’s mural celebrates in particular Glyndwr’s clerical supporters. A memorial to them can be seen in the heritage garden. Many would argue that the modern Wales of today was conceived in this small Merionethshire village. Pennal’s, ‘Chapel Royal’ with its beautiful princes garden with its thirteenth century foundations visible, in part, Pennal Church embraces nearly a millennium and a half of history and spirituality. A visible reminder of the many cultures and influences that have played a part in molding the Welsh psyche, Pennal church is not only proud of its rich heritage in the past but also of its role in the present and in the future continues to bring people from different backgrounds together.

The Heritage Garden is a fine example of this ethos. A living sculpture in itself, this unique herb garden celebrates one of the greatest of European princess and freedom fighters, Owain Glyndwr. Set in the context of the Gwynedd Royal family (who reigned for nearly 800 years), this garden is also the resting place for many local people – ordinary people – whose gravestones are also sculptures, a celebration of the cycle of death and rebirth in our village since long before the Romans arrived here nearly 2000 years ago. Like sentinels, they too witness the beauty and energy of the southern most edge of the Snowdonia mountain range, ‘Cadair Country’ as we local call it (a reference to the highest peak in the region, Cadair Idris).

Designed by Peter Styles (Newtown) in the style of a monastic medieval herb garden (many of Glyndwr’s supporters were monks and friars) and funded by Gwynedd Council, objective one money, the princess garden is not only a green celebration of a key event in Welsh history but also an ideal place to share the beauty of nature and enjoy the peace and tranquility of a sacred garden.