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When you come to St. David’s, you can feel you are in a Holy place as you do in Iona and Lindisfarne.
We set off in rotten weather which improved on the journey. We were able to meet Fr. Simon and his party for lunch and to meet Val & Mike which was very nice. We then drove on to be welcomed by the nuns who run St. Non’s Retreat Centre. They made us very welcome and looked after us very well. After an early supper we had a pleasent and peaceful evening until Compline at 9pm in the Chapel.
Both Tuesday & Wednesday had full programmes. Breakfast was at 8am and morning Prayer at 9. On Tuesday, a member of the Community gave a talk about the history of St. Non’s which was built as a private house and the chapel was built in the 1920’s and 30’s but as it would have been in mediaeval times. After the talk we explored the vicinity and the chapel which is in the grounds. Just outside the grounds is St. Non’s well and in a field the remains of what is reputed to be St. David’s birthplace.We had Mass in the small and atmospheric St Non's chapel.
After a good lunch we went into St.David’s for a guided tour of the Cathedral, which very interesting and informative. Then a quick walk around the lawn and a warming lunch then Evensong sung by the boys’choir. Back to St. Non’s for dinner and a very enjoyable evening meal when we were joined by the nuns. Compline at 9pm.
After Morning Prayer on Wednesday, we were free until Prayers and Mass at the Shrine of St. David then back to St. Non’s for lunch. In the afternoon, Father Simon took some of us to the beach at Whitesands Bay, which was fun. Father Simon temporarily adopted 5 dogs!
Evensong in the cathedral on Wednesday was sung by the Girls’ choir. Back for dinner and our last evening. The party was split as some watched the football and the rest enjoyed a pleasant evening talking to each other.
On Thursday, we started with Morning Prayer at 7.40, then breakfast at 8 and farewell to the Sisters. Val & Mike had invited us to break our journey and have coffee which was fun. We then continued on with our journey home but stopped in Tewkesbury for lunch and a visit to the Abbey, which was a lovely way to end the Pilgrimage.
The whole Pilgrimage was a very special time in a beautiful and holy place. Many thanks to Father Simon for thinking about and for arranging the whole visit.
Eve McQuater
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