Wells, Welsh, Cultural Differences
How would our highly polarized American culture react to a story like this one from the BBC on plans by the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust to rebuild a pagan well in the Village of Llanllyfni near a the site of an important church? Most likely the reaction wouldn’t be the one by this local resident.
“I think it’s a lovely idea to create a footpath and refurbish the well. It’s especially interesting for the children in the village to know more about the history of the place.” – Julie Williams
In fact the locals seem pretty universally for the project, and are downright emotional about restoring this important historical site. O P Huws, head of a local group planning to restore footpaths around the site seems to have little reservation of restoring this “pagan” site.
“Llanllyfni was an important pagan site, and pilgrims used to stop here on the way to Bardsey island. I only discovered where exactly the well was about two years ago. It was very moving seeing the water come up from the ground,” – O P Huws, chairman of Menter Llyfni
I suppose the message is that our history, even non-Christian history is important, and that real faith isn’t threatened by the existence of other faiths, or pagan wells for that matter.
3 responses so far
I would have no objection since it is a Welsh site and I am of Celtic descent.
Oops. I put in the incorrect web page address earlier.
Y’know, stuff like that is why I find some people’s allergy to Christianity within pagan circles downright annoying. So many Christians are far mellower about the reverse, I should think we’d rise to their example.