Snowdonia guide helps people walk in footsteps of Mary Jones

Walkers can now follow in the footsteps of Mary Jones, a 15-year-old Welsh girl who walked 25 miles to buy her own Bible, a move that inspired the foundation of Bible Society in 1804.

Mary Jones had saved for six years to buy a Bible before she set out one morning in 1800 from her home in Llanfihangel-y-Pennant to walk to Bala.

A guidebook is launched on Thursday at Bala College, re-creating that walk, across part of the Snowdonia National Park and into Bala, where Mary Jones bought her Bible from Methodist preacher Rev Thomas Charles.

He was so touched by her determination to get the book that four years later he helped to form Bible Society, which now enables people around the world to read or hear God’s Word in their language.

The guidebook is written by Mary Thomas, 63, from Bala, who spent 12 years recreating the journey her namesake took more than 200 years ago.

She says: "I walked it in five-mile sections, noting every twist and turn and then returning home and recording it all. As I failed to get any certain proof of the actual route, my aim in the end was to find a likely route.

"On parts of the walk you can almost say I’m sure Mary came this way. Some people say when they walk [the route] they feel very close to her. It’s a spiritual experience for many and I have seen some people in tears at the end."

The guidebook has been part funded by the Countryside Council for Wales and is being distributed to tourism offices across the country.

The guidebook launch comes after Bible Society announced plans last year to raise £1.8 million to refurbish St Beuno’s Church at Llanycil on the shores of Lake Bala and create an internationally-recognised faith heritage centre which will tell Mary Jones’ story.

Bible Society’s Welsh Development Officer Watcyn James says: "We think the new guidebook will encourage many more people to follow in Mary Jones’ footsteps and learn more about her.

"We hope walkers and tourists will have a go as well as youth groups and church groups. When we get the Heritage Centre opens they will be able to visit that too and learn more about the rich history of this part of Wales."