A Service and Procession in Lampeter to celebrate 200 years of Higher Education in Wales

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David held a service and procession to celebrate two hundred years of higher education in Wales on Friday, 12 August 2022.

• Lampeter Bicentenary Celebrations | Photo Galleries

The celebrations began with a service at St Peter's Church Lampeter followed by a procession through the town of Lampeter. The day marked exactly 200 years since the foundation stone for St David's College, Lampeter was laid by Bishop Thomas Burgess.

Professor Medwin Hughes, DL, Vice-Chancellor said:

"The service and the procession were a very special opportunity to celebrate the bicentenary. It was our pleasure to welcome Jeremy Miles, MS, Minister for Education and the Welsh Language and the Bishop of St David's the Right Reverend Dr Joanna Penberthy, and our guests to join us for this joyous occasion.

"The Bicentenary marks two centuries of continued higher education opportunities for the people of Wales and celebrates the contribution of our universities and colleges in that story".

The service was led by The Reverend Dr Emma Whittick, chaplain of the University in Lampeter and the sermon was delivered by The Right Reverend Dr Joanna Penberthy, Bishop of St Davids.

Following the service, and emulating the proceedings in 1822, a procession travelled from the Church along the streets of Lampeter to the University Campus. There, a memorial was unveiled by the Bishop of St Davids and Jeremy Miles MP, Welsh Government Minister for Education and the Welsh Language. The Minister then opened the Gallery, an exhibition of the history of the Lampeter campus which includes the original foundation stone.

The Peace Bell was rung 20 times.  The Bell was commissioned by the University as a symbolic sign to reinforce the commitment made 200 years ago to support the study of world religions and to mark how the University has, over the years, developed as an international centre on for interfaith and intercultural dialogue. The Peace Bell, the only one of its kind in Wales, also marks the University's commitment to the Welsh Government's values ​​articulated in the Well-being of Future Generations Act (2015).

During the day, the book 'Treasures: Special Collections of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David' edited by Professor John Morgan-Guy was launched. The book was commissioned by Professor Medwin Hughes as part of the bicentenary celebrations. It is a fully illustrated book containing a selection of the many thousands of works held in the Roderic Bowen Library and Archive on the Lampeter campus. The Special Collections include over 35,000 printed works, 8 medieval manuscripts, around 100 post-medieval manuscripts, and 69 incunabula. These were mainly received through the generous donations of many benefactors, including Bishop Thomas Burgess. The Books, which span over seven hundred years, contain short essays by scholars whose knowledge and appreciation of the works is second to none, revealing the richness of what was once known as 'the greatest little library in Wales'.

Thank you to everyone for their cooperation and support and especially St Peter's Church, Lampeter, Lampeter Town Council and Ceredigion County Council.

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

Swyddog Gweithredol Cysylltiadau â’r Wasg a’r Cyfryngau

Executive Press and Media Relations Officer

Cyfathrebu Corfforaethol a Chysylltiadau Cyhoeddus

Corporate Communications and PR

Mobile: 07384 467071

Email: Rebecca.Davies@uwtsd.ac.uk