Stained Glass Window Honoring HMS Conway to be Unveiled at Llanedwen Church
A beautiful stained glass window dedicated to the memory of the training ship HMS Conway will be officially unveiled at Llanedwen Church in Llanfairpwllgwyngyll. The special ceremony is scheduled for April 18 and will feature the dedication of the window along with the laying up of a Conway ensign. Reverend Simon Douglas Lane, who serves as the honorary padre to HMS Conway, will lead the event.
Historical Connections to the Area
The memorial reflects the ship's deep and longstanding connection with the local community. For many years, cadets from HMS Conway attended services at Llanedwen Church, walking from Plas Newydd to worship alongside the Marquis of Anglesey and his household. HMS Conway was moored off Plas Newydd on the Menai Strait and previously at Glyn Garth near Bangor. The ship's service came to an end in 1953 when it ran aground while being towed for repairs.
Event Details and Attendance
This event has been organized as a private gathering specifically for former HMS Conway cadets, as well as representatives from the Friends of HMS Conway and the Conway Club. Due to limited space within the church, attendance is restricted to invited guests and parishioners only.
Artistic Design and Symbolism
The window was designed and created by talented glass artist Jayne Ford. It features three panels, with a central image depicting HMS Conway as a wooden sailing ship of the line. The side panels show seagulls around the ship's masts, reflecting a poignant tradition that these birds represent the spirits of former cadets. This idea was beautifully captured in a 1933 poem titled The Conway Gulls by Poet Laureate John Masefield, who was himself a former cadet. Despite the mess caused by the birds, they were never driven away by those on board.
Legacy of HMS Conway
HMS Conway served as a prestigious training school ship from 1859 to 1974, preparing over 11,000 boys aged between 13 and 18 for careers as officers in both the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy. The new window has been funded by the Friends of HMS Conway and former cadets. Similar memorial windows have previously been installed at Birkenhead Priory, Bangor Pier, and Plas Newydd, all locations closely associated with the ship's history. During the service, a defaced blue ensign, linked to the Royal Naval Reserve in which Conway cadets were enrolled, will also be laid up. Additionally, a model of the ship, generously donated by Mr Matt Burrow DL, will be presented as part of the occasion.
Quotes from Alfie Windsor
Alfie Windsor, a trustee of the Friends of HMS Conway, shared his thoughts: "Conway training was acknowledged as amongst the best worldwide and it produced young officers of the highest standards. Her cadets went on to become leading mariners around the world, captaining ships and fleets. They gave a life of loyalty and service to their country."
He continued: "The Friends of HMS Conway exist to safeguard the good name and memory of the ship and her cadets. We have already created similar memorial windows at her old moorings on the River Mersey, off Bangor Pier and at Plas Newydd. The Llanedwen church window is a fine and moving culmination of our efforts."
Alfie added: "Conway cadets are intensely proud of their association with Plas Newydd and Ynys Mon and look back on their time in the ship with fondness and huge pleasure. It was a privilege to have trained in such beautiful surroundings. Llanedwen church was our church so, as memories of Conway fade, it is reassuring to know that the ship's memory will be permanently enshrined by this stained glass window."
Significance of the Unveiling
The unveiling marks the latest addition to a series of memorials that recognize the ship's historical links to the Menai Strait and the surrounding communities. This stained glass window serves as a lasting tribute to the legacy of HMS Conway and the many cadets who trained there.
