Bishop of Wrexham impressed by rare religious book
Published Date:
16 October 2008
By Matt Sims
THE Bishop of Wrexham was given a rare privilege this week when he was allowed to hold a copy of Wales' oldest printed book.
Bishop Edwin Regan got his hands on Drych Cristianogawl (Christian Mirror), one of the cornerstone treasures of The National Library of Wales, when he visited Llandudno on Tuesday.
The book was on display at Blessed William Davies School as namesake William Davies was one of a group involved in printing the book.
Davies, and eight others, spent more than six months hiding in a cave on the slopes of Llandudno's Little Orme producing the Catholic book in 1586-87, an act then punishable by death.
Prohibited by law to publish Catholic books in England and Wales in the 16th century, many religious texts were either published abroad or on secret printing presses.
The first part of Drych Cristianogawl was completed in February, 1587 but local residents discovered the cave was harbouring Catholics. A siege was laid but somehow the entire group managed to escape. William Davies was later executed.
Owen Llywelyn, senior education officer at The National Library of Wales, said: "We are privileged at The National Library to have an original copy of Drych Cristianogawl.
"It's a rare book and a book that played such an important role in the history of printing in Wales and the story of the first book to be printed on Welsh soil."
The full article contains 241 words and appears in Evening Leader Wrexham newspaper.
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Last Updated:
16 October 2008 12:51 PM
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Source:
Evening Leader Wrexham
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Location:
Wrexham
