The Most Revd Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Wales, was today (5th August 2002) honoured by being admitted to "Gorsedd y Beirdd" at the National Eisteddfod currently being held at St Davids in Pembrokeshire. The Gorsedd hold ceremonies on three days during Eisteddfod week and admission to the Gorsedd is a great honour in Wales.

Commenting today, Archbishop Rowan said:

"When approached by the Gorsedd and invited to receive the honour of being admitted to the Gorsedd, I was delighted to accept. The National Eisteddfod and the Gorsedd are an important and integral part of Wales' national life and admission to the Gorsedd is one of the greatest honours which Wales can bestow on her citizens.

"I am also of course delighted to be following in the footsteps of my predecessors as Archbishop of Wales - Archbishop Alwyn Rice Jones (1984), Archbishop George Noakes (1982) and Archbishop G O Williams - in being admitted to the Gorsedd. The suggestion, perpetrated recently by some elements of the British daily press, that the Gorsedd is even remotely associated with paganism is deeply offensive - not just in its suggestion that I would wish to associate myself in any way with paganism - but also to those people of good-will in Wales who appreciate the Gorsedd and Eisteddfod for the colour and culture which they bring to Wales' national life"

Y Prifardd Jams Nicolas, the Gorsedd's Cofiadur (Recorder) also said:

"A lot of nonsense has appeared in some of the British daily press recently, suggesting that the Gorsedd is a 'pagan' organisation. Nothing could be further from the truth as anything other than the most superficial acquaintance with the Gorsedd would make crystal clear.

"The Gorsedd's ceremonies are entirely Christian in tone, Christian hymns are sung and the prayers are made to God. A great many of those accorded the Gorsedd's bardic honours over the years have been Christian ministers of religion from various denominations and the higher echelons of the Gorsedd are full of Ministers of Religion.

"Any suggestion of links between Gorsedd y Beirdd and paganism or druidism is simply incorrect and misleading."

Note for Editors

The Gorsedd of Bards is an association whose members consist of poets, writers, musicians, artists and individuals who have made a distinguished contribution to the Welsh nation, language and culture.

Article from: The Church in Wales