Bethel Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol

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-Today,

-we're visiting Bethel in Arfon.

-Welcome to

-Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol.

-# Soli Deo gloria

-# Soli Deo gloria

-# Soli Deo gloria #

-Today, we visit

-Y Cysegr chapel in Bethel.

-We're joined by its minister...

-..one of Wales'

-most colourful religious men.

-We'll also listen

-to musical performances.

-The chapel's minister

-has a very interesting name.

-Reverend Marcus Wyn Robinson.

-We're sitting on the Maes

-in Caernarfon.

-Why does it mean so much to you?

-My roots are here in many ways.

-I was raised in Caernarfon,

-I'm a Cofi Dre in every sense.

-I've come full circle

-and returned here.

-I've travelled the world

-but I enjoy coming back.

-This place holds fond memories.

-I look over your shoulder

-at the statue of Sir Hugh Owen.

-I attended Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen

-as a young boy.

-I look back and remember the great

-men of Caernarfon who influenced me.

-At that time, Reverend John Roberts.

-He's John Roberts Llanfwrog

-to the people of Anglesey...

-..but to me, in Moriah chapel,

-he had a great influence.

-I remember him

-preaching on the Maes.

-He said, "Look up."

-The congregation were wondering why.

-"At the building behind us."

-It has an interesting name -

-Paternoster Buildings.

-"Our Father is looking down on us

-all the time," said Roberts...

-.."Whether you're aware or not."

-We'll speak further later.

-What's our first hymn today?

-This was my beginning -

-Pa Le Pa Fodd Dechreuaf.

-Apart from the castle...

-..Segontium is probably Caernarfon's

-most important historic site.

-Most definitely.

-I often remind the people

-of Caernarfon...

-..that the Caer isn't the castle -

-this is the caer (fort).

-This is 1,000 years older

-than the castle.

-There would be more of it

-had Edward I not built the castle.

-Half the stones

-which made up this fort...

-..are in the foundations

-of the castle.

-You discovered something

-very interesting on this site.

-When I was a boy,

-digging and exploring...

-..I discovered

-pieces of Roman coins.

-There was one person

-working on the site at the time...

-..from the National Museum of Wales.

-He looked at it and said...

-.."Goodness me, this dates back

-to the time of Emperor Trajan."

-"How old is he?" I replied.

-"Trajan was an emperor," he said,

-"Between 98 and 107AD."

-I wondered who was the last man

-to hold this coin.

-What's remarkable is that

-I also realised at the time...

-..that people had travelled

-from other parts of the world...

-..to reach Caernarfon.

-It dawned on me that there

-was a world beyond this town.

-Realising there was a world

-beyond Caernarfon...

-..that led you to join the Navy

-as a chaplain.

-I realised that many people

-from Caernarfon had been sailors.

-Looking back, I'm grateful

-I discovered a desire to travel.

-By now I'm back...

-..having visited almost

-every continent around the world.

-It's incredible for me, today...

-..to be back on this site,

-where I was raised.

-Thank you, Lord, for allowing me

-to travel around the world...

-..and for the great diversity

-in your world.

-We're standing on the site

-of the old Moriah chapel...

-..where you were raised.

-Sadly,

-the chapel burnt down in 1976.

-In 1976, yes. 40 years ago.

-It's incredible to think

-where the time has gone.

-On this site, on an empty site...

-..I have memories

-of a beautiful building...

-..which was filled with the life and

-culture of Caernarfon at that time.

-Peleg Williams was a great organist.

-He was here every Sunday morning

-without fail.

-He had the ability to play

-the most wonderful pieces.

-You would have loved some time

-in his company.

-His great ability

-was something you took for granted.

-I became a member of the chapel

-when I was 13 years old.

-John Roberts was a great minister

-and a great influence on me.

-He was a minister who applied

-great attention to love.

-That's what attracted me to

-the gospel in the first place.

-I remember a communion service,

-here on this site.

-I had a spiritual experience

-which has stayed with me since.

-That's what led to me becoming

-a minister at the age of 18.

-My first sermon was here, in Moriah.

-I remember it like yesterday...

-..an appeal for us

-to reconcile with God.

-As I was preaching, John Roberts was

-literally at my feet saying amen.

-Peleg chose music

-that matched the sermon perfectly.

-When I look back, I realise that at

-the time I took it all for granted.

-Goodness me, I was privileged.

-# I don't know how to love him

-# What to do, how to move him

-# I've been changed

-# Yes, really changed

-# In these past few days

-# When I've seen myself

-# I seem like someone else

-# I don't know how to take this

-# I don't see why he moves me

-# He's a man

-# He's just a man

-# And I've had so many men before

-# In very many ways

-# He's just one more

-# Should I bring him down?

-# Should I scream and shout?

-# Should I speak of love

-# Let my feelings out?

-# I never thought

-# I'd come to this

-# What's it all about

-# Don't you think it's rather funny

-# I should be in this position

-# I'm the one who's always been

-# So calm, so cool

-# No lover's fool

-# Running every show

-# He scares me so

-# Should I bring him down?

-# Should I scream and shout?

-# Should I speak of love

-# Let my feelings out?

-# I never thought I'd come to this

-# What's it all about?

-# Yes, if he said he loved me

-# I'd be lost, I'd be frightened

-# I couldn't cope

-# Just couldn't cope

-# I'd turn my head

-# I'd back away

-# I wouldn't want to know

-# He scares me so

-# I want him so

-# I love him so #

-I must say, Marcus, the name of your

-pastorate sounds very interesting.

-It's a name that delights me.

-As you can see behind us,

-this is the River Seiont.

-The name of the pastorate

-is Glannau'r Saint.

-The reason for that is that

-all the chapels in my pastorate...

-..are on the banks of this river.

-I've travelled extensively

-around the world...

-..but I've returned

-to the place where I was born.

-As the Seiont flows to the sea,

-I care for the chapels on its banks.

-Marcus, I've learnt a lot about you

-and Caernarfon today.

-Thank you for showing me around.

-What are your thoughts

-about the future?

-It's important

-to look to the future with hope.

-You have the past

-and the past will show you the way.

-The Christian faith has survived

-across the centuries...

-..when many things have changed.

-It thrives in Wales today

-and I'm sure...

-..it will live long in the future.

-I thank my colleagues in Wales...

-..that keep the faith alive

-and practise it.

-That leads us to our final hymn,

-O'r Fath Gyfaill Ydyw'r Iesu.

-From both of us, goodbye.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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