0:00:00 > 0:00:00- *
0:00:00 > 0:00:05- Welcome to a programme looking back - at highlights of the series.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08- Welcome to - Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14- # Soli Deo gloria
0:00:14 > 0:00:19- # Soli Deo gloria
0:00:22 > 0:00:27- # Soli Deo gloria #
0:00:47 > 0:00:52- Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol has - visited many chapels and churches...
0:00:52 > 0:00:54- ..across Wales.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58- We've travelled - north, south, east and west.
0:00:58 > 0:01:03- We'll be heading back to those - locations on tonight's programme.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05- We begin in South Wales...
0:01:05 > 0:01:10- ..at the Carmarthenshire National - Eisteddfod proclamation cymanfa.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12- Bethany Chapel was the location.
0:01:13 > 0:01:14- Our first hymn is...
0:01:14 > 0:01:19- ..Yr Arglwydd a Feddwl Amdanaf - a Dyna Fy Nefoedd Am Byth.
0:03:36 > 0:03:44- Llannerchymedd on Anglesey was the - most northerly point of our journey.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48- We were invited to a cymanfa - in Capel Ifan.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51- Rhys Meirion met Evie Jones...
0:03:51 > 0:03:57- ..a man responsible for organising - many cymanfaoedd on the island.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04- We're inside Capel Ifan, Evie, - a place you hold dear.
0:04:04 > 0:04:09- Yes, indeed, I've been - a member here for 15 years...
0:04:09 > 0:04:14- ..although I was originally - a member of the Methodist chapel.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18- The chapel has since closed down - and been demolished.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22- I was warmly greeted here - from the very beginning.
0:04:22 > 0:04:27- Its cymanfa ganu is famous, and - you've been instrumental in that.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31- Yes, I've been - organizing them for 25 years...
0:04:31 > 0:04:33- ..for various charities.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37- I've hired - different conductors every year.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40- People like Dr Terry James...
0:04:40 > 0:04:42- ..Alwyn Humphreys, Alun Guy.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46- Dr Haydn James from London - has been here too.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48- Soloists like yourself have sung...
0:04:49 > 0:04:54- ..along with Gwyn Hughes Jones, Leah - Marian Jones, Mary Lloyd Davies...
0:04:54 > 0:04:57- ..and Patricia O'Neill, - to name but a few.
0:04:57 > 0:05:02- The cymanfa - is important throughout Anglesey.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07- A cymanfa is held here every Sunday - from the end of April...
0:05:07 > 0:05:10- ..to the beginning of November - almost consecutively.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15- What makes the cymanfaoedd - so enjoyable for you?
0:05:15 > 0:05:18- I enjoy singing in them, - for one thing.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21- We have - a wealth of hymns and hymn tunes.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25- I like seeing a congregation - coming together on a Sunday night.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28- That's a good thing.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32- From one end of the country - to the other - Cardiff.
0:07:32 > 0:07:37- Rhys Meirion met up with the - presenter and actress Heulwen Haf...
0:07:37 > 0:07:39- ..in the gardens of Insole Court...
0:07:39 > 0:07:43- ..a place that provided inspiration - during her battle with cancer.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52- Well, Heulwen, we're visiting - another wonderful place.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56- These gardens - with the beautiful colours.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58- It's a wonderfully calm location.
0:07:58 > 0:08:03- You must have felt that tranquillity - here when you battled cancer.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07- What was most incredible - about this place...
0:08:07 > 0:08:12- ..was that I was diagnosed with - breast cancer during springtime.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15- The garden was starting to bloom.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21- After six months of chemotherapy, - my hair had fallen out.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25- The weather was wonderful here, - the colours were very different.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30- The geraniums were bright red - and I was wearing a wig.
0:08:30 > 0:08:36- When I visited in the autumn, - I'd lost a lot of my strength.
0:08:36 > 0:08:42- I'd had the operation by then - and I was weak during the autumn.
0:08:42 > 0:08:48- Into the winter, I was tired but - looking forward to the new year...
0:08:49 > 0:08:52- ..for another month of radiotherapy.
0:08:52 > 0:08:57- This location is so special to me.
0:08:57 > 0:09:02- I spent a year here - with the Fflic TV company...
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- ..living through - the seasons of my life.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09- I came out the other side - full of life.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11- That's incredible.
0:09:11 > 0:09:17- During the year you spent here - dealing with the cancer...
0:09:18 > 0:09:21- ..you must have been - on a special spiritual journey.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24- How did affect your faith?
0:09:24 > 0:09:28- That's a good question to ask - having just come from the cathedral.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32- I once knocked on the door - having lost my faith completely.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37- Many years later, - on a stronger journey...
0:09:37 > 0:09:41- ..realising that there was more - to life...
0:09:41 > 0:09:44- ..it wasn't about being - in a chapel or church...
0:09:44 > 0:09:48- ..it was about having faith - and an understanding.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52- The body's energy changes - when you look at things differently.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56- You can see the goodness - every day...
0:09:57 > 0:10:00- ..and you ignore all the negativity.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03- That's how I tried to deal - with the cancer.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07- In doing so, with my family - and friends at my side...
0:10:08 > 0:10:10- ..I felt we were together, - loving one another...
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- ..completing the journey - that's brought me here today.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35- There are some ancient - walking paths across Wales.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37- Some date back - to the time of the saints.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43- This year, I walked along - the Cistercian Way in Radnorshire.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46- I followed in the footsteps - of the monks.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57- Walking in here - is like stepping back in time.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00- Yes, it takes you by surprise.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03- These pews are incredible.
0:13:03 > 0:13:08- There was a time when - all our churches looked like this...
0:13:08 > 0:13:11- ..after - the Protestant Reformation.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14- Dyserth is situated - in a very remote area.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17- Its name comes from - the Latin word 'deserto'.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21- Since it's located - deep in the countryside...
0:13:21 > 0:13:24- ..nobody in the Victorian era...
0:13:24 > 0:13:27- ..tried to remove the pews.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29- It's an authentic church...
0:13:29 > 0:13:32- ..and its interior - hasn't changed in 400 years.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35- Although the interior - has been repainted...
0:13:36 > 0:13:38- ..we can still see - traces of old murals.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42- At one time, - all the walls were very colourful...
0:13:42 > 0:13:47- ..like the church in Llandeilo and - the one in St Fagans folk museum.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50- They were painted during a time...
0:13:51 > 0:13:54- ..when the congregations - were illiterate.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58- It was a way of familiarising - themselves with the Bible.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02- Services are held here - throughout the summer months.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06- How does preaching in such - an ancient church make you feel?
0:14:06 > 0:14:10- You feel as though - you're going back in time.
0:14:10 > 0:14:15- Because this church - is such an historic building...
0:14:15 > 0:14:20- ..instead of practising - modern Church in Wales services...
0:14:20 > 0:14:24- ..we revert to the traditional - Book of Common Prayer...
0:14:24 > 0:14:28- ..which dates back to a time - when this church was first built.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41- As we've travelled around Wales...
0:16:41 > 0:16:45- ..we've visited some important - locations...
0:16:45 > 0:16:49- ..and discovered treasures - we wouldn't normally see.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52- Rhys Meirion - had a special experience...
0:16:53 > 0:16:55- ..in the company of Sondra Storch...
0:16:56 > 0:17:00- ..who showed him some secret wells - in Carmarthenshire.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05- Where are you taking me now, Sondra?
0:17:05 > 0:17:09- This is a secret place - yet a very special one.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13- Yes, it looks special. Yes, indeed.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15- This is the well.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21- What's its significance?
0:17:21 > 0:17:24- This is St Anthony's Well.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28- Anthony was a famous man - and people flocked here.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32- He came here, - to this desert by the sea...
0:17:32 > 0:17:35- ..because he was - following the example...
0:17:35 > 0:17:37- ..of the Desert Fathers.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41- Men and women who fled Egypt...
0:17:41 > 0:17:44- ..to take refuge in the desert.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47- To be close to God - and close to nature.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50- There are ribbons hanging there.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52- Do they bear any significance?
0:17:52 > 0:17:55- It's an archaic tradition.
0:17:55 > 0:18:01- Pagans thought it strange - that water sprung from the ground.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05- They believed that both - good spirits and evil spirits...
0:18:06 > 0:18:08- ..could rise from the ground too.
0:18:08 > 0:18:13- So they threw things into the well - to pacify and please the spirits.
0:18:13 > 0:18:18- That need to throw something - in the water is still in us today.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21- If you go to - the botanic gardens nearby...
0:18:21 > 0:18:24- ..you'll find - a pool in the centre...
0:18:24 > 0:18:27- ..that bears - no resemblance to a well.
0:18:27 > 0:18:32- Look closely and you'll notice that - people have thrown coins into it.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34- There's a need in us to do this.
0:18:34 > 0:18:40- Do people still believe - in the power of this well?
0:18:40 > 0:18:42- Yes, they do.
0:18:42 > 0:18:47- The fact that Anthony himself - blessed the water makes it special.
0:18:47 > 0:18:52- This water is good for people - who are broken hearted.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55- I'm sure it's busy - on St Dwynwen's Day.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59- Yes, it's teeming - with broken-hearted people.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03- So if someone's unlucky in love, - this is the place to come!
0:21:08 > 0:21:11- I hope you've enjoyed - our programme...
0:21:11 > 0:21:16- ..looking at some of the locations - we've visited over the past year.
0:21:16 > 0:21:21- Next week, we'll rejoin - some of the individuals...
0:21:21 > 0:21:23- ..who contributed to the series.
0:21:23 > 0:21:28- Our final hymn was recorded - in Cefn Nannau church, Llangwm.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30- Daeth Iesu I'm Calon i Fyw.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32- Until next week, goodbye.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.
0:24:09 > 0:24:10- .