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| Bala centre celebrates Mary Jones' bible walk | Bala centre celebrates Mary Jones' bible walk |
| (2 days later) | |
| Most teenagers would not walk 26 miles for a book, but 200 years ago an extraordinary 15-year-old girl in Gwynedd did just that. | |
| In 1800 Mary Jones walked barefoot across the hills from Llanfihangel-y-Pennant to Bala to buy a bible which she had saved six years for. | In 1800 Mary Jones walked barefoot across the hills from Llanfihangel-y-Pennant to Bala to buy a bible which she had saved six years for. |
| Now a £1.3m visitor and education centre is to tell her story. | |
| Mary Jones World has opened in the renovated former St Beuno's Church at Llanycil on the edge of Lake Bala. | Mary Jones World has opened in the renovated former St Beuno's Church at Llanycil on the edge of Lake Bala. |
| Centre manager Nerys Pritchard told BBC Radio Wales she hoped it would "cater for every age and every sort of knowledge". | Centre manager Nerys Pritchard told BBC Radio Wales she hoped it would "cater for every age and every sort of knowledge". |
| Mary Jones World will use videos, panels and interactive screens to tell her story and hopes to attract young visitors with its "modern vibe". | Mary Jones World will use videos, panels and interactive screens to tell her story and hopes to attract young visitors with its "modern vibe". |
| A decade ago the redundant church was up for sale and could have become a canoe store. | A decade ago the redundant church was up for sale and could have become a canoe store. |
| Now the cultural centre hopes to bring in 10,000 visitors a year. | Now the cultural centre hopes to bring in 10,000 visitors a year. |
| Mary Jones decided at the age of nine to save up for the trip to Bala where she met Rev Thomas Charles. | |
| Inspired by her commitment, he encouraged people in London, including William Wilberforce, to help him set up the Bible Society, which has now spread to 200 countries. | Inspired by her commitment, he encouraged people in London, including William Wilberforce, to help him set up the Bible Society, which has now spread to 200 countries. |
| Christine Daniel, head of the society, which built the new centre, said it would teach people the "impact Wales has had on the world". | |
| "People from around the world... know the story of Mary Jones and are grateful to Wales for that gift of the bible," she added. | "People from around the world... know the story of Mary Jones and are grateful to Wales for that gift of the bible," she added. |
| Lona Puw, who lives nearby, said the decision to create the cultural centre was "an answer to a prayer". | Lona Puw, who lives nearby, said the decision to create the cultural centre was "an answer to a prayer". |
| "This is our heritage and I cannot let it just go," she added. | |
| An opening ceremony attended by 300 guests, including church and civic leaders and descendants of the Mr Charles took place on Sunday, the bicentenary of his death. | An opening ceremony attended by 300 guests, including church and civic leaders and descendants of the Mr Charles took place on Sunday, the bicentenary of his death. |
| The opening was also marked by a procession from Capel Tegid in Bala to the centre. | The opening was also marked by a procession from Capel Tegid in Bala to the centre. |
| Hear more about Mary Jones World on All Things Considered from BBC Radio Wales. | Hear more about Mary Jones World on All Things Considered from BBC Radio Wales. |