THE MARY JONES WALK

So, you're thinking of following in the footsteps of Mary Jones?

What is the Mary Jones walk?

• A 26-mile route through breathtaking countryside, from the wild slopes of majestic Cadair Idris to the charming lakeside town of Bala.
• A challenge to test your own fitness and determination.
• A bridge across 200 years to a walk by a determined teenage girl. Her search for a Bible helped inspire the formation of the British and Foreign Bible Society and gave birth to a worldwide Bible movement.
• A hand stretched out to communities worldwide who are reaching out for the Bible’s life-changing message – something we take for granted but which millions still long for in developing and more restricted countries.

Along with immersing yourself in the historical moment, enjoying the beauty of the Welsh countryside and having fun with like-minded people, you will also be stepping out to transform the lives of millions, like Mary Jones who today are hungry for the Bible in their own language.

The distance between Mary’s village – Llanfihangel-y-Pennant – and Bala is over 26 miles over the beautiful Welsh hills. Are you up to the challenge?

The church in Llanfihangel-y-Pennant has an exhibition about Mary’s life and her parents’ graves are there. In the village there is also a ruin of the cottage where Mary Jones lived and a memorial to her.

Download the Mary Jones Walk INFORMATION PACK (PDF 498MB) (opens in a new window) to find out more.

We can also print your sponsorship forms and send you a detailed route guide so you can follow in the footsteps of Mary Jones. To order your sponsor forms, contact us by telephone 01793 418222 or email CONTACTUS@BIBLESOCIETY.ORG.UK

WHO WAS MARY JONES?

In 1800 Mary Jones, aged 15, set out on a 26-mile walk through her homeland of North Wales. She had a single aim– to buy one of the Welsh Bibles that had been delivered to the town of Bala. The 17 shillings she took with her had taken six years to save.

Her patience and determination were rewarded when Mary at last received the Scriptures.

Mary’s story was part of the inspiration behind the worldwide Bible movement now known as Bible Society. And, today, many people complete that same 26-mile walk to raise funds so that others can read or hear the Bible’s life-changing message in their own language.

You can read and download the Mary Jones' story. GO TO THE MARY JONE STORY - OVER HILLS AND OVERDALES

INFORMATION PACK AND ACCOMMODATION

You may like to find out more about Bala Backpackers hostel, which is in a good location for the Mary Jones walk. Visit WWW.BALA-BACKPACKERS.CO.UK (opens in a new window). We also have details for a holiday cottage, which is very well located for the walk and is a converted slate miner’s cottage, two minutes from Abergynolwyn. The owners, Mr and Mrs Pritchard, have kindly offered to donate a third of the rental money from their three-bedroom holiday cottage to Bible Society. The rental cost is just £105 for three days, of which £35 will be donated to Bible Society. For further details, please call Supporter Services at Bible Society on 01793 418222 or email CONTACTUS@BIBLESOCIETY.ORG.UK.

PHOTOS FROM THE MARY JONES WALK

Have a look at our selection of PHOTOGRAPHS AND PICTURES from previous Mary Jones walks.

If you have completed the walk yourself, why not share your photos and pictures with us? You can then check back and see if we have posted them here. Email them to CONTACTUS@BIBLESOCIETY.ORG.UK