A medieval church near Denbigh is to host an evening with the renowned Welsh bard, writer and playwright, Aled Jones Williams.

SS Mary and Nefydd Church, in Llannefydd, is a Grade 1 listed building and is said to be the burial place of Catherine of Berain, cousin of Elizabeth I and known as the Mother of Wales.

On Sunday 19 July it will welcome Aled Jones Williams who will be introducing his recent publication of poetry Y Dychryn Angenrheidiol/The Necessary Terror. They are described as “meditations on the mysterious survival of the word ‘god’ in the vocabulary of avowedly secular modern societies”.

The event has been organised by Cyfeilion Eglwys Llannefydd/Friends of Llannefydd Church, whose chair, Kate Tindle said: “The Necessary Terror’ is a significant new publication – not only because of the quality of the work, but because the poems have been beautifully translated into English by M Wynn Thomas, so making them accessible to a much larger audience than before.

“These short, gem-like poems read by the author, will appeal to people of faith and those of no faith. The talk will be bilingual, with opportunities for audience interaction.

“We look forward to welcoming people into Llannefydd Church which hold so much history and significance for Wales.”

Y Dychryn Angenrheidiol/The Necessary Terror opens with a foreword by Rowan Williams, a former Archbishop of Canterbury. He says of this work: “Aled Jones Williams is a completely distinctive poetic voice in contemporary Wales, but English-speakers are only slowly being introduced to his work. The acute and forceful renderings by Wynn Thomas provide a first-rate guide to a poet and prose writer of rare stature, depth, wit and poignancy.”

The evening of poetry with Aled Jones Williams takes place at 5pm on Sunday 19 July at SS Mary and Nefydd, Llannefydd, LL16 5ED. Admission is free, and books and refreshments will be on sale. The event has received sponsorship from Literature Wales’ Inspiring Communities Fund.

Saints Mary and Nefydd Church in Llannefydd is part of the Denbigh Mission Area, a collection of 12 churches in and around the town of Denbigh. The Mission Area is part of the Diocese of St Asaph, one of the six dioceses of the Church in Wales.