Time capsule locked away as St Grwst's Church undergoes a major renovation

Four boxes detailing life in 2020 Llanrwst have been placed in a time capsule and locked away as work on a £1m renovation scheme at St Grwst’s Church in the town continues.

Community groups and local school children helped members of St Grwst’s Church by sourcing both current and historic items to be included in the boxes, which have been placed into an old wall safe at the back of the church.  The time capsule will remain sealed until 2070.

One of the boxes has been put together by some of the pupils from Ysgol Bro Gwydir and included letters to their future selves, school photos, a school jumper and baseball cap, and a USB stick with a film about their involvement with the recent Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, held in Llanrwst in August 2019.

On Tuesday (28 January), Mr Aron Jones, deputy head teacher at Ysgol Bro Gwydir, visited St Grwst Church, along with seven members of the school council, to place their box in the safe. They were also given the job of closing the safe door, sealing it up for fifty years until it is due to be opened in 2070, when most of them will have reached the age of 60.

Members of Crwst Camera Club have been out and about in Llanrwst town centre, contributing nearly 100 photographs of current businesses and their owners.

Conwy Valley Rotary Club has also contributed historical records of the club, dating back to its formation in the 1940s.

Mrs Pat Rowley of Llanrwst Historical Society has kindly donated a set of the seven books detailing the street history of Llanrwst.

Other contributions have been made by Llanrwst Guides, Merched y Wawr, Llanddoged WI, Capel Seion, as well as St Grwst Church.

Jon Richmond, Business Development Officer at St Grwst Church said: “It has been a wonderful privilege to see the contributions from the organisations involved. Our particular thanks must go to the business community in Llanrwst for allowing members of Crwst Camera Club to photograph their businesses and themselves. The school council at Ysgol Bro Gwydir have also been fantastic, and written some wonderful letters to their future selves, with their hopes and aspirations for their lives ahead. And as they will be 60 years of age when the time capsule is due to be reopened, we are relying on them to remind the town and members of St Grwst Church to do it in 2070!”

St Grwst’s Church was awarded a £707,000 National Lottery Grant to upgrade the building and enable it to be used for community activities.  The money will ensure St Grwst’s Church can remain as a place of worship, while also serving a dual purpose as a heritage and tourist attraction, bringing visitors and the local community together.  New disabled access and vital repair and upgrading work to the buildings will help open up the church to new audiences.