12 May 2025| Bala, UK [David Neal]
The year is 1800—ninety-two years before Ellen White would pen the now-iconic opening words of Steps to Christ: “Nature and revelation alike testify of God’s love.” Sixteen-year-old Mary Jones had never heard those words, nor read them on a printed page, nor could she, as she probably didn’t read English. Yet, as she made her legendary walk from the small Welsh village of Llanfihangel-y-Pennant to Bala, crossing mountains, meadows and streams in search of a Bible in her Welsh language, she experienced their truth. In the beauty of creation and the longing for God’s Word, Mary Jones walked a path where nature and revelation spoke to the love of God.
According to a new poll, nearly half (47 per cent) of respondents in Western countries said they believed the Bible offered meaningful insights for life today. More than a third (36 per cent) considered it personally relevant, while approximately one-third (32 per cent) reported reading or using the Bible at least once a month. And yet, as the Bible Society reports, “while the Bible can be found in millions of homes across the UK, for an increasing number of people, its contents are a mystery.”
Living at the very beginning of the 19th Century, Mary Jones, a poor Welsh girl raised by her widowed mother, walked barefoot from her home in Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, to the small town of Bala – a total of 28 miles each way, to buy a Bible in her language to discover and understand who God is, and what He is like. Mary’s is a story of extraordinary dedication, contrasting with today’s easy access to both print and digital Scripture. Jones’s passion and hunger to read scripture is also a story that continues to challenge, encourage and inspire all who appreciate the value and relevance of Scripture today. Her determination inspired the founding of the British and Foreign Bible Society in 1804, aiming to make the Bible accessible to all people in their languages worldwide.
It should come as no surprise, then, that the Mary Jones story has inspired thousands since to try and recreate her experience, not least to get a feel for her passion and perseverance to purchase a Bible. As one recent walker noted, “The route is no walk in the park”.
Starting on Easter Monday (21 April) and headed by Atle Fonn Aluwini, a pastor from the Moss district of the Norwegian Union Conference, a small group of walkers set out to follow the route in reverse from Bala to Llanfihangel-y-Pennant. This is not the first time tedNEWS (nor will it be the last) has reported on walkers following the Mary Jones route. Having walked all or part of this route three times, this participant discovers something new on the route each time – a spiritual lesson in itself.
A Surprise Act of Kindness
About four miles into the journey, we arrived at the village of Llanuwchllyn at the western end of the Bala Lake Heritage Railway. The walk started at a slow pace as the group felt they wanted to ‘give back’ a small token of appreciation to the community for the amazing beauty and inspiration this walk gives. The ‘gift’ was a litter-picking plan that involved filling large bags with litter for recycling.
As we entered the village, we were met by Mary Thomas, a pioneer walker and the author of The Mary Jones Walk guide, published by the Bible Society. Not only were we met by Thomas, but also the curator of the Mary Jones Pilgrim Centre, Nerys Siddal and her extended family.
It is one thing to be met with a welcoming smile, but quite another to be offered genuine hospitality, and when least expected. Siddal’s extended family, with generous hearts, went above and beyond, providing a flask and mugs to refresh the walkers with a hot brew, turning this inspiring and surprising encounter into a heartfelt gesture of kindness.
A New Discovery
After walking about 20 miles on the first day, the group settled into a welcoming hotel run by a landlord well-acquainted with weary walkers. He shared helpful tips about the route ahead—what to expect and how long it might take. Though our bones ached, we set off on day two buoyed by the thought of a much shorter walk—only eight miles. But our cheerfulness was soon tempered by the mountain we had to climb.
Once over the mountain, it was all downhill to Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, Mary Jones’s home. A church has been in this area since the 13th century, and Mary was Christened in the nearby St. Michael’s Church, just a few hundred metres away from her home, Ty’n y Ddol. But something is interesting in this church that gives an insight into Jones’s world.
The Unique Window/Pulpit Angle
Take a look inside the church from a window on the northern side. It looks like any other church window, but it is the only window in the church set at an angle. Why? Take a look at the second photo below, and you will find the answer.
Notice from the photo how the window aligns with a view of the pulpit. From the outside, the viewer can see the pulpit and, therefore, the preacher. By the same measure, the preacher can see who is standing outside.
At the turn of the 19th century in rural Wales, the community faced what we would now describe as a public health emergency: a significant number of people were affected by leprosy. Although leprosy is not highly contagious, fear and misunderstanding were widespread, understandably in an era when evidence-based medicine was not yet fully established and effective treatments had not been developed. As a result, measures were taken to prevent any potential spread. A sign posted in the church explains that a special window was installed to allow those with leprosy to participate in the service without coming into direct contact with the rest of the congregation. Worth noting that this was not the only church at the time to create such a window.
As we ended our walk, with our muscle pains and our weariness, we enjoyed the thrill of completing the walk, enjoying good conversation with each other, and singing together to help us on our way. But most of all, as for almost all walkers – or pilgrims, we were humbled at the dedication of Jones’s respect, interest, and commitment to the Word of God – and perhaps as a bonus, had a deeper appreciation for that treasured line from Steps to Christ, “Nature and revelation alike testify of God’s love.”
Featured image: Mary’s route on her return journey from Bala, looking towards Tal-y-llyn Lake, Gwynedd. [Photos: David Neal, Richard Wastling, AI edited by Attila Erdeg]
You can read more about the Mary Jones Walk here: Spiritual Lessons from Mary Jones and Her Bible, Into the Future – Concluding the Mary Jones Story.
