Museum Talk Reveals The Real Bishop Laud

The Friends of the Carmarthenshire County Museum have held a talk on the famous Bishop Laud, Bishop of St David’s from 1621-27. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This month’s Gallery Talk was by Brenig Davies on Bishop Laud’s Chapel as part of a series of talks on the first Saturday of the month. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The interesting facts revealed by Brenig Davies included that Bishop Laud only visited Abergwili, the home of the Bishop’s Palace, on two occasions, too embroiled as he was in London with personal advancement as well as affairs of state. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The museum in Abergwili was the Bishop’s Palace for many years and as such had its own chapel which is named after Bishop Laud. Brenig Davies’ talk was given in the chapel. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He contended that, as the chapel was reconsecrated for Christian services in 2007, it was paving the way forward in church unity by welcoming people from all denominations in stark contrast to the divisive policies pursued by the authoritarian Bishop Laud. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With its oak carvings and peaceful atmosphere, it is the ideal place for intimate wedding ceremonies. The chapel brings to life the whole purpose of museums which is to provide a link with the past whilst looking forward to the future,” he added. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For his talk Brenig was joined by an ever increasing group of Gallery Talk fans who come together at the museum at the museum on the first Saturday of each month at 10.30am to learn about the past and enjoy the coffee and cakes which follow. All the talks are free and pre-registration is not required. A warm welcome awaits all who turn up. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Forthcoming talks include: November 5, More little histories of the Bishops’ Palace (10.30am) by Gavin Evans; Carmarthenshire Men and their Books (2pm) by Jill Davies; December 3, Neanderthals in Carmarthen by Belinda Todd; January 7, Book Selections from the Museum’s Collection by Jill Davies; and February 4, Evidence of Early Settlement in Carmarthenshire by Gwilym Dawe. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Friends of the Carmarthenshire County Museum work to support the museum and to interest people in aspects of Carmarthenshire’s history. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​