Folk heroine
Mari Jones was born into a poor family in Llanfihangel-y-Pennant.
By the time she reached the age of 16 in 1800, Mary had saved enough money to buy a copy of the Bible, and walked barefoot from Llanfihangel-y-Pennant to Y Bala to purchase a copy from the Methodist minister, Thomas Charles.
It was a long journey of about 18 miles, over mountains and rocks, but she was disappointed when she arrived at Y Bala—Thomas Charles had no Bible left to give Mary, and Bibles were very rare at that time.
Mary eventually got her Bible, and her journey inspired Thomas Charles to establish the Bible Society in 1804.
Mari Jones’s story is now known worldwide and has been translated into 40 languages. Her story can also be explored at Llanycil Church.