Memorial service to honour lives lost on Snowdonia’s mountains

A new memorial event will take place in Snowdonia later this month to remember those who have died on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and the surrounding peaks.

The gathering, titled Cysgod yr Wyddfa (“In Yr Wyddfa’s Shadow”), will be held at Nant Peris Church on Sunday 26 October from 5.30pm to 6.00pm. It has been organised by the Revd Naomi Starkey, Ministry Area Leader for Bro Eryri, following a series of recent mountain fatalities.

“Having lived in Bro Eryri for over a year, I’ve come to realise the dangers as well as the beauty of the amazing landscape,” said Revd Naomi. “It’s so poignant to hear of people coming for an adventure in the mountains and how that adventure sometimes ends in serious injury or death.”

Recent months have seen several fatalities on Yr Wyddfa and nearby routes, including incidents on Crib Goch, which is above Nant Peris Church, and in the foothills and rivers around the mountain.

Revd Naomi said the decision to organise the event became personal after her 23-year-old son was seriously injured in a bike accident this summer. “As a mother as well as a vicar, I wanted to do something to mark those recent losses and the many others over the years.”

The bilingual gathering will be an open space for quiet reflection rather than a formal church service. It will include gentle music, readings, and the opportunity to light a candle.

“I want to provide a space for grief and remembering in a sacred place that’s in the very heart of Eryri,” added Revd Naomi.

Anyone is welcome to attend, including families of those who have died and members of the mountain rescue community. A collection will be taken for Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, the UK’s busiest rescue team, which responded to more than 300 call-outs so far this year. In September alone, they received 32 call-outs, resulting in 25 full-team deployments.

This is the first time such a memorial has been held and may become an annual event.