St Mary’s windows revealed after years behind protective coverings

Brecon is seeing St Mary’s in a new light after work to uncover its stained glass, including the famous Wales Window.

Protective coverings have now been replaced with mesh, allowing the windows to be seen in their full glory. The project was funded by the Friends of St Mary’s together with donations.

The Friends group was established in 2023 to support St Mary’s as a place for everyone — welcoming not only the congregation but also the wider Brecon community. The church has a number of ambitious plans to improve both the interior and exterior of the building, enabling it to be used as a versatile space for a range of occasions as well as worship.

The window project was the Friends’ first fundraising initiative, and further projects are now being considered with the church’s Vestry Committee. Membership of the Friends of St Mary’s is open to anyone at £25 per year. People can join online or pick up a form in the church. Supporters can also contribute through one-off donations or by attending the Friends’ monthly speaker series, usually held on the third Tuesday of each month.

Upcoming talks include a reflection on how Christ College — the oldest independent school in Wales — is looking to the future; a talk by local resident Windsor Griffiths about surviving a hijack in the 1970s; and Gethin Havard sharing stories and the history of the Royal Welsh Show in the year Brecknock is the feature county.

Further details and joining information are available at www.stmarysbrecon.org.uk/friends.