October 2024 – Genesis
Following a visit by an OC to Llanedwen Church (which overlooks the Menai Strait on the edge of the Plas Newydd estate) and his discussions with the church wardens about HMS Conway’s 10 year association with the church, the wardens asked the Friends of HMS Conway whether that link could be memorialised in some way by a display, information board or even a stained glass window. The church is quite small and lit only by candles so a display or board was thought to be problematic but the idea of a window was interesting and further discussions ensued.
16th December 2024 – Planning Meeting
Representatives of The Friends, the Vicar, Church Wardens, Diocese and the window artist met at the church to discuss the feasibility of a memorial window in the church. They looked at the windows that could be used and the practicalities of each (they had different shapes, sizes and positions) and concluded that the triple lantern window facing the entrance door (shown on the right) was the most suitable. They considered the impact of a new window on the church interior. They discussed two design approaches; a traditional format with very precise images, and a more contemporary one with flowing, abstract images. Some very simple mock ups of each style were considered. They concluded that a memorial window was very appropriate and that it could be installed in Q4 2025. They therefore decided to proceed, set out everyone’s responsibilities and actions including the process for selecting a design and obtaining church and Friends’ approvals to proceed. Local planing permission is not required as the church has delegated powers for church properties.
1st January 2025 – An Appeal is Launched
The Friends’ Trustees chose Jayne Ford Glass & Design to produce the window as she did such a splendid job on the Bangor Pier and PN Dock memorial windows. The church window is likely to cost £10K to £12K to make plus installation costs so the Trustees and the Conway Club Committee agreed to launch an appeal to OCs to help fund the project. The following article appeared in the February 2025 issue of The Cadet magazine. Donations have started to flow in but please do consider making a donation so this important memorial can become a reality.
15th January 2025 – Plans & Timescales
We have every confidence sufficient funds will be raised so have moved on to detailed project planning. Timescales must allow for church approvals, detailed design, manufacture and installation. Once that’s all complete we will hold a dedication service, hopefully officiated by the Bishop of Bangor and our own Simon Douglas Lane. Approximately 100 OCs and guests can be accommodated in the church and the service will be followed by a drinks reception and buffet lunch at the Conway Centre. We also hope to arrange accommodation and a reunion weekend in the Centre. To engage all those moving parts means that installation will be in Q4 2025 with the dedication service on Saturday 18th April 2026 as that’s the earliest date the Conway Centre can host us. Full details will be published here and in The Cadet magazine in due course.
11th February 2025 – Outline Designs Under Consideration
The window will illustrate our Conway Gulls tradition that old boys who have crossed the bar return to the ship as seagulls so should be welcomed home and not be disturbed. Two options are being evaluated by the Church Wardens and The Friends’ Trustees. The designs are inspired by the Gulls Window in the Conway Chapel at Birkenhead (reproduced above). One is a contemporary design by Jan Windsor shown below right, and the other is a traditional design by Jayne Ford shown below left. At this stage, both are outline, indicative drafts, sufficient for one to be chosen. Click on each image to see a larger version.
17th February – Design Selected
The Church Wardens and The Friends’ Trustees selected Jayne’s design. They liked its traditional look which compliments the style and colouring of the church’s other windows and, most importantly, it will still allow a lot of light into the church (it is candle lit with no electricity so the interior is quite dark and every ounce of light is important).
17th February – Submission For Church Approval
The church has a formal approval process requiring all sorts of detail about the rationale for the window and its design, materials and installation, scale drawings, location and maker. The wardens created the required proposal and on Monday 17th Feb., it was submitted for approval by Bangor Diocese and then by “Head Office” in Cardiff. Approval is expected in April 2025.
10th March 2025 – More Data Requested
Bangor Diocese requested lots of extra detail to supplement the submission including information about the construction/installation of the stained glass, the metal work (ferramenta), glass samples and a detailed scale drawing of the window including more precise measurements. Following an extra site visit to obtain the necessary measurements the pack of information was delivered to the diocese on 2nd April just in time for the planning meeting.
5th April – Diocese Says Yes, Now For Head Office
The Diocese of Bangor are happy with the proposals so the case has now been submitted to “Head Office” in Cardiff for their approval. No date for that decision yet but the Churchwardens are inviting the Bishop of Bangor to officiate at the memorial window dedication on Saturday 18th April 2026. As the Bishop of Bangor is also Archbishop of Wales we are hope for fair winds. Meanwhile, our glass artist Jayne Ford who created our Bangor Pier and Plas Newydd memorials, is juggling her plans so she can produce the window for us.
16th May – The Church in Wales Says Yes
Head Office in Cardiff have given their approval to the proposed memorial window so we are moving to the next stage to formally commission Jayne Ford to start work.
14th June – Funding Approved
At their meeting on Sat 14th June the Trustees formally approved funding for the project based on a fixed price quote from Jayne Ford of £16K; £14.3K for fabrication and £1.7K for installation. The fabrication price has inevitably increased as the church required changes to the ’structure’ of the window creating a more complex design (involving an extra site visit by Jayne) and materials’ costs have increased. Renovation work is also required to the fabric of the building to prepare it for the window but that is being paid separately by the church.
20th June – Book for the Dedication Service
With all approvals granted, fabrication of the window has started. The dedication service will be on Saturday 18th April 2026, hopefully by the Bishop of Bangor assisted by our own Rev, Simon Douglas-Lane. If you are interested in attending please email alfie@hmsconway.org. The church can accommodate 100 people and priority will be given to appeal donors. There will be a simple, full board residential weekend in the Conway Centre, Fri., 17th to Sun 19th April, if you’d like to make a weekend of it. We are investigating the possibility of travelling between Plas Newydd and the church by boat, perhaps with a diversion past Caernarfon Castle on the return leg. Full details will be in the Jan 2026 issue. Donations are still welcome, please complete and return the Donation Form above.
24th November 2025 – Laying Up of Colours
We’ve had discussions with the Church and agreed that when the window is dedicated we all lay up a Conway ensign alongside the window. The ensign wil be paraded onto the service and paid on the altar for the service before being laid up. As the church is an ancient building we cannot drill holes in the walls for a holding bracket so the ensign will be stood next to the window in a lathe block of timber from the ship.
4th December 2025 – Book Your Attendance
If you’d like to attend the window dedication service you have two options. Join us for the day on Saturday 18th April 2026 or make a weekend of it with a full board stay in the Conway Centre from Friday 17th April to Sunday 19th. Full detail and prices are here. WE could not arrange too travel by boat – she’ll still be laid up for the winter then and the tides are wrong. Bookings are already flowing in so book early as we can only accommodate 100 people in the church.
5th January 2026 – Planning the Service
Simon Douglas Lane and the church’s Vicar are well into planning the Order of Service for Sat 18th April 2026. Splendid hymns, appropriate prayers and readings; it’s going to be a very special day.
20th February 2026 – Ship’s Model For The Church
There will be be an interpretation card permanently in the church to explain the gulls theme of the window, HMS Conway and it connection with the church. We’ve also agreed to gift them a model of the ship with a fine display case. It will be installed for the dedication service.