On Wednesday, September 9th, 2026, the composer of the BAFTA Cymru-nominated film Tanau’r Lloer, Gareth Glyn, will be premiering a new choral work at Bangor Cathedral. This event will be a part of a weekend commemorating the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi.
The new piece, titled Mab a’n Rhodded, will be performed by the Kana Choir and cellist Dr. Anastasia Zaponidou during a special Transitus service at the Cathedral on Saturday, October 3rd, 2026 at 5pm. Additionally, a new Nunc Dimittis by fellow Anglesey composer Ellen Davies will also be premiered during the service.
Gareth Glyn is known for composing the score for the Welsh-language opera film Tanau’r Lloer, which was recently broadcast on Channel 4 in March. The film, which featured Glyn’s “hauntingly beautiful score”, has been nominated for a 2026 BAFTA Cymru award in the Feature/Television Film category.
The weekend’s events will begin with a Quiet Day led by Br John SSF and culminate in the Transitus service at Bangor Cathedral. The Transitus service is a traditional Franciscan ceremony that commemorates the final hours of St. Francis and his passing into eternal life. This service will be open to everyone and will also be livestreamed on the Bangor Cathedral YouTube channel.
The celebrations will continue on Anglesey on Sunday, October 4th with a pilgrimage from Llanfaes to Beaumaris. This guided walk will start at 9:30am and end at St. Mary and St. Nicholas Church in Beaumaris at 11am. Along the way, participants will explore the area’s historic and contemporary connections with St. Francis, including the site of the medieval Franciscan friary at Llanfaes and the inspiration behind Mab a’n Rhodded.
The weekend will conclude with a Francis-themed Eucharist at St. Mary and St. Nicholas Church at 11am. St. Francis, a 13th-century friar and preacher, is known for his life of simplicity, prayer, and service, which inspired the worldwide Franciscan movement. He is remembered for his care for people living in poverty, his work for peace, and his belief that Christians should treat all of creation with compassion.
Organizer Wendy Davies, a member of the Third Order of the Society of St. Francis (TSSF), explains, “Many people only know St. Francis as a statue in a garden, surrounded by birds and animals. But he was a real person whose life still challenges us to act with humility, love, and joy and to care for one another and the whole of creation. The Franciscan way is about living out the Gospel through prayer and action and using our own God-given gifts to serve others and work for peace. We hope this weekend will help a new generation discover Francis and be inspired by his example.”
Those interested in attending the weekend’s events can reserve their places through Eventbrite.
