Two clergyman will receive one of Chile’s highest honours when the country’s ambassador visits All Saints Church, Oystermouth next week.
Canon Keith Evans, Vicar of Oystermouth, and The Rt. Rev’d John Davies, Bishop of Swansea & Brecon will receive the Order of Bernardo O’Higgins from the country’s ambassador to the UK, Tomas Muller Sproat.
The Chilean Government are extremely grateful that the Bells of Santiago have been gifted back to Chilie, The honour is being given to both Canon Evans and Bishop Davies in recognition of the part they played in getting the famous bells of Santiago back to Chile last year.
Bishop John said, “It is not every day that you receive a letter to become a member of a major order from another state. We are obviously delighted to be receiving the honour but we are receiving it on behalf of the parish and the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon.”
“The purpose of the visit from the ambassador is to thank the people of Oystermouth and the parishioners. Myself and Bishop John will be accepting the award on behalf of the people of the parish,” added Canon Evans.
The three bells were returned to their home in Chile in September last year which coincided with the country’s bicentennial celebrations of independence.They were the only objects remaining from the Jesuit Cathedral of La Campania, which was destroyed by fire in 1863 with the loss of more than 2,500 lives.The bells were bought as scrap following the disaster, and shipped to Swansea on a copper barque. But instead they found a home in All Saints’ Church in Oystermouth.
“The bells are a source of national pride in Chile and there was a lot of newspaper articles and television coverage of the bells when they returned home,” commented Canon Evans.”People there were particularly touched that the story of the bells was better known in Mumbles than it was in Santiago. This was due to the opera which used to be held in the grounds of Oystermouth Castle from 1973 to 1983.We would also hold special prayers in All Saints’ on the anniversary of the disaster. I am humbled by the honour and we will accept it on behalf of the generous people of Mumbles.”
The service at All Saints’ will take place on Wednesday, March 2, at 3pm.
A picture depicting the arrival of the bells at All Saints’ will also be presented to the ambassador at the service. It has been produced by Malcolm Phillips, who was responsible for producing the opera in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Order of Bernardo O’Higgins award is the highest honour Chile can bestow on foreign citizens.
