Gŵyl Mabsant Service - Blessing of Loughor Lifeboat

One of the many anniversaries this year is that of the Loughor Lifeboat. They have been patrolling the treacherous Loughor estuary and rescuing people from that body of water for fifty years now. It was a pleasure therefore to join them to celebrate that occasion in a church service and a blessing of the boat.

The Gŵyl Mabsant (Welsh for "Feast of the Patron"), also known as the Patronal Festival or Wake of a parish, is a traditional Welsh festival held annually in commemoration of the patron saint of a . It was revived in Loughor six years ago as a thank you for all the many crew and support workers. The blessing of the lifeboat was adopted from similar ceremonies held in the Shetland Islands.

We were joined by the local MP and the Town Mayor of Loughor and gathered at the lifeboat station on the estuary before following the boat to St Michael's Church, where the blessing was to be delivered. It was a lovely service enhanced by the singing of pupils from Casllwchwr Primary School and Tre Uchaf Primary School.