MEIRIONNYDD churchgoers have been busy creating hundreds of angels to commemorate those who have died during the pandemic.

The angels have been made by members of the Bro Ystumanner churches’ Crafts for Giving group. The rainbow of angels will decorate Bro Ystumanner churches at their Services of Light, which will be held from 31 October throughout November.

Bereaved relatives can ask for names of loved ones to be read out during the services, and a candle will be lit for them.

There will be time to remember, pray, and reflect.

After the last Service of Light, angels will be delivered to households who have lost someone and have requested one in their memory.

Rev. Ruth Hansford, who is also Bro Ystumanner ministry area team leader said: “During the first lockdown I thought how hard it was for those whose loved ones died during Covid-19, whatever the cause, because they had often not been able to visit, or be with them at the end.

“As deaths from Covid increased, I thought that we should find some way of remembering each person by making something to commemorate everyone who died in Wales with a positive Covid test in the last 28 days. However, with numbers nearing 6,000 in Wales, I realised that might be impossible.

“I then heard of a ministry area who were knitting angels for a Christmas trail and, as we have a craft group, it seemed knitting or crafting angels could be shared between members. The idea of hand-crafting a rainbow of angels was conceived.”

Most have been knitted, but the youngest crafter, Krystyna Hansford, 11, created her own design to make angels from felt.

Services will be held on the following dates:

Sunday, 31 October, 9.30am, St Celynnn’s, Llwyngwril and 11am, St Cynon’s, Fairbourne.

Tuesday, 2 November, 7.30pm. St Cadfan’s, Tywyn.

Sunday, 7 November, 3pm, St Peter’s, Aberdyfi.

Sunday, 21 November, 10am, St David’s, Abergynolwyn and 11.15am, St Mary & St Egryn’s, Llanegryn.

Saturday, 27 November, 3pm, St Cadfan’s, Tywyn.

Forms for people to fill in if they would like their loved one remembered at a service and/or to receive an angel in their memory are available from broystumanner.com, from Bro Ystumanner churches or from Rev. Ruth Hansford (01654 710 255).