| Where: | Efenechtyd, Denbighshire at St Michael & All Angels Church |
| When: | A weekend in October or very late September |
| Time: | 2pm |
The tiny church at Efenechtyd houses the Feat Stone or Maen Camp, a large rounded boulder used to demonstrate the strength of the locals who would throw the stone backwards over their heads at the village sports. In the past, the winner would act as a local arbiter of authority and settler of disputes over the coming year in the parish. Usually kept inside near the font, the stone now gets an annual outing on the afternoon of the Patronal Service at the church, which is dedicated to St Michael; the saint’s day is 29th September and the Throwing is usually near that date. A demonstration of the sport is given in the churchyard after a brief service in the church, a procession around the churchyard and the clipping of the building, whereby all those present form a ring around the outside of the church to embrace it. The custom was revived in the early twenty-first century and the stone weighs in at over one hundred pounds. After the throwing, delicious home-made cakes are served under the lychgate.
Helpful Hints
In 2023 it was on Sunday September 24th- 2024 date is yet to be announced.
All are welcome and the locals are very friendly and helpful. There are usually opportunities for visitors to have a go at throwing the stone, with smaller sized stones available for children. In 2021 the collection was for the homeless charity The Wallick, for whom stone thrower Paul Thorpe works.
Click here for the Church Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Michaels-and-All-Angels-Efenechtyd/363528064000581
Thanks to Gillian Smith for sharing info on this, and to Marion Henshaw for all the helpful emails!
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