Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, took centre stage at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod to deliver the annual Peace Lecture.

The former Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Monmouth, serves as chairman of Wales’s national peace institute, Academi Heddwch Cymru.

The Llangollen Eisteddfod event is known for its commitment to peace and reconciliation, and works with the Academi to present both the Peace Lecture and the Young Peacemakers Awards where young contributors to peace from across Wales are recognised.

Speaking from the Pavilion main stage, which had been the setting for a concert by Sir Tom Jones the previous evening, Dr Williams drew comparisons between today's troubled world and the international scene surrounding the 1923 Welsh Women’s Peace Petition.

Sparked by the atrocities of WW1, women from across Wales had organised an unprecedented peace campaign back then.

The powerful memorial, signed by nearly 400,000 women, called for America to join and take a leading role in the newly established League of Nations.

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The campaign reached its centenary in 2023, for which the Academi coordinated a substantial celebration.

During his lecture, Dr Williams applauded this old campaign as a shared vision responding to a shared problem, something that he believes our modern world could greatly benefit from.

Professor Chris Adams, chairman of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said: "It was my proud duty to introduce Dr Williams as he delivered to us the Peace Lecture from Academi Heddiwch Cymru, of which he is chair.

Dr Rowan Williams meets members of the Canon’s Choir from North London Collegiate School after their performance on the Globe outside stage at the Eisteddfod  (Image: Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod)

"The Eisteddfod is signally honoured in the Academi’s choice of our festival as the venue for both its Peace Lecture and also its Young Peacemakers Awards."

Professor Adams also added: "Dr Williams is no stranger to the task of tackling some of the great challenges of our time and I for one was looking forward immensely to hearing what he had to say to the Eisteddfod community on the subject of peace, which is so close to the heart of our festival."

Before delivering his lecture, Dr Williams, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury for ten years, was given a tour of the Eisteddfod field guided by Professor Adams.

Along the way, he had the opportunity to meet various international performers and festival volunteers.