My last post left us mid-journey. Albeit, we were stranded in no discomfort: basking in the last few rays of a sunset as it glinted on the River Teifi. After my very rewarding trip to Gomer Press, our new printer, I returned to Cardigan, then made my way to Saint Dogmael's. There, I visited the ancient ruins of its 11th abbey and the nearby parish church of Saint Thomas. Dropping afterward by the village pub, I had the fantastic pleasure to witness an evening of folk music with a band numbering well over a dozen and composed of every variety of fiddle, bodhrán, mandolin, guitar, and whistle.
Alas, the next morning I had to bid Wales goodbye and travel to Chester. Traveling by bus to Aberystwyth along stunning coastal roads, then by train over the wild hills of inland Wales, through Shrewsbury, I finally arrived in Chester. I had little idea what to expect from Chester, only that it had been convenient meeting place for my friends traveling from Liverpool. I was therefore completely surprised as my train rolled into the city's train station and my eye caught the glimpse of magnificent buildings, ornate church towers, and ringed about by a massive stone wall, built by the Romans.
Chester. Along the City Wall.
John and Oswald, from White Horse Wares, met me at the train station. We had corresponded at length over email, so it was a true pleasure to meet them in person. Oswald had reached out to the monastery after we announced our partnership with Gomer Press. Since we had struggled with providing our customers in the UK and the rest of Europe with our books due to high shipping costs, we were eager to explore the potential for White Horse Wares to sell our books and thus vastly reduce shipping expenses for us and our customers.
To discuss the details of this relationship, we walked to the Bull & Stirrup, where I was to stay for the night. On the way, we walked through charming streets flanked by medieval, timbered buildings and passed Chester's ancient cathedral built of ruddy sandstone. Here, we briefly went inside to venerate the relics of the 7th century Saxon saint, Werburgh. Arriving at the Bull & Stirrup, we climbed the stairs to my room to exchange the fifty or so pounds of books I had brought for them. Like a couple of Cold War spies, I emptied my suitcase of Orthodox Christian Prayers, The Holy Psalter, and several other titles. After we had made this faux-clandestine exchange, we got dinner at the Wetherspoons and discussed the details of our relationship. By the end of our conversation, I was convinced that WHW would make an excellent partner and we fleshed out a working agreement.
White Horse Wares was established by three Orthodox Christians within ROCOR, in 2022, with the blessing of their priest, Father Paul Elliott. Their main goal was to provide an online store based in the UK where Orthodox books and supplies could be bought, without having to order them from Russia, Greece, or the United States. Their business has since expanded and they are excited about the opportunity to grow even more through their partnership with STM Press.
On Friday, October 10 White Horse Wares will go live with the titles from STM Press that I brought. Additional copies and titles will be shipped directly from Gomer Press in the coming weeks and months. Please visit their website to learn more about White Horse Wares and to browse their catalog.
The next morning, before boarding my train back to London and back to the U.S., I walked the entire length of Chester's Roman walls, taking in the brisk morning air as I wandered along the River Dee. Maybe it was the brilliance of the sunshine or energy of the city as it awoke, I nonetheless felt a sense of renewal as I thought about the new relationships that this trip had forged, both with Gomer Press and with White Horse Wares. May they be blessed and may they be a blessing to others.
In Christ,
Fr Mikel Hill, managing editor
Chester's Roman Walls