Vicar learns 'language of love'

The wedding service was conducted in Welsh

A vicar had to enlist the help of his flock when he needed to learn Welsh to marry a young couple at his church.

The Reverend Roger Pitman mastered the language with the help of Welsh speaking members of the congregation in order to carry out the marriage between Emyr Edwards and his bride, Anwen.

And the curate said that the service went without a glitch at Coity Church in Bridgend after three months of solid practice.

"Both families are Welsh speaking and so it was only natural for them to want to have the marriage service in Welsh," said Rev Pitman.

"So I went about learning the wedding service with a lot of help from the congregation.

"I'm not particularly good at languages so it was quite hard for me because even though I am Welsh, I can't speak the language.

"I was helped a lot by the congregation because there are a few Welsh speakers among them," he said.

I think the families were pleased I was able to conduct the service in Welsh for them The Rev Roger Pitman

Guided mainly by parishioners Liz and Jim James, Rev Pitman took about three months to master the service.

"I went up to their house and sat with them while they taught me the right pronunciations and the right places to breath," he said.

"And Liz recorded a tape of the service so I listened to it in my car and had it playing at every opportunity.

"I think the families were pleased I was able to conduct the service in Welsh for them."

And despite having a very busy parish, he hopes to continue his Welsh language skills.

"I'm hoping to master more of the language so I can hold funeral services and other services in Welsh when the need arises," he added.

Bride, Anwen, who lives in Bangor with new husband Emyr said she was thrilled when Rev Pitman agreed to learn Welsh especially for them.

"He was excellent, absolutely superb," she said.

"It was important for us to be married in Welsh because that is our first language.

"He was brilliant," she added.