
In 1924, a remarkable memorial petition signed by almost 400,000 women in Wales was presented to the women of the USA, to urge the US Government to join the League of Nations. The centenary of this campaign has been celebrated by returning the petition from the US to Wales, and digitising the signatories – enabling descendants today to uncover ‘hidden histories’ of peace activism from this generation of truly great grandmothers. Explore more about the story of the appeal at: www.PeacePetition.Wales
The Women’s Peace Petition was a remarkable achievement, but did not immediately achieve its main aim. Back in Wales, the Welsh League of Nations Union (WLNU) considered what to do next. They resolved to invite leaders of the faith communities of Wales – in effect, the Christian churches – to sign a similar memorial appeal, the Churches Peace Memorial, to the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America. Many of the documents have been digitised and can be viewed, along with a short explanatory feature film, at: https://www.wcia.org.uk/1925-churches-peace_appeal/
Revd Gwilym Davies, Secretary of the WLNU, conveyed the appeal in person to the Federal Council at their annual congress in Detroit in November-December 1925. Today, the faith communities of Wales (through Cytûn – Churches Together in Wales and the Inter-faith Council for Wales) are working with the Welsh Centre for International Affairs, Academi Heddwch Cymru (Wales’s Peace Academy), Cymdeithas y Cymod (the Fellowship of Reconciliation in Wales) and others to commemorate the centenary in 2025, by:
- Working with today’s generations to see what Peace Appeals from faith communities would say in 2025 – and to whom these may be conveyed.
- Inspiring a new generation to explore how different faiths can work together and contribute to the search for world peace in the present day.

We want this to be a partnership between historians, faith leaders and peace lovers in Wales and the USA and beyond. Could you help with any of this work?
If so, please get in touch with:
- Dr Cynan Llwyd [for contact between faith communities] cynan@cytun.cymru
- Craig Owen [for the historical and peace aspects]: craigowen@wcia.org.uk
We would love to hear from you!
Gethin Rhys of Cytun and Craig are here seen holding the 1925 Appeal in the Library of Wales’ Temple of Peace & Health.
Videos and documentary resources
Below you can watch a short video telling the story of the rediscovery of the Churches’ Peace Memorial and its significance, and a webinar arranged by the United Reformed Church History Society delving deeper into the history.
Below the videos you can download a fuller description of the centenary project, including details of how to contribute practically or financially towards its realisation.
On the Welsh language version of this page (click ‘Cymraeg’ in the right hand toolbar) or at https://youtu.be/WrhWhB71KoE you can see a video of a session held in Welsh on January 26 2025, entitled SEEKING PEACE THEN AND NOW – Revd Gwilym Davies (1879-1955). Born in Bedlinog, Gwilym Davies was a Baptist minister, secretary of the Welsh League of Nations Union, founder of the Peace and Good Will Message by the Youth of Wales, and co-ordinator of the Welsh Churches’ Peace Appeal to the churches of the USA in 1925. This was the first of a series of events to commemorate the centenary of the 1925 peace appeal arranged by Cytûn (Churches together in Wales), Welsh Centre for International Affairs, Academi Heddwch and partners.
This event was supported by Gelligaer and Merthyr Tydfil Historical Societies and local churches.
Speakers included: Aled Eirug (discussing the context of the peace movement in the 1920s), Angharad Wyn Jones of Urdd Gobaith Cymru (telling the story and the future of the annual Peace and Goodwill Message of the Youth of Wales), Sian Rhiannon (recounting the story of Mary Ellis, Gwilym Davies’s wife) and Gethin Rhys (Cytun) on the 1925 Churches’ Peace Petition and the centenary celebrations.