Music, dance and culture lights up town at temple ceremony

Wat Phra Singh UK temple and meditation centre on High Street hosted a special Sri Ra Reuk ceremony to mark its 11th anniversary recently.

The ceremony was attended by more than 500 people including civic dignitaries and monks who had travelled all the way from Thailand for the occasion.

The ceremony saw the dedication of a plinth that will support a 6m-high Chedi – a bronzed statue which enshrines relics and keeps the memory of the Buddha and his teachings alive.

Deputy mayor's consort Peter Lloyd Jones makes a dedication (Image: PR)

The Chedi marks the centrepiece of a new peace garden at the temple, which is also part of Reconnecting Runcorn – eight projects designed to breathe new life into the town centre following a £23.6m government Towns Fund grant.

The Cedi was donated by a benefactor at Wat Phra Singh UK’s parent temple in North Thailand, hand-crafted by monks and taking eight months to build. The design is a replica of one in Chiang Mai in Thailand.

Tony Collacott, Halton deputy mayor Cllr Martha Lloyd Jones, consort Peter Lloyd Jones, and Labour parliamentary candidate for Runcorn and Helsby Mike Amesbury. (Image: PR)

During the ceremony, those who attended were given the opportunity to place an item of personal significance into one of the nine chambers that form the plinth. The day’s events also involved traditional Thai dance performances, a blessing ceremony and mayoral speech.

More than 500 people attended including visitors from Thailand (Image: PR)

Tony Collacott, Trustee of Wat Phra Singh UK, said: "Wat Phra Singh Uk would like to thank our Parliamentary candidate, Mike Amesbury, for attending our Sri Ra Reuk ceremony.

The dedication ceremony in full swing (Image: PR)

"This unique event involved the dedication of a plinth that will support a Chedi, that has been cast at a foundry in Chiang Mai. This is due to arrive in the UK early July and will be erected by the monks and supporters of the temple."