The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, has handed awards to Christians who devote their time and musical talent to safeguarding the place of music at the heart of services in churches and chapels across Wales.

Organists, choral leaders and singers were among those presented with awards and certificates by Archbishop Morgan during a ceremony at Bangor Cathedral on Saturday afternoon.

The Archbishop of Wales' Award in Church Music recognises people of outstanding musical ability who contribute to worship and was awarded to Geoffrey Jenkins, director of music for the past 20 years at St Cadoc, Caerleon, Newport; Margaret Parr, chorister at St Peter's Church, Ruthin; and Martin Brown, sub organist at Bangor Cathedral.

A number of noted musicians received the Certificate of Merit, which pays tribute to the talents and devoted service of musicians who contribute without being professionally trained.

Dr Morgan said: "Music plays an enormously important part in Christian worship and we are blessed in Wales with an excellent body of choirs and musicians.

"These awards recognise the dedication, talent and hard-work put in week after week by those people - from the professionally-trained musicians achieving exceptionally high artistic standards to the army of skilled volunteers without whom many of our churches and chapels would simply grind to a musical halt."

The awards are open to musicians from all denominations of Christian worship.

The twelve people who received the Archbishop of Wales' Certificate of Merit in Church Music. They are:

· Arthur Ellis St. David's Welsh Church, Rhosllanerchngog, Wrexham;
· Wendy Windsor St Augustine's, Blackwood;
· Dorothy Jones St Mary's , Caldicot;
· Roland Jones St Mary's, Burry Port;
· Michael McEvoy St Thomas', Rhyl;
· Linda Mann St Thomas', Rhyl;
· Arthur Jones St Stephen's, Newport;
· Carolyn Baines St Peter's, Ruthin;
· Gretta Davies St Peter's, Ruthin;
· David Jones St Peter's, Ruthin;
· Molly Jones St Peter's, Ruthin;
· Louvaine Lloyd Jones St Peter's, Ruthin.