The Church of St Bridget and St Cwyfan Dyserth Mission Area of Bryn a Môr in the Diocese of St Asaph September 2019

The Church of St Bridget and St Cwyfan Dyserth

Mission Area of Bryn a Môr in the Diocese of St Asaph September 2019

In the Diocese of St Asaph or Teulu Asaph, we’re

• Growing and encouraging the whole people of God • Enlivening and enriching worship • Engaging the world

We’re a family of more than 7,000 regular worshippers, with 80 full time clergy, over 500 lay leaders, 216 churches and 51 church schools.

We trace our history to the days of our namesake, St Asaph and his mentor, St Kentigern who it’s believed built a monastery in St Asaph in AD 560. Many of the churches across the Diocese were founded by the earliest saints in Wales who witnessed to Christian faith in Wales and have flourished through centuries of war, upheaval, reformation and reorganisation.

Today, the Diocese of St Asaph carries forward that same Mission to share God’s love to all in 21th Century north east and mid Wales. We’re honoured to be a Christian presence in every community, to walk with people on the journey of life and to offer prayers to mark together the milestones of life.

Unlocking our Potential is the focus of our response to share God’s love with people across north east and mid Wales. Unlocking our Potential is about bringing change, while remaining faithful to the life-giving message of Jesus. It’s about challenging, inspiring and equipping the whole people of God to grow in their faith.

Geographically, the Diocese follows the English/Welsh border in the east, whilst the western edge is delineated by the Conwy Valley. The northern boundary runs along the North Wales coast as far as Llandudno, but only takes in part of that town. The southern boundary runs from the lower end of Llyn Tegid (Lake Bala) across to Dolfor, just south of Newtown in Powys. Ecclesiastically it is bordered by the dioceses of Chester, Lichfield and Hereford on the northern and eastern sides. To the south we border Swansea and Brecon diocese and to the west, Bangor.

Large parts of the diocese are rural, but there are important and continually developing industrial and commercial areas around Deeside (one of the largest industrial parks in Europe) and Wrexham and significant developments along the two main arterial roads (A55 and A483). The coastal strip is home to traditional holiday resorts and tourism is an important industry in many parts of the diocese.

St Asaph offers:

• A welcome to all • Life enhancing opportunities for all • A commitment to nurture God’s gifts to everyone • A Christian education through our 51 Church Schools • A celebration and conservation of our very special places • A commitment to walk alongside those in need • A prayerful heart at the centre of every community

2 Bryn a Môr Mission Area

Bryn a Môr Mission Area was formally commissioned in July 2017 by Bishop Gregory and was formed from the former Area Deanery of St Asaph. The Mission Area includes part of the beautiful north Wales coastline, including the major seaside town of Prestatyn, as well as the rural hinterland with its lovely countryside and vibrant communities. The Mission Area is well connected with easy access to the A55 expressway that links north Wales with the north west of England and the motorway network beyond.

The Mission Area Conference meets regularly and has worked exceptionally hard over the last couple of years in establishing itself. There is now a lively Shared Ministry Team, including Readers, Worship Leaders and Pastoral Assistants. The Finance Committee works hard to ensure that the financial resources of the Mission Area are used to grow God’s Kingdom and to allow mission and ministry to flourish. We are looking forward to the next step in our journey together.

The churches that make up the Mission Area are:

St Bridget’s Church, Dyserth St Michael’s Church, Trelawnyd St Melyd’s Church Meliden St Mary Magdalene’s Church Gwaenysgor Christ Church Prestatyn The Church of the Holy Spirit Prestatyn Ss Asaph & Cyndeyrn Church Llanasa All Saints Church Ffynnongroyw

There is also a Mission Area Pilgrim Church at Cwm. This ancient church was formerly looked after by the Vicar of Dyserth and Trelawynd but is now under the care of the Mission Area and we hope that it will be used for occasional festival services and as a sacred space for all to enjoy.

We have one Church School in the Mission Area: Trelawnyd VA School.

Our shared Ministry Team is made up of three stipendiary clergy (plus the current vacancy) and two Readers. We also benefit from the ministry of Worship Leaders and Pastoral Assistants and are supported by a part-time Mission Area Administrator.

The Mission Area Conference consists of elected representatives from each church and is the group that thinks through our vision statement and works through the strategy for the Mission Area. We are on a learning journey to see what it means to become a group of Christians who are

”Worshipping & working together as visible followers of Christ to love our diverse communities” MA Vision statement 2017

The Church of St Bridget & St Cwyfan Dyserth

We are praying for a priest who: • Is prepared to work with our committed congregations, to reinvigorate the churches and build on our firm foundations of faith • Will exercise a sacramental ministry in the catholic tradition of the Church in Wales that centres on the Eucharist • Values the contributions of members of the congregations and seeks to develop their talents • Provides clear leadership in mission and evangelism • Connects with the local community and leads people into the family of the Churches and the Churches to the people • Will be a pastor, spiritual director, teacher and friend

For ourselves: We seek to live each day to the greater glory of God and in service to our fellow human beings.

For others: We seek to bring enquirers through faith to the foot of the cross.

Our Values

St Bridget’s Church stands in the Catholic tradition of the Church in Wales.

The following are core values by which we seek to serve Our Lord:

a) above all, we seek to be a welcoming church with a love of people of all backgrounds and circumstance. b) we have a strong commitment to sharing the faith with others c) we enhance our Eucharistic worship, which seeks to meet the needs of all d) we desire on-going opportunities for people to develop their spirituality through prayer and study e) we encourage others to be ministers of the Good News. f) we desire leadership that values the gifts and experience of the people of St Bridget’s

Church Attendance 2018

Electoral Roll 48 Average Sunday Attendance 39 Christmas 52 Easter 88 No. of Baptisms 8 No. of Weddings 6 No. of Confirmations 0 No of Funerals (not incl. crem) 7

Our new Priest

We are praying for a priest who is a person of prayer, who will provide clear leadership and develop our gifts and talents. In return we will contribute to the mission of the Church.

In order to achieve this, we hope you will:

1. Love us and our community and encourage its spiritual growth 2. Seek to develop the gifts, talents and skills of the congregation, as a priest who will encourage and strengthen us in our lay ministry and financial challenges. 3. Make space for the exercise of spiritual gifts. 4. Support and develop the church’s prayer life, both personal and corporate. 5. Lead us in making disciples for Christ and inspiring church members into a deeper relationship with him. 6. Love those on the fringes of the church 7. Have a desire to work with us in mission 8. Have a passion for outreach and seek opportunities to share the Gospel through daily life 9. Work to make worship accessible and welcoming to new-comers. 10. Encourage current members to develop their evangelistic responsibilities in their desire to build relationships within the community

Worship The ethos and worship at St Bridget’s Church has, for many years has been in the Catholic tradition of the Church in Wales.

All Soul’s Requiem Christmas Midnight Mass Easter Day

Easter Vigil and Solemn Eucharist

Our focus is our Sunday Eucharist and our usual pattern of services are: Sunday Services

Every Sunday at 9.45am - Eucharist

5TH Sunday Group Services as announced. Wednesday

10.00am Eucharist

In contrast to and complementing our regular Sunday worship, there is a 10.00am Wednesday morning Eucharist. This “said” service provides an opportunity to have a pause during the week of our busy lives and worship in a very quiet and peaceful environment. The importance of this time is an asset which is much valued by all present. Whilst the numbers attending are small, their individual lives are considerably enriched. It is hoped our new priest would support the continuation of this regular treasured service. Our church family includes people who travel some distance every Sunday to take part in our traditional type of Service. We hope and pray that our new priest will be of the same mind and we can continue our very special and spiritual journey together.

Other services are announced prior to the event.

Our Lady of Walsingham

The St Bridget and St Cwyfan cell of the Society of Our Lady of Walsingham was formed in July 2004. Eleven of our own congregation are members and we have others from other churches such as Holywell, Rhyl, Denbigh, Deganwy and Shotton. We are a sizeable number and hold a Eucharist every month in St Bridget’s Church.

We go on Pilgrimage to Walsingham every year to have a peaceful and prayerful time together. We hope our new priest will be able to support us.

Our Team

We have a committed team of servers, who are members of GSS (Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary). Three of them, together with one of the Church Wardens, have permission to assist in the administration of Communion.

We also have a willing team of readers, intercessors and sides persons. Music

Our Eucharist on Sundays is sung and music for weddings and funerals is also provided. Dyserth & District Cytûn

Cytûn, which in Welsh means together, is the name for a group of people from the Churches and the Chapels in the villages, who meet to arrange joint services at various time during the year and events to help raise the profile of the Christian community in Dyserth and Trelawnyd.

Website

The church has a well-established website http://www.stbridget-dyserth.co.uk which is engaging, up to date and relevant. The website is well visited and has hits from all over the world including, Russia, Canada and Australia. We have an active Social Media Facebook page which is integrated with the website. Fellowship

Our congregation includes people of a range of ages, St Bridget’s has a reputation for putting on a “good spread” for social events and for special services such as our Patronal Festivals.

The several care homes in the areas are also welcoming, although we no longer have regular contact with them and would hope to restore it.

We also enjoy good relationships and fellowship with other churches of the Mission Area, and our clergy and people have always supported festivals and special occasions in our Mission area and sister churches.

You will be supported by clergy in the Mission Area, diocese and beyond, and will also find support from the clergy of the SSC chapter in the area. (If you are a member). Finance

It is gratifying to know that St. Bridget’s Church has a sound financial footing, with detailed annual plan for fund raising and social activities. It is aware that to maintain its position within the community, it must grow, both numerically and financially.

St Bridget’s Church Dyserth

St Bridget’s is an historic Church, its glory being the famous Jesse Window (right), dating from around 1430 and the remains of two Celtic standing crosses now housed within the Church. It is a Church which has seen increases in regular attendance at Eucharist over the past few years and more recently younger families attending. We are looking for a priest to build upon this reaching out into the community whilst ministering to the needs of local people.

We know that there has been a church in Dyserth since 1086 as reference is made to it in the Domesday Book. However, the exact date of any foundation is unknown and very little is known of the saints to whom the church is dedicated.

The name Dyserth itself is said to mean 'the place of the hermit's cell'. The original structure of the church would have been made from wood and has long since disappeared. The earliest parts of the church structure are medieval, dating from the thirteenth century, and are most clearly seen in the great buttresses that frame the West door which looks out towards the stream. Throughout the centuries there have been occasions when the church has been repaired and renovated. The most thorough of these renovations was in the 1870's when the church was virtually rebuilt by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the Victorian architect who restored the choir of Westminster Abbey and who renovated the cathedral of St. Asaph at about the same time. Scott replaced the South porch and added the North transept and vestry. The gallery was taken down and other alterations made. The general structural condition of the fabric is in good order.

The Font, St Bridget’s Jacobean canopied Tombs, Churchyard

St Bridget’s Church Hall

The Church Hall (left) is situated on the edge of the Churchyard by the Waterfall and was originally the first school in the village of Dyserth.

The building has had many uses over the years and has been renovated to serve as the Church Hall. The Hall is an asset for St Bridget’s fundraising and social events. It is also available to hire for private functions at competitive rates.

The Vicarage: Waterfall Road Dyserth LL18 6DB

The Vicarage is situated next to St. Bridget’s Church in Dyserth. The two-storey split-level house was built in the late 1960s as a purpose- built vicarage. It is a modern detached house with garage and front and rear gardens. A new kitchen and bathroom have been installed recently. The house is well-maintained by the Diocesan Property Board and will be extensively re-furbished for the next occupant.

Dyserth is well known for its lovely 70’ waterfall. The surrounding countryside offers pleasant hiking trails in the hilly area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The area is within easy reach of the A55, leading to Liverpool, Manchester, Chester and surrounding areas. There are two airports, each within approximately one hour’s travel. There are new houses currently being built in the village which offers an excellent opportunity for outreach and help ensure that Dyserth remains a thriving community in which to live.

Pilgrim Church of Saints Mael and Sulien Cwm

Cwm is one of the ancient parishes of Flintshire, comprising the two townships of Uwchllan and Isllan. The boundaries of the parish remained untouched during the Victorian era. The church dates from the fourteenth century, or earlier; although it was rebuilt about 1500. There were restorations in 1881 and 1901. The church is built on a hillside, and the floor is in three levels.

On the 29th July, 2018, Cwm Church became a Pilgrim Church and is now the responsibility of Bryn A Môr Mission Area.

In summary

We are praying for a priest who will:

• be a cleric of prayer whose spiritual life centres on the Eucharist

• have a passion for evangelism

• be an effective leader, with strong personal motivation and drive

• be an inspiring preacher, teacher and spiritual director

• have secure liturgical understanding, and commitment to developing occasional services to complement the Eucharist

• be ready to play a key role in the local community

• have an empathy for the Welsh culture and a sensitivity towards the language

We very much hope you have enjoyed reading about our parish life and the many opportunities that lie on the horizon.

If you feel God calling you to become our priest, we would like to encourage you to apply.

Find us on our Website or Facebook page, details on page 7.

Further details, or for an informal conversation please contact the Archdeacon of St Asaph The Venerable Andy Grimwood: 01352 720478 or [email protected]

We really look forward to meeting you.