Vyrnwy Mission Area
Vyrnwy Mission Area is looking for a part-time ordained colleague to work with us, focusing especially on building up God’s ministry to children and young people in the communities we serve, minister to, and live in.
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, 229 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
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Part-time Shepherd required
• Are you someone with: • dynamism, enthusiasm and energy; • a commitment to working with children and young people, having a love and respect for them as equal members of the Body of Christ. Being willing to learn from them as well as encouraging them forward in their own journey of faith; • a desire to reach out to the local community, especially the schools; • good interpersonal skills; • a pastoral heart; • experience of living and/or working in a rural location; • a sense of humour and ability to see the funny side in things; • the capacity to work as part of a team as well as being able to lead.
Vyrnwy Mission Area are looking for a part-time ordained colleague to work with us, focusing especially on building up God’s ministry to children and young people in the communities we serve, minister to, and live in.
Our Mission Area message is taken from Jesus’ words to Peter, found in John 21: ‘Feed my lambs; feed my sheep.’ The Mission Area Conference (MAC) is exploring ways to bring this into reality, as we seek to maintain and nurture those who’s faith is long-standing, whilst reaching out to and engaging with those who’s journey of life and /or Christian faith is newer and younger.
The Vyrnwy Mission Area includes the communities of Llwydiarth, Llanfihangel yng Nghwynfa, Llanwddyn, Llanfyllin, BwIch-y-Cibau, Llanfechain, and Llansantffraid ym Mechain. It’s an area of stunning environmental beauty, where the number of sheep (and at certain times of year, pheasants also) are in competition to outnumber the people who live in or visit the area! Farming, game-keeping, forestry, land management, light industry, community initiatives, charitable organisations, and commerce are all found in the area, alongside the schools in Llanfyllin (County Primary and High), Llanfechain (Church in Wales Primary), and Llansantffraid (Church in Wales Primary). In addition, it’s an area of rich artistic, musical, and creative expression and exploration, with a deep spiritual (Christian and other) history.
A good proportion of people from the different communities know each other well, having been educated, worked, and worshipped alongside each other for many years; yet there are also 'newer members' of the communities, giving a fuller expression of the multi-faceted world in which we now live. This enables a warmth and openness which is highly valued as we continue to grow and develop as the Mission Area.
Our Shared Ministry Team (SMT), churchwardens, Church Committees, and part-time Administrator, are committed to working together to grow God’s Kingdom here, a way of working that our new colleague would need to embrace.
The person appointed will live in Llansantffraid ym Mechain (see later in profile for details of the house) and be primarily based in the communities of Llansantffraid and Llanfechain, yet working across and engaging with all the communities and churches in the Mission Area. Vrynwy Mission Area Profile – January 2019 3
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for someone who has the ability to engage with the children, young people and families of Vyrnwy Mission Area. You will work alongside the people already here, to develop, build, and provide a loving and spiritual environment in which to embrace, explore, and experience faith.
You will need: • A gift for teaching the Christian message to all ages, but especially an ability to work in the community with children, young people, and families. • A heart to reach out to all ages with little or no Christian faith, in order to include them in the church family and to enable effective pastoral care. • The ability to relate to people of different ages. • Flexibility in developing and leading different types of worship. • Experience of team management skills, being able to empower and enable others in their ministries.
Broad responsibilities
These include:
• Serving alongside the Mission Area Leader, Licensed Reader, Wardens, Church Committees, Worship Leaders, and MAC members in the Vyrnwy Mission Area, so working as part of a team
• Engaging with and growing the existing work with children, young people, and their families, so enabling the nurture and development of their faith. This will include creating, developing and implementing a range of new ideas for social, recreational, and spiritual activities for children, young people, and their families
• Recruiting, equipping and inspiring volunteers to support the work with children, young people, and families; and working supportively and collaboratively with the existing SMT, MAC members, and church officers to ‘feed my lambs; feed my sheep.’
• Nurturing God’s people in their discipleship and personal relationship with the Lord.
• Through word and deed proclaiming the gospel of God’s grace and the good news of Jesus to those who haven’t yet responded and encourage others to do likewise, providing a positive witness to the community.
• Leading and taking part in liturgical worship, administering the sacraments and supporting and encouraging other members of the SMT in their ministry.
• The ability to speak Welsh, or at least show a willingness to learn, would be advantageous.
The post holder will also be expected to participate in Diocesan clergy development and, with the Archdeacon and Bishop’s permission, attend other vocational courses/conferences. They will also be expected to attend Mission Area Conference.
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What we can offer
The Vicarage The Vicarage is a relatively new property on an attractive housing development in the centre of Llansantffraid. The flexible living accommodation comprises Reception Hallway, Dining Hall, Family Room, Cloakroom, Lounge, Conservatory and Breakfast Kitchen to the ground floor with five bedrooms, two en-suite, and Family Bathroom to the first floor. The property has a block paved driveway leading to the Double Garage, driveway and lawned garden to the front with a large lawned garden and patio area to the rear. The property benefits from Oil Central Heating, Double Glazing, is fully carpeted and has a security alarm.
The People
Vyrnwy Mission Area is blessed with faithful and long-serving disciples, rooted in their local communities, providing much of the ‘on-the-spot’ pastoral care as well as organising and co-ordinating the activities of the individual churches. Supporting and assisting in this is the Shared Ministry Team (SMT), whose primary responsibility is the provision of liturgical worship and some nurturing activities, and the Mission Area Conference (MAC) who help with the co-ordination, support and organisation of MA activities and responsibilities. The part- time Administrator supports the MAC and Mission Area Leader (MAL) with administrative matters.
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However, the current worshipping congregations are primarily ageing ones – people with willing spirits and a desire to see the church grow and reach out further to their communities, yet limited by age, physical ability, and energy levels in their endeavours to engage effectively and long-term with children and younger people.
The Church communities
Llansantffraid: “We are a welcoming congregation in the centre of an expanding rural village situated at the eastern edge of Montgomeryshire in beautiful mid-Wales. Llansantffraid is a very friendly village and the people of St Ffraid’s Church enjoy fellowship through organizing concerts, parish outings, Lent lunches and Songs of Praise. Some events are fund-raising and others are social, offering outreach to the local community. In recent years we have raised a considerable amount of money to extend our church to provide a high quality kitchen and toilet facilities.
We look forward to welcoming someone who will take us forward and engage, nurture and sustain us and our local community, young and old.”
In the village there is a garage and general store, a restaurant. two pubs and a café, a couple of independent shops, a hairdresser, an Indian restaurant, and a Fish + Chip shop. The Wynnstay Group has a store and depot here, providing much local employment. There is a Church in Wales Voluntary Aided Primary School with approximately 100 pupils, and bus services to Llanfyllin, Shrewsbury and Oswestry. There is also a Village Hall, football club, and other social clubs, of which church ‘members’ are a part.
Llanfechain: St Garmon’s is a historical (Norman) church with a regular congregation of around 12 situated in a small village of 600 people, with a Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled Primary School of approximately 40 pupils. The village has a Community Hall in which many social events take place, a gastro-pub (right), and a Community Shop. There is a WI group in the village, and a Friendly Club.
Bwlch-y-Cibau: Christ Church is an attractive country church, well looked after, with regular services including a bilingual Harvest Festival and well-attended special services e.g. Carol Service followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the Old School.
The village has thriving WI and NSPCC groups, the Old School (which acts as a Community/Village Hall), and a Recreational Committee. Many fund-raising and social events are held such as the Christmas Fair for the church, Open Gardens around the village, and Quiz Nights in the local pub, who are very supportive of the church and village.
Llanfyllin: St Myllin’s Church is situated in the centre of Llanfyllin, a small town in mid-Wales, made up of the farming and agricultural community, a small industrial estate, two good County Schools Vrynwy Mission Area Profile – January 2019 6
(Primary and High), a Health Centre and chemist, pubs, a hotel, alongside other shops and businesses. There is a regular Bus Service to Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Welshpool.
The church building is open daily for visitors and those who wish to pray; the congregations are made up of loyal worshippers, both on Sundays and on Thursdays. We host weekly Coffee Mornings, which provide opportunities for socialising as well as fundraising, helping, we hope, to mitigate against loneliness and isolation. St Myllin’s Church Committee also co-ordinates local collection points for Welshpool and District Foodbank, and Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre (based in Newtown). St Myllin’s Church building has excellent acoustics and is the venue for concerts including the Llanfyllin Music Festival held very summer.
Llanfihangel: is a small, primarily farming, community between Llanfyllin and Lake Vyrnwy. St Michael’s Church (right, associated with the Welsh hymn- writer Ann Griffiths ) is in the centre of the village and plays an important part in community life . The church holds an annual Plygain, which has been filmed by S4C on occasions. There is also a Village Hall, where concerts, sports and other activities are held, and ‘The Goat’ pub, situated in the front room of one of the houses just down from the church.
Llwydiarth: in the very north of the Mission Area, is a small, scattered, mainly farming community supported in summer by visitors to the three caravan sites.
St Mary’s Church, next to the village hall, overlooks the centre of the village, where there is also a village shop. It has a small, regular worshipping community ‘of a certain age’ and during summer can be supported by visitors of all ages.
Llanwddyn: is situated by Lake Vyrnwy which feeds water to Liverpool, the old Llanwddyn village having been drowned in 1898 when the dam was built. The village has a village shop, and a Post Office is run in the Community Centre, which hosts many fundraising events and clubs, such as bowls, line-dancing, and a sports club. Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathon and a Folk Music Festival are held each year at the beginning of September. The village plays host to sheep dog trials and charity bike rides/walks during the year, and has a Merched y Wawr. There is also a large RSPB reserve, cafes, and craft shops for what is a popular tourist and visitor area.
The Church of St John (in the old village) was replaced by St Wddyn’s Church, which is situated by the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel. The church building is a popular wedding venue, and the congregation’s numbers are often boosted by couples attending worship to enable them to get married there.
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