Dyffryn Clwyd Mission Area Application Pack: November 2019 The Diocese of St Asaph 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. Application Pack: Dyffryn Clwyd, November 2019 2 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 prayerful heart at the centre of every community • A commitment to walk alongside those in need Dyffryn Clwyd (DC) Mission Area Profile This profile is the product of a group effort on behalf of Dyffryn Clwyd Mission Area Conference (MAC). Members of Dyffryn Clwyd Ministry Team (MT) have both contributed to the writing of this profile and engaged in the complementing group discussions. I wish to thank both MAC and MT for all their contributions and prayers which have culminated in this profile. Local Churchwardens have been asked to contribute specifically to represent the five communities, formerly known as The Grouped Parishes of Llanarmon-yn-Iâl, Llanbedr DC, Llangynhafal, Llanychan, and Llanynys. Thanks also to them and all that they offer in the Mission of God. These contributions reflect the inherited legacy of the historic parish identities which continue to be cherished; and a flavour of the geographical area in which you would have primary pastoral responsibility; whilst offering shared, and specialist, ministry across the Mission Area (MA) in accordance with the MA priorities and anticipated development. Our MA consists of twelve Regular Places of Worship some of which are fragile (according to Lawson’s definition 2019, Rural Theology vol 17:1); one Pilgrim Church of occasional worship; and one church building of national historical significance which is maintained by Friends of Friendless Churches (see http://friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/). There are three Church in Wales Primary Schools. There are two Mothers’ Union groups. The Chapter of Clergy includes three full-time stipendiary priests; one of whom is a curate and is expected to move posts during the Summer of 2020 having completed a two-year training curacy with us; and a Youth and Children’s Chaplain (0.5). (Richard Carter MA Priest) Application Pack: Dyffryn Clwyd, November 2019 3 What Dyffryn Clwyd Mission Area has to offer? Set in the Vale of Clwyd – away from the busy A55 to Anglesey – Dyffryn Clwyd is the best kept secret in North Wales. Although off the main tourist route, it still attracts a wide variety of people looking for something different in this beautiful part of Wales. The Vale forms the heart of the area framed by the open Moors of Hiraethog which rise to the west, the scenic Dee Valley and flat dunes to the north, edged by the Berwyns Mountains in the south, Moel Famau to the east, all form part of the boundary of Denbighshire County. An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – runs north- south along the eastern border of Denbighshire. Popular for weekend breaks, visitors to the area can enjoy the great outdoors in a variety of ways. Families who live here enjoy interests such as hill- running, walking, cycling and the Offa’s Dyke Path. There are tremendous opportunities for children’s outdoor activities, with a strong emphasis on sports in the local schools. Dyffryn Clwyd is an hour’s drive from Anglesey or the beautiful Llyn peninsula, Snowdonia, Chester, Liverpool, Manchester, Shrewsbury; with good motorway links, and set around the medieval market town of Ruthin, which is the Eglwys-hwb in our mission area. You can find a tennis club, sports and leisure facilities and local football and rugby clubs. We have a theatre and a local hotel which offers monthly wining and dining followed by a film in an authentic cinema setting. In a recent Mission Area Away Day - with members of our shared ministry team and church wardens – we thought about what was ‘special’ about where we lived. Here are some of the things people identified: As a place to worship and minister: • A newly established but flourishing Chaplaincy in our local High School. • Church in Wales primary schools and strong links to other primary schools • Beautiful ancient churches with congregations passionate about their places of worship and local communities. • A developed Mission Area. • Collaborative ministry, with worship lay and clergy led - engaged, exciting, things working together. • Growth in our pastoral care, Discipleship and Start courses, prayer group, book club. Application Pack: Dyffryn Clwyd, November 2019 4 • Hunger for growth and change. • Diversity in worship, modern-traditional; rural-town; • Eager to reach-out beyond the congregations; e.g. Social Soup. As a place to live: • Area of outstanding natural beauty. • Outdoor activities, whether it’s just walking the dog, or family events. • Good High Schools – with strong emphasis on music, science and languages. • Safe place to live, low crime rate. • Community neighbourhood watch – through the local community Facebook page. • Good food culture. • Ruthin Craft centre and art gallery. • Slower pace of life, good music and theatre culture. • Thriving Welsh language – warm welcome to learners. • Job opportunities, County Council, Industrial estate, builder’s merchants. Tesco, technology estates. • New housing being built in several places in the MA. • A strong sense of community in villages and town. (Caroline V Bennett MA Administrator) These are our three key MA priorities for the next five years Following two recent (12th June; 3rd September 2019) MA ‘Visioning Days’ we have identified three key priorities: 1. Our identity and communication as a MA. 2. Working with children and young people. 3. Developing ‘Pilgrimage – journeying with God’ within the MA. This is how our three key MA priorities are already being realised 1. Our identity and communication as a MA Recognising the need to draw twelve separate church communities into a closer relationship with God and with each other and develop an understanding of what it means to serve God and our community as a Mission Area, we have already established: • a paid Administrator, working from the MA office, who produces a weekly newsletter, co- ordinates communication between the diocese, church communities and MA Exec, Mission Area Conference (equivalent of PCC), Clergy Chapter; and oversees MA Finance. • a Ministry Team (incorporating Licensed Lay Ministers, Worship Leaders, Pastoral Assistants) • a group who gather to pray regularly for growth. Application Pack: Dyffryn Clwyd, November 2019 5 • two MA committees to oversee Finance and Buildings. • a voluntary team of supervised Pastoral Assistants. • a worship group to lead contemporary music within the MA. • regular Mission Area worship together - ‘5th Sunday’, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday Annual Pilgrimage Walk, Holy Week. • a monthly WCCM (see https://www.christianmeditation.org.uk) Christian Meditation group. • venues to host small groups and larger gatherings including our annual Mission Area ‘Marriage Preparation’ day. 2. Working with children and young people We have already established: • a regular engagement with our three church primary schools – Ysgol Borthyn, Ysgol Llanfair DC, Ysgol Llanbedr DC. • small expressions of family friendly Sunday worship including ‘Taste & See’ [alternative worship for all ages in two church communities each month] and other family services. • a newly appointed paid, part time Chaplain (right) for children and young people. • a Chaplaincy team of lay and ordained people who visit and engage with our local bilingual secondary school, Ysgol Brynhyfryd, each week. • ‘Teenscreen’ young people’s monthly film club and ‘Beverages’ young people’s monthly pastoral group.