A NEW LINK between the churches of North-east Wales and an area of Tanzania will be cemented next week when a team from the Diocese of St Asaph (Church in Wales) arrives in east Africa for a ten day visit.  They will be welcomed by the Bishop of South West Tanganyika, the Rt Revd John Simalenga, who visited St Asaph in 2008, prior to the last Lambeth Conference, and again in February 2010.  The two dioceses. St Asaph and South West Tanganyika, signed a Companion Link agreement in November 2008.

The delegation will be led by Bishop Stephen Lowe, an honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of St Asaph, and includes clergy and lay people from across the diocese.  Bishop Stephen said, "We are all delighted at this opportunity to build a bridge between North Wales and the Diocese of St Asaph and this fairly remote part of Tanzania. They have much to teach us as the Church there is strong and growing - 250,000 practising Anglicans.  But their needs are also enormous and we are going to explore how we can mutually support each other."

The team includes Jonathan Abbott from Llangollen; Ros Crawford from Penybontfawr; the Revd Vittoria Hancock, St Asaph Cathedral Chaplain; the Revd David Lewis, Rector of Overton; the Revd Pam Powell, Vicar of Llansantffraid ym Mechain and Llanfechain; and the Revd Canon Bill Rowell, Rector of Welshpool, Castle Caereinion & Pool Quay, and World Mission Officer for the Diocese of St Asaph.

The Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Revd Gregory Cameron, said, “These  ambassadors are ‘living letters’ and we send this team asking them to convey our greetings, to participate in mission, and to bring back to us good news about how the Gospel and the Anglican Communion flourishes in the fertile soil of Africa.”

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Notes for editors
Bishop Stephen Lowe is available for comment before and after the visit (31 July – 12 August), on 01492 533510
 
The Diocese of South West Tanganyika was established in 1952.  It occupies an area of 140 sq km covering the South West part of the Republic of Tanzania bordered by Ruvuma Region to the West, Mbeya Region to the South and Lake Nyassa to the South West.  The Diocese includes the Livingstone Mountains range.

The Diocese has 27 parishes with 190 Churches served by 20 Evangelists and 180 Catechists.  There are an estimated 250,000 Anglican Christians.

Activities of the diocese include a dairy cow and goat project, promotion of Resource Management, food security and nutrition, fish farming, HIV/AIDS control, water supply and sanitation, and forestation.  The diocese also conducts Participatory Integrated Community Development Process, home based care and counselling for AIDS patients, community based human resource development and a strategic plan in community development.