A Diocesan Reader plants a church in Swffrwd
I live in the village of Hafodyrynys.
For the past year the neighbouring community of Swffrwd has been on my heart. It is mainly a large, well-established housing estate, with shops, housing, a Post Office, a hairdressing salon, but no church.
There is however a small Pentecostal Chapel nearby which meets each Sunday afternoon.
As Evensong numbers in my Parish of St Mark, Llanhilleth were declining, I asked our priest-in-charge, Revd Mark Mesley, if I could set up an outreach in Swffrwd. He was very supportive so I approached our local councillor who arranged the use of the community centre for us.
We met for the first time in September and were blessed with a congregation of sixteen. In October we celebrated Harvest and were thrilled to have twenty four people there. In November we used the time to mark Remembrance Sunday and in December we involved the local children.
I am so grateful to Councillor Dennis Hughes and to Marion, the secretary of the centre, who opens the door and stays to worship with us.
We have already had enquiries from new people about our church services at St Mark, Llanhilleth, which is very exciting and encouraging.
Mary Lynne Rees
For information on Reader ministry, speak to your incumbent or contact Canon Andrew Willie 01633 26332