We would like to invite you to join us, in this great Work to which the Lord has called us; our works of worship and witness, as we honour God with things we do, and how we do them.
Ministry Areas
The Church in Wales is collecting parish churches together into clusters, called Ministry Areas.
Our Ministry Area, St. Catwg, was one of the first inaugurated in the Diocese, as we looked forward to discovering new patterns and structures of worship, witness and service, from which we could look ahead and respond to the changing world, and the environment in which we live.
St. Catwg (born c.497AD) was a famous figure in the church of Britain in the 5th century, and was known as Catwg Ddoeth, ‘Cadoc the Wise’, and is the founder of one of our parish churches; and we inherit that tradition from then, until the present day.
In our present day, ministry and witness have changed much, even over the last couple of years.
The person who is appointed will have the support of our Ministry Area Administrator, our Ministry Area Council, which has representatives of all ten churches, and also a Ministry Team of ordained clergy, lay people, readers, worship leaders and a Lay Licensed Evangelist.
Online
During lockdown we produced live zoom services, and pre-recorded services on Sundays, and other weekdays. Attendance at these has been wide and numerous, with many people, even from other parts of Britain and world joining in.
Online services will continue in reduced form for the duration, including occasional live zoom services, Facebook evening prayer and recorded sermons going out weekly.
We also have had zoom home groups, bible study courses, social groups, seminars, and lectures. These have proved very fruitful in maintaining our friendships, and in stimulating our ideas, and our growth in faith, and the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus.
Youth
There is an ongoing weekly youth group, including a wide selection of teenagers, with various activities, indoor and out. Activities also include outings, hand-bell ringing, and film making.
We have also run Youth Alpha, and other courses designed for young people, such as our own Gospel according To Harry Potter.
Children
There is a monthly Messy Church, and Sunday schools in various of our churches.
Schools
We have three Church in Wales primary schools, and we supply governors and spiritual support to all of them. This also includes preparation for Confirmation for those requiring it, and RE classes.
Most of the six primary schools in our area have regular visiting Open the Book teams, performing assemblies, telling the stories from Scripture.
We also have two high schools in our area, one of which is moving towards becoming a Church in Wales high school.
We have also run Prayer Spaces in both primary and high schools, to great effect. In this, we can help children to articulate and process feelings and thoughts, and if they desire, we can teach them to pray.
Music
The churches include a variety of musical styles, with some contemporary music, as well as traditional music.
There is a good, robed SATB choir in Llangattock for each Sunday service, and at times its members contribute to other churches for special events.
The Unicorn Singers, an excellent choir specialising in chamber and early music, gives concerts in the area, and provide music for special events and services in churches. Highlights include William Byrd and Thomas Tallis, combined with more recent works such as Pärt and Debussy.
Crickhowell Choral Society puts on performances in Crickhowell church and elsewhere, which tend to be larger in scale; most recently pieces such as Henry Purcell’s Fairy Queen and Bach’s B minor mass, both in local concerts and at their annual music festival, which attracts world-class soloists.
Online and in St. Edmunds, more recent styles of music are commonly included, with a music group of singers and instrumentalists.
The Friends of Cwmdu Music charity holds four concerts each year, providing opportunities to see and hear live music locally and especially promoting the work of young student and professional musicians. They also raise money to support the maintenance of St Michael’s church.
Bereavement
As parish churches, we conduct funerals on a regular basis, and enjoy good relations with various undertakers and funeral directors around the area.
We run The Bereavement Journey courses online, and in-person, a series of six facilitated film and discussion group sessions offering a safe space where those bereaved can share their experiences and be guided through the most common aspects of grief.
Pastoral ministry
One of our ministry team members is Lead Anna Chaplain for Wales, and trainer for this ministry as well as Bishop’s Officer for Older People’s Ministry.
We use the Anna Chaplaincy model of Older People’s Ministry and have several active teams of lay pastoral visitors, who visit people who are in need of support.
We visit the elderly in residential homes, and at their own homes, and in hospital, bringing companionship, Holy Communion, and practical help.
This is done for those who are either permanently or temporarily unable to attend events, as well as those simply asking for a visit.
Community engagement
Crickhowell Walking Festival, Crickhowell Literary Festival, Crickhowell Music Festival, Crickhowell Open Studios, and the Rotary Club Duck Race, are all significant events in Crickhowell, and are events in the church calendar, with walks, literature and art connected to the church, as well as lively participation by church members.
Likewise, Cwmdu Show and Llangynidr Show are more traditional country shows at which the Church is an expected presence.
Sunday Services
All ten of our churches are visited regularly, and prior to lock-down, on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Typically, services might be either Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, or a similar liturgy of the word, or Holy Communion. Our clergy will visit various churches on a regular basis, and any one of them ad hoc. Services vary from modern liturgies to 1662, and we are beginning to create informal, more contemporary service provision alongside these. Some services have no music; some have traditional hymns, some more contemporary songs.
Occasional offices
All our churches play a role in the community as place for weddings, funerals, and baptisms, some over generations of resident families, and others for newcomers. This represents community engagement, as well as a pastoral presence, and an opportunity for reaching out into the wider community, building relationships.
Accommodation
The person recruited to the role will be living in Llangenny Rectory (see photo below), just outside Crickhowell, NP8 1HD
Application
This position offers an exciting and challenging opportunity for an ordained priest to serve as a key member in the St.Catwg (Crickhowell) Ministry Area, who would enjoy the potential offered by the chance to work as a part of a vibrant team ministry.
The qualities we need are:
- A heart for the Gospel, and a passion for people, committed to prayer and open to the working of the Holy Spirit
- A willingness to share in the leadership task with the Ministry Area Leader and with experience of working in a team ministry
- Excellent pastoral, people management and communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues.
- Skills in discipleship training to encourage spiritual growth and to develop the gifts and skills of lay people.
- An understanding of the role of the church in rural areas of Wales and an ability to engage with their communities and other church denominations to enable the wider mission of the church.
- Experience in shaping and leading worship and preaching in a variety of styles, traditional and contemporary in various locations and by the use of virtual technology and social media.
- Knowledge/understanding of changing patterns of mission and ministry in the church.
- An ability to communicate the gospel effectively with a wide range of age groups and a diverse local community, many of which do not yet belong to any church.
For further information, please contact Rev’d Rana Khan, Ministry Area Leader 01873 810944 rector@crickhowellparish.org.uk