3rd March 2025
Ad Clerum – March 2025
Ad Clerum - March 2025
3ydd o Fawrth 2025 March 3rd Yn ôl Dewi Sant : Remembering St David
Annwyl Gyfeillion
Nid oes y fath beth â chenedl ac iddi hanes syml. Er mwyn adrodd hanes cenedl yn gywir, mae angen sôn am lu o ddylanwadau, gwahanol rymoedd cymdeithasol ac economaidd, unigolion a mudiadau arwyddocaol, goresgynwyr estron a diwylliannau tramor, buddugoliaethau ac anawsterau, ac am ddylanwad daearyddiaeth, gwleidyddiaeth a’r hinsawdd.
Fodd bynnag, rwy’n credu’n gryf na ellir adrodd hanes Cymru na’r Cymry heb gyfeirio at Gristnogaeth. Mae sawl haen o Gristnogaeth i’w gosod dros ein gorffennol cyn-Gristnogol. Dyna i chi Oes y Seintiau, cyfnod sefydlu ein haneddiadau, ein ffynhonnau sanctaidd a’n llannau – hyn oll yn dangos i’r wlad gael ei throchi mewn deffroad ysbrydol, wedi’i ennyn gan y datguddiad o gariad Duw yng Nghrist. Ni ellir adrodd ein hanes chwaith heb ddeall dylanwad mynachaeth ar ein hanes canoloesol, a sut y brwydrodd y Diwygwyr i gadw ein hiaith, er mwyn i’r Beibl gael ei esbonio mewn iaith yr oedd y bobl yn ei deall. Ni ellir amddifadu ein hanes o ddylanwad yr anghydffurfwyr cynnar, y Diwygiad Efengylaidd, y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, Diwygiadau Pentecostaidd dechrau’r ugeinfed ganrif, a’r Eglwys yng Nghymru sydd wedi gwneud cyfraniad o’r newydd i ysbryd y genedl yn y can mlynedd diwethaf ers ei datgysylltu.
Mae ein Senedd wedi rhoi cwricwlwm Hanes newydd a phwnc newydd sef Crefydd, Gwerthoedd a Moeseg i blant Cymru. Ond ni fydd hynny’n werth dim heb iddynt gyflwyno ein plant i’r ysbrydolrwydd a’n lluniodd fel cenedl a sicrhau llythrennedd crefyddol iddynt, i’w helpu i ddeall y byd modern. Mae ein hysgolion Eglwys yn ymgorffori’r arferion gorau, ond ofnaf nad yw’r cwricwla Addysg Grefyddol na Hanes ledled y wlad yn dysgu llawer am eglwysi Cymru, a’i bod yn haws gan CGM sôn am Foeseg na Chrefydd. Trwy hepgor y dreftadaeth ysbrydol helaeth ac amrywiol a gyflwynwyd i ni gan ein cyndeidiau byddem yn tlodi’r cenedlaethau sydd i ddod. Rwy’n gobeithio na fydd byd Addysg yn edrych ar Grefydd fel ofergoeledd ond fel y pair y lluniwyd ein cenedl ynddo, ac fel cyfrwng i sicrhau dealltwriaeth wirioneddol ohoni.
Mae mwy i Ddydd Gŵyl Dewi na gwisg draddodiadol ddel a chennin Pedr, mae’n gyfle i gofio am yr hyn sy’n anadl einioes i’n cenedl ers canrifoedd. Dydd Gŵyl Dewi hapus!
No nation has a simple history. To tell the history of a nation accurately is to recount a myriad of influences, of different social and economic forces, of significant individuals and movements, of foreign invaders and foreign cultures, of triumphs and setbacks, of geography, and politics and climate.
However, my firm belief is that the history of Wales and the Welsh cannot be told without reference to Christianity. Laid over our pre-Christian past, there is the Age of the Saints, the founding of our settlements and holy wells, the llanau and the sacred springs, all of which speak of the country being immersed in a spiritual awakening, deeply rooted in the revelation of God’s love in Christ. Our history cannot be told without an understanding of how monasticism shaped our mediaeval history, and how the Reformers fought to preserve our language, so that the Bible might be expounded in a language “understood by the people”. Our history cannot be denuded of the Great Awakening which came with the early nonconformists, and the Calvinistic Methodists, of the Pentecostal Revivals of the early twentieth century, and of the disestablished Church in Wales making a renewed contribution to the nation’s spirit in the last hundred years.
Our Senedd have gifted the children of Wales with a new curriculum for History and a new subject in Religion, Values and Ethics, but these initiatives will be worth nothing unless they introduce our children to the spirituality which shaped us and provide for them a religious literacy, by which they may understand the modern world. Our Church schools embody best practice, but I fear that RE and History curricula across the nation teach little about the churches of Wales, and that RVE finds it easier to talk about Ethics than Religion. To omit the vast and diversified spiritual heritage that has been gifted to us by our forebears is to impoverish the coming generations, and I hope that in the world of Education, Religion will not be viewed as superstition, but as the crucible in which our nation was forged and by which it may be truly understood.
To celebrate St David is not just about pretty national dress and daffodils, it is to remember the lifeblood that has coursed through our veins for centuries. Happy St David’s Day!
Lent Prayer
It is an established custom now for me to invite every member of the Teulu Asaph to join me spiritually every day at 1800hr or thereabouts in saying a specially composed Lent Prayer. This year, Archdeacon Hayley has written the prayer on the theme of Hope, and cards have been distributed to each Mission Area in preparation of this holy season which begins next Wednesday. I hope that we can encourage all of the Teulu Asaph to share in this prayer, for prayer is the engine that God has given to us to drive the work of the Kingdom.
Dduw Sanctaidd, Greawdwr pawb,
mae’r cread cyfan yn tystio i’th obaith;
wrth i’r tymhorau newid,
daw egin bywyd newydd
o bopeth a gwympodd.
Iesu Sanctaidd, Waredwr pawb,
mae dy freichiau ar led i gynnig gobaith i bawb sy’n baglu
trwy dreialon y byd hwn;
dechreuadau newydd i gael hyd i ffordd trwy bopeth sydd wedi torri.
Ysbryd Sanctaidd, Gynhaliwr pawb,
rwyt ti yn ein harwain â gobaith mewn teyrnas sy’n ehangu’n barhaus;
boed i ni ddod yn lampau dy obaith
wrth i ni geisio rhannu
cariad di-drai Duw
yn Iesu Grist ein Harglwydd. Amen
Holy God, Creator of all,
your hope is written into all creation;
as seasons change,
new life springs afresh
from all that is fallen.
Holy Jesus, Redeemer of all,
your outstretched arms offer hope
to all who stumble
through this world’s trials;
fresh starts to find a way
through all that’s broken.
Holy Spirit, Sustainer of all,
you lead us with hope
in a kingdom that’s ever-expanding;
may we become beacons of your hope
as we seek to share
the unquenchable love of God
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Chrism Eucharist – April 17th
I look forward to welcoming all of you to the Cathedral on Maundy Thursday, April 17th, at 1100hr as we gather to celebrate the Chrism Eucharist with the Blessing of the Holy Oils and the renewal of our commitment to diaconal, priestly and episcopal service, as well as the re-commitment of all the baptized to mission. This common celebration is one of the chief points of diocesan life, so please make it a priority for your diaries.
Lunch will follow as usual and will be served in the south transept. It will take the form of a hot main course followed by a dessert.
All licensed and commissioned lay ministers and all members of our congregations are very welcome in addition to all clergy, serving and retired, to help to make the Chrism Eucharist a genuinely diocesan service. I like the invitation to be as wide as possible, and it would be good if shared ministry teams could include the wider circle of lay ministers and PTO clergy in their invitations.
Please would clergy and lay people intending to be present register with their Mission Area Administrators. MAAs will be provided with a pro forma to return to Esgobty no later than Tuesday, April 8th so that we have an accurate idea of numbers for catering, etc. There will be meat and vegetarian options for the meal, and any other dietary requirements should be notified when registering. Full details about robing and other arrangements will be available in the April Ad Clerum.
Consultations on Provision for Same Sex Unions
As I have announced previously, this month will see the beginning of the consultations around the diocese to reflect on the provision of Blessings for Same-Sex Unions, and what changes we would wish to see following the five-year experimental period which expires in September 2026. There shall be seven opportunities for any who wish to offer their considered views in this diocese – two opportunities in each archdeaconry, and one specifically set for the clergy. It is not intended or expected that anyone should attend more than one or two consultations, although I will be there to hear the views presented. Rather, anyone who wishes to contribute to this process is invited to attend the one consultation most convenient for them. Clergy may attend any, but I will hope to see them attend the final consultation, so that we can take counsel together.
The important thing to note is that these occasions will not be a debate, and there will be no vote. Rather, it is for those who wish to express what they believe that God has laid on their heart on these matters, and for those in attendance to listen respectfully, even where views may differ considerably. Contributions will be listened to respectfully, and quietly, and we will all listen for the voice of God’s Spirit to inform and guide us.
I attach again the reading list produced for us by the Provincial Director of Faith, Order and Unity, Canon Dr Ainsley Griffiths, which is an extensive resource surveying some of the literature that is available to inform us of the various contributions to the debate. If the entire list seems daunting, on page two Ainsley has set out in three paragraphs a key recommended reading section that you may like to consult first.
One important thing I would ask of you – and that is that you take the opportunity to read some of this list which takes a position different from the one you currently hold. It is too easy to confine our reading to reinforce the views we already have, and that makes it easy to dismiss the arguments of others, and to jump to the conclusion that they are somehow less faithful in their discipleship, or less serious about the Bible, or Christ’s command to love. Our attitude to our LGBTQIA+ neighbours and sisters and brothers in Christ is too important to surrender to the dangers of prejudice, or to assume that somehow those of another view are unthinkingly wrong.
The dates of the seven consultations in our diocese are:
- Thursday 27th March Prestatyn Community Hall (next to Christ Church Prestatyn) at 1900hr
- Monday 31st March St Mary’s Church Hall, Ruabon at 1900hr
- Wednesday 2nd April Llandrinio Village Hall at 1900hr
- Thursday 8th May St David’s Hall, adjacent to the Church, at Penrhyn Bay, at 1900hr
- Monday 12th May Llangollen Pavilion, at 1900hr
- Monday 19th May St Mark’s Church Hall, Connah’s Quay, at 1900hr
The final consultation for any clergy holding the Bishop’s Licence or Permission to Officiate will be held on Thursday 22nd May, at All Saints Church Hall, Southsea, at 1400hr.
Diary and Events
Please read this diary carefully. The diary below is updated every month to include all those fixed dates for events that clergy are required to attend as part of their professional commitment, together with those opportunities to build up our common life by supporting significant moments for our colleagues.
Please ensure that those dates which are a professional requirement are in your diary, even where the exact format may be open to change. Where a clash with your own plans comes to your attention, please raise it with Esgobty at the earliest opportunity. I am still occasionally getting excuses late in the day from clergy who don’t seem to have planned ahead, or even to have read this diary, and I am much more amenable when approached early to discuss any potential clashes.
Dates for March
9 March Collation and Installation of Canons in the Cathedral in the context of Evensong, at 1530hr.
16 March The Licensing of Ashleigh Askwith as Priest-in-Charge in Aled MA at St Mary’s, Llanfair Talhaiarn, 1530hr.
17 March The Licensing of Helen Barnes as Priest-in-Charge in Alyn MA, at All Saints’, Southsea, 1900hr.
27 March Same-Sex Blessings Consultation in Prestatyn Community Hall, 1900hr
31 March Same-Sex Blessings Consultation in St Mary’s Church Hall, Ruabon, 1900hr
Dates later in 2025
2 April Same-Sex Blessings Consultation in Llandrinio Village Hall, at 1900hr
17 April Chrism Eucharist, Cathedral, 1100hr
8 May Same-Sex Blessings Consultation in St David’s, Penrhyn Bay, at 1900hr
12 May Same-Sex Blessings Consultation in Llangollen Pavilion at 1900hr
19 May Same-Sex Blessings Consultation in St Mark’s Church Hall, Connah’s Quay, at 1900hr
21 May Licensing of James Tout as Priest-in-Charge in Wrexham MA, St Giles’, Wrexham, 1900hr
22 May Same-Sex Blessings Consultation for Diocesan Clergy, All Saints’ Church Hall, Southsea, at 1400hr
31 May LLM Annual Meeting and Service, Cathedral, at 1200hrs
28 June Ordinations, Cathedral, 1000hr
15-18 Septr Residential Clergy School, York
Hwyl a Helo
I am very pleased to announce the appointment of the Revd Jenny Clarke to Rhos a Mynydd Mission Area. Jenny will have pastoral responsibility for Buckley and Ewloe and comes to us from Anglesey where she has been serving as Ministry Area Leader of Bro Eleth since 2022.
Notes and Queries
Funeral Training for Readers and Pastoral Chaplains
I attach my guidance to Licensed lay ministers about Funeral Ministry. No LLM should be taking funerals without the consent of the local Shared Ministry Team, and without undertaking the appropriate training.
We will be running a course in funeral ministry for LLMs after Easter. If there is an LLM who you know and work with who you think might be called to funeral ministry, please encourage them to contact your MAL, who can then put them in touch with Revd Alyson Goldstein AlysonGoldstein@cinw.org.uk. The training will cover pastoral and spiritual support for people at the end of life, supporting bereaved families, and leading or co-leading funeral services.
Lent Course
Canon Gemma Simmonds has asked if it is possible to advertise a Lenten course at the Loreto Spirituality Centre in Llandudno. It is open ecumenically and is aimed at helping people interested in taking faith exploration further. A leaflet with further information is here.
Lent Ember prayers
The usual updated and bilingual leaflet is attached in Welsh and English. Please encourage all members of your congregation to use these prayers with you on the Spring Ember Days, which are 12th, 14th and 15th March this year. Prayers for those undergoing formation, training or discernment for ministry are at the heart of our mission.
The Order of St Asaph
This is a final call for applications for Order of St Asaph awards in 2025. The ceremony will take place during the Diocesan Patronal Eucharist for St. Asaph at the Cathedral in May. The Order of St. Asaph seeks to recognise and honour the outstanding contribution of lay persons at diocesan level, particularly at an appropriate point on the completion of service in a particular way or in a particular role which serves our diocesan life.
A nomination form is here. which should be returned completed with as much information as possible about a candidate’s contribution to the diocese. All members of the Teulu Asaph, whether clerical or lay, are encouraged to make nominations, which can also be submitted through any diocesan council or committee. Nominations forms for consideration by the OSA advisory committee should be submitted to Esgobty by today, March 3rd.
Understandably there are those who have offered sterling service to the Church within the local church or mission area context, who deserve recognition, but who do not qualify for a diocesan award. I continue to be happy to provide a suitable certificate for local presentation by a church or mission area. Please contact Michael at Esgobty in the first instance with appropriate details for me to consider.
Resource
Some of you will remember Christopher Landau, the Director of Resource, who came to our Clergy Synods in September 2023. Resource are running a day on smaller Churches in Llandrindod Wells in March, and I re-attach the flier for this event, if anyone is interested. Welsh / English.
Discernment and Vocations Evening
St Myllin’s Church, Llanfyllin, on Tuesday, 25th March at 1900hr.
Are there members of your mission areas, churches or communities who are asking what should be their next step in following Jesus and how God might be calling them?
We are inviting everyone who would like to join us to explore their vocation to any ministry or role – lay or ordained – within the Church and community. We will hear stories of how God has been calling people today, and there will be opportunities for reflection, discussion and questions.
If you know anyone who’d like to join the evening, encourage them to sign up by email to mikehaslam@cinw.org.uk There will be other vocation evenings in other parts of the diocese, and online, so please watch this space.
I continue to hold you all in my prayers. It is so easy for me to lose touch with what ministry is like at the frontline in our churches and among your communities. Know that I offer you my unqualified support, and if there is anything lacking, do not hesitate to be in touch.
In Christ,
