A multi-million-pound investment in growth will see the opening of new Mission Hub Churches in north Wales and the creation of new clergy and lay posts across the region.

St Asaph Diocese will be appointing to a variety of new roles ranging from Mission Hub Leaders to Directors of Music, Engagement Workers and new Associate Priests or Curates.

Significant investment from the Church in Wales Growth Fund to support local communities means resources will be targeted to address local requirements and encourage growth in church engagement.

Three new Mission Hub Churches are scheduled to open this year, alongside an inter-generational church and the first plant-out from Hope Street, a Resource Church that opened in Wrexham in 2021.

The Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Revd Gregory Cameron said: “The opening of three new Mission Hub Churches is building on the experience of our original hubs in Mold, Welshpool, Holywell and Penrhyn Bay, and those which opened last year in Wrexham, Prestatyn and Newtown. This multi-million-pound investment in growth will see clergy and lay staff working together to bring about transformation in communities and foster deeper engagement with faith.

“Our Mission Hubs look outwards to understand the needs of their community, and we seek to target resources in the best ways to support local people. For some churches, an investment in music means we’ll appoint a Director of Music to encourage growth. For others, community programmes to tackle loneliness or food poverty might mean a Community Engagement worker is required. At others, a focus on young people will mean Youth Workers are appointed.

“We aim to be nimble with our appointments to ensure people can use their God-given skills in service to local people.”

The three new Mission Hubs will open in Denbigh, Llanrwst and Gwersyllt, near Wrexham. Llanrwst will focus on developing music with a focus on Welsh-language. Denbigh will be developing evangelism and discipleship programmes with young adults, and Gwersyllt will be focusing on children and young people. In addition, St Paul’s Church in Craig-y-Don, Llandudno, has received investment to open as an intergenerational church, also with a focus on young people.

Bishop Gregory added: “Mission Hub Churches have been running for five years now and over that time we’ve adapted how they run to ensure they’re serving the needs of their community and the wider Mission Area. Our intention has always been that they share their learning with all churches so the benefits of this investment ripple out across the diocese.”

The Diocese of St Asaph is one of the six dioceses in the Church in Wales, an autonomous province in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The diocese looks after more than 200 churches and 49 Church Schools in north-east and Mid-Wales. It is an inclusive, friendly diocese which encourages the ministry of all God’s people.