Diocese of St Asaph, Deanery of Denbigh Parishes of Llanrhaeadr & Nantglyn

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1 Diocese of St Asaph, Deanery of Denbigh Parishes of Llanrhaeadr & Nantglyn Churches of St Dyfnog & St James St Dyfnog s Church, Llanrhaeadr St James Church, Nantglyn Introduction Llanrhaeadr and Nantglyn are two rural parishes within the lively Deanery of Denbigh. Both have their distinctive character, Llanrhaeadr is the larger of the two, situated within a village which is located on a major road, close to the town of Denbigh, whilst Nantglyn is a small village community, some five miles away, on a road connected to the Denbigh Moors and town of Denbigh. The whole area is within easy reach of the A55 with its links to Chester and Liverpool (about 45 minutes) and motorways beyond. There is a mainline railway station at Rhyl, with airports at Liverpool and Manchester. The nearby towns of Denbigh and Ruthin have good shopping facilities, including supermarkets, alongside individual shops. Whilst there is no shop in Nantglyn village, Llanrhaeadr has a village shop, which is well supported. In Llanrhaeadr the Grade I listed church building was remodelled, and so provides a focus for both worship and community use. It is well used and provides an easily accessible venue for functions, celebrations and regular community activities. In Nantglyn there is a small, well maintained church hall, close to the Grade II listed church, which provides the only centrally placed venue for community use, and hence it is well used for a variety of events and meetings. Both villages have a Welsh chapel, with some shared worship and activities during the year, alongside a number of rural shows and festivals. Some knowledge of Welsh, or a willingness to learn, would therefore be helpful. Our two parishes play an active part in the life and work of the Deanery and have contributed towards the development of our Deanery Plan. They are prepared to embrace the change and challenge of clergy retirements, reorganisation of parish groupings and moving forward in the process of growing towards a Mission Area, as a wider neighbourhood of churches and are seeking a caring, committed and competent priest who will share this vision with them.

2 PARISH OF LLANRHAEADR, CHURCH OF ST DYFNOG GROUPED WITH NANTGLYN (1999) St Dyfnog s Church is in the Rural Deanery of Denbigh, the Archdeaconry and Diocese of St Asaph, within the Church in Wales. Electoral Roll: 97 (Revised 2014) Worship Holy Eucharist is celebrated on every Sunday: First Sunday each month 11.15am Second Sunday each month 8.30am Third Sunday each month 11.15am Fourth Sunday each month 3.00pm Morning Prayer is sung at am on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. Other services are as announced. Average numbers attending Sunday Worship remained constant over the year: 8.30 am am 40/ pm 8 Average number for Sunday Worship is 47. Each Sunday one or more of our team of Bible Readers assists. On the first and third Sunday of each month and on Festivals, Fairtrade refreshments are served at the 11.15am service. Worshippers are welcomed each Sunday by our Church Wardens and Sides-persons, and we are grateful to the volunteers who help with transport for some members. There have been 3 baptisms, 0 weddings and 8 funerals over the year. Deanery Worship We have joined with Dyffryn Clwyd Deanery on four occasions during the year for worship in Welsh. Visitations have been organised on a joint basis. Parish Priest Revd J Michael Williams (1999) Sacristan Mrs Helen Jenkin Jones Warden of Readers Mr Stan Cloke Organist & Choirmaster Mr John Roberts Choir Robes Mrs Judith Mitchell Eucharistic Assistants Mr Adrian Evans Mr Stuart Moulden Bankers HSBC Denbigh Architect Mr Robin Wolley RIBA (Ruthin) Church Wardens Mrs June Hughes Mr Reg Fardoe Secretary Mrs Roz Dixon Treasurer Mr Philip O Williams Gift Aid Secretary Mr Reg Fardoe Safeguarding Officer Mrs June Hughes

3 Parish Giving Demonstrates our continued commitment to the world outside Llanrhaeadr, through regular giving to charities (both Overseas and within Britain) plus special collections. We are probably the strongest supporters of Fairtrade within our diocese, and use fairly traded tea and coffee on every occasion when serving refreshments. Organist and robed Choir help to ensure that worship is offered both professionally, reverently and to the highest standard in our country parish church. St Dyfnog s Church choir The Mothers Union membership has grown to 22 and the group is as committed as ever committed in terms of worship Sunday by Sunday, as well as their various activities month by month. Their work with Operation Christmas Child has been outstanding over several years and continues to grow. The Church Growth Group has broadened into a group that is available to look at aspects of church life and undertakes specific pieces of work under the direction of the P.C.C. This past year we have further developed a children & family area within the church, which is well used. Our Visitor Ministry The church building, within the life of the church/parish continues to develop and is an important aspect of outreach, locally, nationally and internationally. The sales tables are attractive and welcoming in themselves. Church members serve on the St Dyfnog s Well Restoration Group. St Dyfnog s Well, currently undergoing restoration

4 The Parish Website is proving to be invaluable for wider distribution of the Parish Newsletter, upcoming events, and a growing number of contacts with the church. The online Advent Calendar, and other initiatives developed by our Webmaster, have received some very positive feedback and given further food for thought on developing a Web Ministry. Monthly Parish Newsletter (150 copies) also on line, and at Siop Y Pentre, as part of our outreach, continues to be well received and contains not only church news but community news in general. The Church Building continues to provide a vital contribution to the life of the community, providing space for meetings and school work groups. It is cleaned by our team of willing volunteers, and our flower arrangers keep the building looking beautiful at all times of the year. The fabric is generally in good order and routine maintenance work is organised by the P.C.C. The gas installation has an up to date Safety Record Certificate. Easter flowers in the church A QuinQuenial Inspection is scheduled for 2014 and the central heating system will require servicing and flushing out of the radiators in order to improve their efficiency. Church family members, who form part of the life of the wider community, and serve as JPs, Community Councillors, School Governors, Officials/Members of WI, Merched y Wawr etc., are a valuable part of our Christian Ministry here. Parish Financial Management during these past three years, with greater use of Gift Direct as a focus for individual giving, has meant that we are able to keep the parish on a firm financial footing and so ensure some realistic investment for development and maintenance of the fabric as need arises. Harvest Fayre, held in church in October 2013

5 The Book & Plant Fair, held in church in May 2014 Mission & Ministry has exercised much of our thinking as a Parish, Deanery and Diocesan family over the year, as we have played our part in the development of our Deanery Plan, which has five main areas for future work. These are: Worship Pastoral Care Growing in Faith Engagement with the Wider Community Administration Our Parochial Church Council, Deanery Conference, joint meetings between Llanrhaeadr and Nantglyn Parish Officers and meetings of the Church Growth Group have all helped promote an awareness of the challenges we all face. The Plan provides a focus for individual parishes to play their part, in growing as a Deanery / Mission Area towards 2020, as outlined in the recent Review of The Church in Wales, and we should be encouraged by the ways in which our people are confronting challenges, via a greater willingness to work together, share visions and work on solutions as partners in mission, and hence build a confident, coping, caring church mission area. Implementation of the Deanery Plan will be incremental, build on existing good practice, and move at a pace which will be manageable. Retirements of Parish Clergy during 2014 will provide opportunity to further develop the role of this parish, possibly within a new grouping, and certainly within the life of the Deanery / Mission Area family. Bishop Gregory will hold his second Visitation to the Deanery in June 2014 and we pray that this event will be a further point of renewal for us as a church.

6 PARISH OF NANTGLYN, CHURCH OF ST JAMES GROUPED WITH LLANRHAEADR (1999) St James Church is in the Rural Deanery of Denbigh, the Archdeaconry and Diocese of St Asaph, within the Church in Wales. Electoral Roll: 23 (Revised 2014). Worship Holy Eucharist is celebrated on: First Sunday each month 10.00am Third Sunday each month 10.00am Other services are as announced, including shared services with St Dyfnog s. Average numbers attending Sunday Worship remained constant over the year. Average numbers for Sunday Worship is 17. Deanery Worship We have joined with Dyffryn Clwyd Deanery on four occasions during the year for worship in Welsh. Visitations have been organised on a joint basis. Parish Giving Demonstrates our continued commitment to the world outside Nantglyn through regular giving to charities (both Overseas and within Britain) plus special collections. We are supporters of Fairtrade, and use fairly traded tea and coffee on every occasion when serving refreshments. Operation Christmas Child is now well established. Individual giving is improving and we are challenged to further develop this area of church life via Gift Direct. Church Music Our Organist helps ensure that worship is offered reverently and joyfully to a high standard in our country parish church. Parish Priest Revd J Michael Williams (1999) Organist Mrs Enid Toft Bankers HSBC Denbigh Architect Mr Robin Wolley RIBA (Ruthin) Church Wardens Mrs Margaret Ward Mrs Anne Needham Secretary Mrs Ann Needham Treasurer Major Tom Smith Gift Aid Secretary Mrs Joan Dunseath Safeguarding Officer Mrs Anne Needham Church House Booking Secretary Mrs Margaret Ward The Ladies Guild The membership is as committed as ever committed in terms of worship Sunday by Sunday, as well as their various activities month by month. Their work with Operation Christmas Child has been outstanding over several years and continues to grow.

7 Our Visitor Ministry Is growing and has potential for further development, linked in with the village website and a parish newsletter. The Church / Church House Buildings Both continue to provide a vital contribution to the life of the community, providing space for a variety of meetings, including worship. The buildings have been further improved over the past year and this is an ongoing process. The church is always beautifully decorated for festivals. The fabric is generally in good order and routine maintenance work is organised by the P.C.C. St James Church Church family Our members, who form part of the life of the wider community, and serve within other local organisations, are a valuable part of our Christian Ministry here. Church outreach and care for others is central to the life of the church, here within a rural community which is some distance from the main town of Denbigh. However the sense of fellowship and friendship for all, irrespective of faith, or no faith, is one of the great strengths within the community of Nantglyn and a strength which the parish can further enhance.

8 Mission & Ministry This has exercised much of our thinking as a Parish, Deanery and Diocesan family over the year, as we have played our part in the development of our Deanery Plan, which has five main areas for future work. These are: Worship Pastoral Care Growing in Faith Engagement with the Wider Community Administration Our Parochial Church Council, Deanery Conference, joint meetings between Llanrhaedr and Nantglyn Parish Officers, have all helped promote an awareness of the challenges and opportunities we all face. St James Church The Plan provides a focus for individual parishes to play their part, in growing as a Deanery / Mission Area towards 2020, as outlined in the recent Review of The Church in Wales, and we should be encouraged by the ways in which our people are confronting challenge and opportunity for change, via a greater willingness to work together, share visions and work on solutions as partners in mission, and hence build a confident, coping, caring church Mission Area. Implementation of the Deanery Plan will be incremental, build on existing good practice, and move at a pace which will be manageable for all. Retirements of Parish Clergy during 2014 will provide opportunity to further develop the role of this parish, possibly within a new grouping, and certainly within the life of the Deanery family. Bishop Gregory will hold his second Visitation to the Deanery in June 2014 and we pray that this event will be a further point of renewal for us as a church. Parochial Church Councils, Parishes of Llanrhaeadr & Nantglyn, May 2014