Parishioners have their say on Church's future

Parishioners are sharing their ideas about how the Church in Wales could look in the future.

The Church has been holding a series of public meetings since last month as part of a major review of its role in society ahead of its centenary in 2020.

The last two meetings are being led by teams of advisers and will take place in Cardiff and Abergavenny next week.

The review is seeking opinions on a wide range of issues, from the funding of church buildings to the reorganisation of church structures.

Parishioners will be asked about the aspects of their diocese and the Church they are most positive about, and the changes they would like to see to make its ministry more effective.

The meetings will also invite responses on some of the challenges facing the Church, such as how it should address the predicted fall in clergy numbers and financial resources.

The review team is chaired by Lord Richard Harries, former Bishop of Oxford, and includes Professor Charles Handy, former professor at London Business School, and Professor Patricia Peattie, former chair of the Episcopal Church in Scotland's Standing Committee.

They are due to report back to the Church with their findings later this year.

The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said, “This is your chance to help shape the Church of the future and ensure it is fit for purpose for generations to come.

“We want everyone to be involved in this review and we will all have to be prepared to take seriously its findings and to be open to the possibility of significant change in our structures, ministry, use of buildings and other resources if it is seen to be in the best interests of the church and its mission to the people and communities of Wales.”

People can also take part in the review by sending written observations to the Chair of the Working Group at the following address by 12 January: Lord Harries of Pentregarth, The House of Lords, London, SW1A 0PW

The meetings are taking place on:

January 10 at Cathedral School, Llandaff, Cardiff, at 7.30pm
January 11 at St Mary’s Priory, Abergavenny, at 2.30pm