Contacts within the Main Churches in our Diocese
The Baptist Church
The Baptist Church originated out of both the influence of John Smyth, a Separatist exile in Amsterdam who, in 1609, reinstituted the Baptism of committed believers as the basis of fellowship of a gathered Church and also out of the Anabaptist wing of the continental Reformation. The first Baptist Church in England consisted of members of Smyth’s Church who returned to London in 1612. The national union was organized in 1866. The Baptist Union of Wales (Undeb Bedyddwyr Cymru) is a fellowship of Baptist churches in Wales (not all Baptist Churches in Wales are members of this Union).
Baptist Union of Wales
Ty Illston,
93-94 Mansel Street,
Swansea SA1 5TZ
01792 655468
www.bedyddwyr-baptistwales.co.uk
Movement of Independent Baptist Churches
Ty John Penry,
11 St Helen’s Street,
Swansea SA1 4AL
01792 625542
The Congregational Federation in Wales
The Congregational Federation in Wales believes in Church polity which is founded on the independence and autonomy of each local church. Modern Congregationalism begins with the Reformation but it was not until 1832 that a Union was formed, the basis of which was a full recognition of the distinctive principle of Congregationalism namely ‘the scriptural right of every separate church to maintain perfect independence in the government and administration of its own particular affairs’. Nearly all their worship is in English; they have a strong link with Welsh Independent churches.
Croslyn,
Spittal,
Haverfordwest SA62 5QT
01437 741260
www.haverfordwest.intexta.com/cfwales/news.html tabernacle@haverfordwest.freeserve.co.uk
The Methodist Church
The Methodist Church was inspired by John Wesley (1703-1791) who became a priest in the Church of England, but in 1738 had a spiritual experience that he described as God working in his heart through faith in Christ. He launched a hugely influential preaching ministry and had a flair for organising people into small groups. These he named classes, with locally appointed preachers and leaders, which studied the gospels and prayed together. Wesley's new movement became a separate Church which grew rapidly throughout the 18th century and afterwards.
www.methodist.org.uk
www.aber.uk.net/methodist/ (Ceredigion Circuit)
www.carmarthenshire-methodists.org.uk (Llanelli and Carmarthen Circuit)
gareth.powell@ukonline.co. uk (Ecumenical Officer)
The Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church consists of a communion of self-governing Churches recognising the honorary primacy of the Patriarch of Constantinople and confessing the doctrine of the seven Ecumenical Councils (From Nicea 1, 327, to Nicea 11, 787). It developed historically from the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire and includes the patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, and Jerusalem and the Churches of Russia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Serbia, Georgia, Romania, Greece, Poland, Albania and Czechoslovakia. In doctrine it is strongly Trinitarian and in practice stresses the mystery and importance of its seven sacraments.
01554 755690 (Fr Luke)
occwales@yahoo.co.uk
The Presbyterian Church of Wales
The Presbyterian Church of Wales (formerly known as the Calvinistic Methodist Church of Wales) was born out of the 18th Century Revival led by such Spirit led men as Daniel Rowlands, Howell Harris and William Williams. Although they are a bilingual Church, the majority of their churches worship in Welsh. They seek to reach out to young people through a youth centre at Coleg y Bala, and have a lay training centre at Coleg Trefeca.
PCW Office,
Tabernacl Chapel,
81 Merthyr Road,
Whitchurch,
Cardiff CF14 1DD
029 20627465
Fax 029 20616188
www.ebcpcw.org.uk
swyddfa.office@ebcpcw.org.uk
The Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends was founded by George Fox and others in mid 17th Century England and formally organised in 1667. Members are popularly known as ‘Quakers’ possibly because of Fox’s injunction ‘to quake at the word of the Lord’. Belief in the ‘inner light’, a living contact with the divine Spirit, is the basis of its meetings for worship, where Friends gather together in silence until moved by the Spirit to speak. They emphasise simplicity in all things, and are active reformers, promoting tolerance, justice and peace. Details of Quaker meetings are posted on the Friends webpage.
Friends House,
173 Euston Road,
London NW1 2BJ
020 7663 1000
Fax 020 7663 1001
www.quaker.org.uk
The Roman Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic Church is the largest denomination within Christianity (its total membership in2005 exceeded 1 billion), composed of those Christians who acknowledge the supreme authority of the bishop of Rome, the pope, in matters of faith. The Roman Catholic Church in the Anglican diocese of St Davids is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Menevia.
Curial Office,
27 Convent Street,
Greenhill,
Swansea SA1 2BX
01792 644017
www.dioceseofmenevia.org
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army was founded by William Booth at London in 1865. It is an integral part of the Christian Church, although distinctive in government and practice. The Army’s doctrine follows the mainstream of Christian belief and its articles of faith emphasise God’s saving purposes. Its objects are ‘advancement of the Christian religion… of education, relief of poverty, and other charitable objects beneficial to society or the community of mankind as a whole.’
Aberystwyth:
2 Alexandra Road,
Aberystwyth SY23 1LE
01970 625921
aberystwyth.corps@salvationarmy.org.uk
Ammanford:
Margaret Street,
Ammanford SA18 2NW
01269 591443
Carmarthen:
109 Lammas Street,
Carmarthen SA31 3AP
01267 242978
Llanelli:
Sunninghill Terrace,
Llanelli SA15 3DQ
Tenby:
Upper Park Road,
Tenby SA70 7LT
01834 843329
tenby.corps@salvationarmy.org.uk
The Union of Welsh Independents
The Union of Welsh Independents have their roots in the Puritan movement of the 17th century. The first church was established at Llanfaches, in South East Wales in 1639. Most of their Churches worship in the Welsh language. Currently the denomination is working on a mission strategy. The aim is to formulate an imaginative and exiting programme based on the five marks of mission. In the summer of 2004 the denomination relocated to new offices in a new vibrant commerical and retail area in the Swansea Enterprise Park.
Ty John Penri,
Unit 5,
Axis Court,
Glanyrafon Business Park,
Swansea SA7 0AJ
01792 795888
www.annibynwyr.org
delyth@annibynwyr.org
The United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church was formed in 1972 by the union of the Congregational Church in England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church of England. In 1981 it entered into union with the Re-formed Churches of Christ and in the year 2000 with the Congregational Union of Scotland. The United Reformed Church is in frequent dialogue on unity with other traditions and has more than 400 local churches united with other denominations.
National Synod of Wales,
Minster Road,
Roath,
Cardiff CF23 5AS
029 20195728
www.urc.org.uk
moderator@urcwales.org.uk