News

‘Equipping Elders’ is on Saturday 13 June at the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells. The day will focus on creating welcoming and inclusive churches, and partnering with others to respond to mission opportunities. For full details, click here.

Resources for the General Election are available from the Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT). In a divisive political atmosphere, JPIT is inviting people to ‘Love, Pray, and Vote’ in the election. As Christians, we can show love in action during this election by thinking about how our voice affects others, and using this opportunity to […]

Christian Aid has launched an emergency appeal to reach those affected by the Tsunami in Indonesia. More than 1.5 million people have been affected by a double natural disaster, which has killed at least 1,350 people and left an estimated 48,000 displaced. Christian Aid is working through ACT Alliance, with our partners on the ground: […]

Cinderford – 6th October Our world has radically changed; we live in a time where there is a multiplicity of choices, a time when the moral codes and ethics are less than clear. It is a time of hurry and rush; a time when we seemingly know our neighbours less well, and yet conversely, we are […]

The Revd Simon Walkling was appointed as Moderator of the National Synod of Wales for an initial seven-year term, from September 2012. It is the practice of the URC to conduct a careful review in the sixth year, to consider whether the Moderator should be asked to go forward to a second term, of five […]

In the light of the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that came into force in May 2018 the National Synod of Wales has issued the attached Data Privacy statement. For further information please contact the Synod Office. Guidelines and resources for Local Churches can be found on the main URC Website

Good Grief course booklet final The Wales Synod Good Grief Group is willing to hold an event, exploring ministry in funerals and bereavement, at a venue to suit you. We hope to repeat the full course, regularly. Please contact the Synod Office if you are interested in attending or organising the course locally.  A copy […]

JPIT – the Jount Public Issues Team has a page with resources and guidance for churches in the run up to the General Election on 8th June. Follow the link here – http://www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/issues/politics-and-elections/general-election-june-2017 JPIT has also prepared a page of reflections, available in both English and Welsh.  Download it here. This is a time… Reflections on […]

Media release dated 30.03.2017 Full details on the Cytun website: http://www.cytun.cymru/waleseurope/index.html In response to the triggering of Article 50, a Working Party that represents Christian churches and denominations that are members of Cytûn: Churches Together in Wales has announced a list of principles which they say should be the foundation of the UK’s negotiating stance. These […]

Dear friends / Annwyl gyfeillion (Cymraeg isod), You will have heard on the news over the past week about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in South Sudan. Christian Aid has a South Sudan Emergency Appeal. Please could you share the details of the Appeal with your members, in your newsletters and remember our work in prayer […]

You are cordially invited to participate in a weekend of events celebrating the vibrancy and diversity of cultures in Wales today, proclaiming with joy that we are ‘Together Stronger’. Over the weekend, we are hoping to bring together a number of churches and community groups from across Wales, and even further afield, to participate in […]

Plans are going very well indeed for the upcoming URC Feasts and Festivals Big Day Out at Warwick Castle on Saturday 20 May 2017. It is important to spread the word as widely as possible to ensure everyone has the chance to attend this flagship event of the denomination’s Feasts and Festivals theme focus.  There […]

Inspiration in Your Inbox Every day of the year, early each morning, the URC sends out, by email, a Daily Devotion consisting of a reading, reflection and short prayer. You can read them on your computer, phone, or tablet and they provide inspiration in your inbox! The Devotions are written by a team of over […]

Sally writes: “We reached Egypt at 3.00pm but then had another uphill trek before a welcoming soup and tea in the church hall in Aber Wheeler. Now tired and with much to reflect on.” Read Sally’s reflections by following the link: Bethlehem to Egypt reflections 2016

Sally writes: “Yesterday we stopped at Sarah’s Well near Clocaenog.  Apparently bathing in it cures many illnesses. After you! Last lap today- over Moel Fammau then the next two hills to finish in Afflit/ Egypt. Legs still aching from yesterday so hope I make it.”

The Synod Ecumenical Officer, Sally Thomas, is spending three days with the Christian Aid walkers on pilgrimage from Bethlehem to Egypt which you have probably received information about directly but it’s pasted below in case not.  The photo shows her at the end of her first day of walking, still smiling.  Some of the others […]

The Free Church Council for Wales has expressed its concern at the tone of the public debate on how and when the United Kingdom will leave the European Union. Meeting in Cardiff on November 17, representatives of the main Nonconformist Christian churches in Wales said they were worried that some leading UK politicians were making […]

The United Reformed Church, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Church in Wales, the Church of Scotland, Quakers in Britain and the Methodist Church have released a statement calling upon the Syrian and Russian governments and other forces to stop their bombardment of Aleppo.  Follow the link below to learn more. http://urc.org.uk/media-news/2185-churches-demand-action-on-aleppo.html

Friday 21st October 2016 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Aberfan disaster which killed 116 children and 28 adults. At the meeting of the Wales Synod, held on Saturday 15th October 2016, three people who have personal memories of Aberfan offered their thoughts and reflections.  The were Mrs Jeanne Jones, the widow of the late Dr […]

In March 2017 the Synod will host an overnight residential course – A Taste of Appreciative Inquiry at St Michael’s College, Cardiff. Details here: Dates: Tuesday 7th March, 4pm to 9pm & Wednesday 8th March, 9.30am to 4pm Venue: St Michael’s College and Conference Centre, Llandaff, Cardiff, CF5 2YJ Facilitators: Tim Slack of Appreciating People […]

Sikh and Christian Women flier Please see the attached flier for a residential weekend for Christian and Sikh women taking place in Cardiff September 24/25. This will be a small initial gathering of no more than sixteen in total so please book soon if you’re interested.

Please see information regarding a leaflet advertising a book that has just been published on the Theology of Worship.  Hard copies are available from John Burgess and e-book from Amazon.  This was advertised at General Assembly and was on sale at the bookstall.

A Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration for the Ministry, Witness and Worship of Porth United Reformed Church and to mark the Closure of the Church will be held on Sunday 15th May at 2.30pm. If you would like to attend, please e-mail the Church Secretary by Friday 6th May.

At the meeting of the Wales Synod held on Saturday 27th February, the Revd Ivor Rees was presented with a certificate marking 60 years of Ordination. In receiving his certificate Ivor reflected upon how things have changed in 60 years. On my way to the Synod meeting I thought about the beginnings of my ministry […]

The recent iChurch festival ranked the United Reformed Church Wales Synod website in the shortlisting stage.  We were runners-up, which we were delighted about, the new website being on line for only a few weeks before the iChurch Festival began. Comments included: “This site positively oozes the personality of the Synod.  The site evokes the […]

A good start to 2016: In January 2016, The United Reformed Church (Wales) Trust Co Ltd was awarded accreditation as a Living Wage Employer.  This means our employees are guaranteed to be paid the Living Wage, £8.25, rather than the Minimum Wage currently of £6.70 for those aged 20 or over. The voluntary, calculated Living Wage is […]

Margery Davies, Church Secretary at Sardis United Reformed Church, Llangynidr near Crickhowell in the Usk Wye Region, was among those awarded in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List. Margery has served the church for many years, and the former District Council, plays the organ and belongs to the Church’s Knit and Natter group who create […]

Although based in suburban Cardiff, the staff in Synod Office often enjoy the company of birds whilst at work. We have a large tree at the rear of the office and, lately, a quarrel of sparrows has taken to populating the tree and brambles outside the windows of Sue and Helen’s offices.  You may be lucky enough […]

Is the URC in Wales different from the URC? Is there something distinctive about being the United Reformed Church in Wales? Is there a difference – subtle or otherwise – about being, on the one hand, in the United Reformed Church and then, on the other, of being in the United Reformed Church in Wales. […]

The Wales United Reformed Church Moderator Reverend Simon Walkling has planted a yew tree propagated from an ancient tree over a thousand years old as part of The Conservation Foundation’s “We Love Yew” campaign to protect Britain’s ancient yew heritage. This special yew was planted in the grounds of the ancient graveyard of Ebenezer Chapel […]