We are delighted to invite everyone to the Mynydd Bedwellte Ministry Area Big Gathering, a joyful afternoon and evening for people of all ages from across our churches and local communities.
The gathering will take place on Saturday 22nd August from 4pm until late at Littlest Dairy, Blackwood, NP12 0BQ.
This is an opportunity for us to come together, enjoy one another’s company and celebrate the life of our Ministry Area. Whether you attend church regularly, come occasionally or have never joined us before, you will be very welcome.
There will be plenty to enjoy throughout the event, including:
Food and drink available to buy
A community sing-along
Outdoor games
Bingo and a quiz
Stalls and activities
Time to relax, chat and have fun together
Tickets cost just £3 per person or £10 for a family.
Come along, bring your family and friends, and help us make this a wonderful celebration of our churches, communities and shared life together. We look forward to seeing you there!
Last Saturday, St Sannan’s Church in Bedwellty welcomed visitors from across the local community for a wonderful Medieval Day.
We were delighted by the fantastic turnout and the enthusiasm of everyone who came along. Throughout the day, visitors enjoyed medieval combat demonstrations from Medieval Combat Wales, who introduced us to the sport of Buhurt. Rev Matt and Rev Ralph also had the chance to try on some of the armour and join in the fun.
There were plenty of activities for families, including sword and shield making, medieval crafts, and the opportunity to put some willing volunteers in the stocks. We also enjoyed a fascinating history talk from David Mills, which helped us learn more about the story of St Sannan’s and the community it has served for generations.
A special service was held in the church, giving us time to reflect on the spiritual roots of the building and the Christian faith that has shaped its life. The day also created many opportunities for conversations and questions about faith, history, and the role of the church today.
A huge thank you to Medieval Combat Wales, David Mills, our volunteers, everyone who helped organise the event, and all those who came along. It was a joyful and memorable day, and we look forward to building on its success next year.
On Saturday 4th July, St Sannan’s Church in Bedwellty will be turning back the clock for a day of medieval history, faith, and fun.
From 10am until 4pm, visitors of all ages are invited to explore the rich heritage of one of the oldest churches in the area through a variety of activities and experiences.
There will be armoured combat demonstrations, giving a glimpse into the life and skills of medieval warriors. Those interested in local history can enjoy a fascinating history talk and follow a history trail around the church and grounds, discovering stories from centuries gone by.
As a living church with a history stretching back over a thousand years, St Sannan’s will also host a special candlelit service using the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. This unique service offers an opportunity to experience worship in a style that has shaped Anglican spirituality for generations.
Throughout the day there will be food and drink available, opportunities to explore the church building, and plenty of activities for visitors to enjoy.
Whether you are interested in history, heritage, faith, architecture, or simply looking for a great family day out, there will be something for everyone.
St Sannan’s Medieval Day 📅 Saturday 4th July 🕙 10am – 4pm 📍 St Sannan’s Church, Bedwellty, Caerphilly, NP12 0BD 🎟 Free Entry
Come and discover the stories, faith, and community that have made St Sannan’s a place of worship and welcome for generations.
This week we gathered at St Sannan’s Church, Bedwellty, to explore the theme of Courageous Joy.
Joy is often spoken about as a feeling, something that comes when life is going well. Courage is often seen as something we need when life is difficult. Yet as Christians, we believe that these two things belong together. Courageous Joy is the spiritual strength to hold joy and courage side by side in everyday life.
It is not rooted in changing circumstances, ease, or success, but in trust in God’s unchanging faithfulness. It invites us to live with steady hope, even when life is uncertain, and to remain faithful when the path ahead seems difficult.
As we reflected together, we asked three simple but important questions.
What is the one thing you have or do that gives you joy?
The answers were varied. Some spoke about family and friends. Others found joy in nature, music, serving others, prayer, or simply spending time with God. It was a reminder that joy often appears in ordinary places if we are willing to notice it.
Has your faith ever been strengthened or stretched through change or challenging seasons, and what has that revealed about holding on to joy regardless?
Many of us know that faith is not formed in comfort alone. Times of change, uncertainty, grief, illness, disappointment, and challenge can deepen our trust in God. Looking back, we often discover that God was present even when we could not see it at the time.
These seasons teach us that Christian joy is not about pretending everything is fine. Rather, it is the confidence that God remains faithful, even when circumstances are not.
In what practical ways can we reflect a joy that encourages and strengthens others around us?
Joy is not something we keep to ourselves. A kind word, a welcoming smile, an offer of help, a listening ear, or a simple act of generosity can communicate hope to others.
In a world that often feels anxious and divided, people who live with genuine joy can become signs of God’s presence and love.
A Closing Reflection
Courageous Joy is the quiet strength to rejoice, trust, and continue faithfully. It is joy that does not retreat, and courage that does not despair.
Perhaps most importantly, Courageous Joy is not only personal. It can be contagious.
When we choose to trust God, when we continue to serve, when we encourage one another, and when we hold on to hope even in difficult times, others are strengthened too.
May we be people who live with Courageous Joy, rooted in Christ, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, and sharing God’s hope wherever we are.
It was a lovely time of discussion.
We also enjoyed delicious cake together!
These services celebrate all that Jesus is doing in our ministry area.
Holy Week is not just something we remember, it’s something we step into.
It takes us on a journey with Jesus, from the joy of Palm Sunday to the sorrow of the cross, and finally to the hope of Easter morning. It invites us to slow down, reflect, and encounter God in a deeper way.
This year, we’ve created a simple Holy Week booklet to help you do just that.
Each day includes a short Bible reading, a prayer, and a reflection to guide you. It’s not about doing more, but about making space. Space to listen, to notice, and to walk with Jesus through his final days.
As you move through the week, you’ll be invited to ask honest questions: Will I follow when it’s costly? What am I holding back? Where do I need God to bring life?
And at the end of it all, we arrive at Easter. The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive. And hope is renewed.
Take a few moments each day. Step into the story. You may find it speaks more deeply into your life than you expected.
Life can sometimes feel overwhelming. There are moments when grief, fear, anger, or despair seem to settle over us like darkness. In those moments it can feel as though we are alone.
But the Christian story tells us something different.
Throughout the Bible we encounter people who walked through deep darkness. Job wrestled with suffering and loss. Jonah struggled with anger and resentment. Elijah collapsed under the weight of exhaustion and despair. Jeremiah grieved for a broken people. Ezekiel stood in a valley of dry bones where hope seemed gone.
Each of them faced darkness. And yet each of them discovered something profound.
They were not alone.
This Lent, we are creating a space to reflect on these moments and to hear again the promise that even in the darkest places God is present. Our upcoming reflective service, Darkness, invites us to pause, listen, pray, and explore how hope can be found even when life feels heavy.
The service will move through powerful biblical reflections on despair, grief, hatred, hopelessness, and death, reminding us that even in the valley, God meets us there.
Ultimately the story leads us to Jesus. In the garden, on the cross, and even in the tomb, Christ enters fully into human darkness and transforms it through resurrection life.
As the service reminds us:
Even in the depths, He is there. Even in the silence, He speaks. Even in the grave, He brings forth life.
Join Us
Darkness – A Service of Reflection and Hope
📍 St George’s Church 📅 Sunday 22nd March 2026 ⏰ 6.30pm
This will be a quiet and reflective space for anyone who needs encouragement, prayer, or simply a moment to breathe and reflect.
Whether you are carrying grief, struggling with questions, or simply looking for peace, you are welcome.
Because even in the darkest moments, hope is not lost.
We are very pleased to announce that Ralph Aladese has been appointed as Team Vicar in the Mynydd Bedwellte Ministry Area.
It has been some time since Ralph was first interviewed for this role, and it is a real joy to now see him stepping confidently into this new chapter as he completes his curacy. Over the past few years, many across our churches and communities have already experienced the energy, warmth and wholehearted enthusiasm that Ralph brings to ministry. He has a natural ability to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds, and we are thankful for the gifts he offers to God and to us.
Following his appointment, a small service took place in Bishopstowe to ensure that Ralph was formally licensed and able to take up his place properly within the Ministry Area. While that moment was simple and prayerful, we are looking forward to marking this new beginning more publicly and joyfully together.
We will be welcoming Ralph at our Ministry Area Service on:
Sunday 8 March 10.00am St George’s Church, Tredegar
This will be an opportunity to give thanks for all that Ralph has already done, to offer our congratulations, and to pray for him, JK and their three boys as they continue to serve here in South Wales.
Please do join us as we celebrate this important step in the life of our Ministry Area.
Lent is a season of reflection, honesty and hope. It is a time when we slow down, look inward, and look again at God.
We are really excited to begin our new Lent series of Matt & Ralph Talk with our first episode featuring Diana, a psychologist who joins us to explore the theme of forgiveness.
What does forgiveness actually do to us psychologically? How does it shape healing? Is forgiveness weakness, strength, or something far deeper?
Over the coming weeks we will be speaking with a range of guests, each bringing their own unique perspective and insight. Together we will explore themes at the heart of Lent, from forgiveness to death, from justice to hope. Some of our guests come from Christian faith, others do not, but each conversation invites us to think more deeply about what this season means for real life.
These are relaxed, honest conversations that make space for big questions and practical wisdom.
Next week we mark Ash Wednesday, the day that begins the season of Lent. Lent is a time of preparation, reflection, and renewal as we journey towards Easter and the celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
On Ash Wednesday, Christians receive the sign of the cross in ashes. It is a simple but powerful act that reminds us of who we are, our need of God, and God’s deep love and mercy for us. Ash Wednesday invites us to pause, to turn back to God, and to begin again.
Lent is not about being hard on ourselves, but about creating space for God to work in us. It is a season that gently asks us some important questions. What needs to change in my life? What might I need to let go of? What could help me grow closer to God?
Many people choose to fast during Lent, giving something up that distracts or weighs them down. Others take something up, perhaps a habit of prayer, generosity, kindness, reading the Bible, or making time to rest. There is no single right way to keep Lent. The invitation is simply to be honest with God and open to His leading.
You are warmly invited to join us at one of our Ash Wednesday services across the Ministry Area as we begin this journey together.
Ash Wednesday Services
Wednesday 18th February
St Paul’s, Abertysswg 9am Morning Prayer and Ashing
St George’s, Tredegar 10am Ashing and Eucharist 6pm Ashing and Evening Prayer
St Dingat’s, New Tredegar 11am Ashing and Eucharist
Thursday 19th February
St David’s, Rhymney 10am Ashing and Eucharist
Whether you come regularly to church or are simply curious, you will be very welcome. Ash Wednesday is a chance to stop, reflect, and begin Lent together, trusting that God meets us exactly where we are.
“Bishop Cherry is delighted to share the wonderful news that Ralph Aladese has been appointed as Team Vicar in the Mynydd Bedwellte Ministry Area.
It has been some time since Ralph was interviewed for this post, and it is a joy to now see him stepping confidently into this new chapter as he completes his curacy. Those who know Ralph will already be aware of the joy, energy, and wholehearted enthusiasm he brings to ministry. His natural ability to engage warmly with people of all ages will be a tremendous blessing to the communities he will serve.
Please join us in praying for Ralph, his wife JK, and their three boys as they settle into the security and familiarity of remaining in South Wales. May this new season be filled with encouragement, growth, and God’s abundant grace.”
From Rev Matt
As Ministry Area Leader, I am delighted to add my own thanks and encouragement. Ralph has been a real feature of our churches over the last couple of years, and this appointment is a clear testament to his hard work, faithfulness, and dedication to the people and life of our Ministry Area. In many ways, he has already been assuming this role and has grown naturally into it, learning, serving, and leading with care. His energy and enthusiasm are a real gift among us. Please continue to support Ralph, Jk, and the boys in your prayers, as we will do as a Ministry Area, as he continues to grow in this ministry. We will be announcing shortly how Ralph will be licensed and formally welcomed into the M
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