One more person in every church could mean 10% growth across Diocese, Conference hears

If every local church congregation grew by just one person, it would equate to around a 10% increase in congregation across the Diocese of St Davids.

That was one of the key messages from the 2026 Diocesan Conference, as members from across the Diocese gathered in Lampeter to discuss mission, growth and the future sustainability of the Church.

The Conference brought together representatives from across the Diocese to consider the next stages of Open to God, the Diocese’s vision for mission and ministry, alongside the opportunities and challenges facing local churches and communities.

A central theme throughout the day was mission and the importance of every church seeing growth as something both possible and achievable.

Members heard that small steps at a local level could collectively make a significant difference across the Diocese, with the simple addition of one person to every congregation representing growth of around 10% overall.

The Conference also heard about progress through Open to God, including the continued emphasis on invitation, engagement with local communities and the sharing of good practice from across the Diocese.

The Bishop of St Davids, the Rt Revd Dorrien Davies, said:

“Our calling is to be a Church that is confident in the Gospel, rooted in our communities and always looking outwards. Growth does not necessarily begin with grand gestures. Sometimes it begins with one invitation, one conversation or one person walking through the door of a church for the first time.
“If every congregation welcomed just one additional person, the impact across our Diocese would be considerable. That should encourage us. Mission belongs to all of us, and every church, whatever its size, has a part to play.”

The financial sustainability of the Diocese was also an important part of the Conference agenda. Members engaged in honest and respectful discussions around Ministry Share, recognising both the financial pressures facing individual churches and Local Ministry Areas and the need to sustain ministry across the Diocese.

The Conference also considered Pruning for Growth, exploring how the Church could use its people, buildings and resources effectively to support a sustainable and mission-focused future.

Safeguarding remained a central priority, with members reflecting on the shared responsibility across the Church to ensure that churches were safe and welcoming places for everyone.

The Dignity Charter was also discussed, reinforcing the importance of creating a culture in which people were treated with respect and dignity and where healthy relationships underpinned the life and ministry of the Church.

Bishop Dorrien added:

“There will inevitably be difficult conversations as we plan for the future, particularly when we talk about our finances, our buildings and how we sustain ministry. What matters is that we have those conversations openly, respectfully and with our shared mission firmly in mind.
“I was encouraged by the spirit in which members approached those discussions. We have challenges ahead, but we also have enormous opportunities. As we continue to be Open to God, my hope is that we leave this Conference with renewed confidence to serve our communities, invite others to join us and share the good news of Jesus Christ.”

The Conference also included elections and opportunities for members from across the Diocese to share experiences and examples of work taking place within their churches and communities.

Further highlights and reflections from the 2026 Diocesan Conference will be shared by the Diocese of St Davids.