Dictionary

Words on this page

Anglican

Anglicans form the family of Christians closely related to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Whilst tracing their inheritance back to Christ and the earliest Christians and to the ancient Roman Catholic church, the sixteenth century Reformation was a crucial moment for Anglicanism.

Bishop

‘Bishop’ comes from the Greek word for ‘overseer’. So a bishop is a senior Christian minister authorised to have oversight for God’s people. As well as duties given to deacons and priests, bishops confirm and ordain.

Ecumenical

The Christian Church is divided due to different interpretations of the faith and different religious practices. The ecumenical movement promotes dialogue and understanding between Christians and works for visible unity.

Liturgy

Liturgy is a set form of words and action used for worship. In the Church in Wales (and many other churches) these forms follow the same pattern from one congregation to another. Most Anglican liturgies look back in some way to the Book of Common Prayer.

Priest

‘Priest’ comes from the Greek word for ‘elder’. Priests in the Church in Wales are those authorised specifically to proclaim forgiveness of sins, preside at the Eucharist and bless God’s people, as well as other responsibilities.

Theological

‘Theology’ means literally ‘words about God’. Christian theology involves our trying to understand and explain what God has revealed about himself through Scripture. This work is aided by the writings of past and present theologians and human reason.

Home Pobl Dewi: December 2025 Bridging the ecumenical divide

Bridging the ecumenical divide

Gareth Reid, parish priest in Llandysul, describes a joyful coming together of two Christian traditions

From early on in my ordained ministry, I’ve had the joy of working ecumenically with our brothers and sisters in the chapels - Methodist, Baptist and Congregational. I’ve been part of joint events, services and all sorts. I’m sure I’m not the only one, and to still be part of Cytûn in my local area has created wonderful opportunities and positive challenges. So it was with real interest that I received an email asking to discuss a potential service with the Orthodox Church.

After discussion with a member of the church who lives in Llandysul and later the Orthodox priest, we planned for them to hold a service of Vespers in St Tysul’s church. The local Anglican congregation were supportive and the Bishop also kindly gave his support. So, on Saturday 18th October St Tysul’s church witnessed a liturgy it may not have seen before, or at least not in this form.

Over 20 people gathered for the service on a Saturday afternoon - a healthy mix of Anglican and Orthodox Christians - and all with the call to worship God. The Orthodox congregation came with icons, candles, thurible and incense and all who attended joined together in worship.

In a helpful reminder of what unites us, one of the Orthodox priests who led the service was in theological college with me - all of us on different paths, following the Living God.

So many elements of the service were familiar - Glory to the Father… - and much was unfamiliar. However, we all left with a real sense that we had worshipped together. New relationships have been formed; it was good to see so many who knew each other - across the ecumenical divide - and a good opportunity to see how we can stretch ourselves and use our church buildings in different ways that still encompass our primary calling - worship.