Dictionary

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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.

Baptism

Baptism involves declaring faith in God and being washed with water. It means being cleansed from sin, being united to Jesus Christ, receiving his Holy Spirit and becoming God’s children. Sometimes called ‘Christening’.

Holy Communion

At Holy Communion blessed bread and wine is shared, by which we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The congregation gives thanks for Jesus’ life, his death and resurrection and his continuing presence. See also Eucharist.

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.

Home Pobl Dewi: March 2024 From Marx to St Mark

From Marx to St Mark

Sheridan Angharad James, Canon Pastor at St Davids Cathedral, describes her unusual path to faith, and where it’s brought her.

The first question I am asked is “Where are you from originally?” Well, my family come from Swansea, my Mum spoke Welsh fluently but not my father. I was born in Manchester then lived in Essex until I was seven, then back to Cardiff. There I learned to speak Welsh and had a Welsh-medium education before studying French and English at Aberystwyth.

My parents were not Christians, but of a Marxist background. They were very political and from there came my commitment at that time to matters of justice and equality. When I was 16, my parents had a dramatic conversion, and my sister and I also became Christians.

This was a very important period in my life- when faith in Jesus Christ became alive in me. I had hardly any background of church or chapel, but I had an amazing experience of Christ, which changed my life. The certainty of God’s love in my heart created a desire and eagerness to follow Christ ever since.

After attending St Mike’s and Santes Fair in Aberystwyth, at 28 I went to St James’ Anglican Church, Tooting. I led groups in Bible study, played the guitar and sang. But women were not ordained at that time and I had not thought of it, and went into the world of publishing for 13 years.

But in my 30s I felt the call to the ministry and at 40 I was a vicar in a multicultural, lively church in London for 12 years. There were about ten different languages spoken in the congregation. It was like Pentecost every Sunday! But I was overjoyed by my life as a parish priest, teaching, living, praying and worshipping.

And now I am Canon Pastor for this parish and its pilgrims, able to be a parish priest, like every vicar, but also have a national and international perspective as I welcome pilgrims, about 200,000 every year. My job varies from week to week - preaching, pastoral work, leading people on pilgrimage, arranging quiet days and Bible study, services of baptism, weddings and funerals, services in local schools. As an enthusiastic Welsh speaker, I help to promote the Welsh language here and am responsible for a Welsh Communion Service on the fourth Sunday of the month.

It has been an adventure and a privilege – now for the second episode!