Dictionary

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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.

Diocese

‘Diocese’ refers to the geographical territory in which a bishop exercises oversight. The Church in Wales is divided into six dioceses each with its own cathedral in which is housed the cathedra (the bishop’s ‘chair’ or ‘throne’).

Eucharist

‘Eucharist’ comes from the Greek word for ‘thanksgiving’. At the Eucharist the Church remembers Jesus’ last supper where he gave bread and wine to be his body and blood, a sign of his saving love. See also Holy Communion.

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.

Prayer

Prayer sustains our human relationship with God and may involve words (formal or informal) or be silent. Prayer can involve adoration (‘I love you’), confession (‘sorry’), thanksgiving and supplication (‘please’).

Home Pobl Dewi: March 2026 Memories of a retired Reader (Part 2)

Memories of a retired Reader (Part 2)

Anna Bement continues her recollection of 30 years in lay ministry and suggests why you may wish to follow in her footsteps.

Many people think that Readers are there simply to fill in for an absent incumbent, and indeed many of my Reader friends have said that sadly this is often the case. But there is so much more that a licensed Reader is allowed to do outside of worship services – with the permission and encouragement of the incumbent - for example, leading home groups and Bible Studies, Alpha groups and prayer meetings were all very much part of the pastoral and educational aspects of my ministry..

I thoroughly enjoyed several annual weekend and day conferences which also provided a wonderful opportunity to get to know and swap stories with other Readers and to share Communion with them.

The Bishop reads his Annual Report at these gatherings and I well remember during the 2012 Conference, Bishop Wyn Evans commented that he was “disappointed to hear that there are areas where the Reader ministry is not welcomed” and promised to look into it. That was a long time ago and I know that since then, with the approval and support of Bishop Dorrien, there have been significant changes in the way lay ministry is carried out across the diocese as fewer people go forward for ordination.

However, in my experience, one of the biggest stumbling blocks to Reader ministry is the fact that both Morning and Evening Prayer have practically disappeared, leaving only the Ministry of the Word in a Eucharist service available to exercise Reader ministry, and then only if the incumbent is willing.

Nevertheless, I am aware, praise God, that ‘the times they are a-changing’! For example, we were at a service recently where nine Worship Leaders in the Bro Glannau Tywyn LMA were presented with their licences amid great rejoicing. I was especially proud that two of them had been members of the St Mary’s Burry Port Youth Group just a few years ago.

These are difficult days for the Church with priests often stretched, not only on Sundays, to meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of their people. I believe that lay ministry, and Reader ministry in particular, is part of the answer, so my hope is that this article will encourage anyone out there who may feel they have a vocation but perhaps not to ordained ministry, to test what that vocation might be.

Archdeacon Mones Farah is the diocesan Warden of Readers and would be delighted to hear from you.