COVID19
21 December 2020
Message from Revd Rob Wardle – Bro Cybi Ministry Area Leader

STOP PRESS

Dear friends, 
I am very sorry to tell you that we will not be having any more services in our Churches at the moment due to the increased risks from COVID-19. This means there will be no Carol Service at St Cybi’s tomorrow evening and no Christmas Services in our Churches. 

Following the announcement by the Welsh Government on Saturday evening and subsequent Church in Wales guidance, our Ministry Area Council has carefully considered the risks to people coming to Church. I think we had all hoped that we could stay open but that will just put too many people at unacceptable risk.

I have spoken to Neil and Jane and we will ensure those people who had booked in to services are contacted and as clergy we will telephone our most concerned and vulnerable Church members over the Christmas period. 

We will be recording three Christmas Services in our Churches over the next few days and ensure these are available to view on Youtube. Andy will of course continue to lead our Zoom Christmas services as well and he will e mail separately about those.  We also hope to make DVD’s of the services available to those who do not have internet. I will write to everyone on our contact list to let them know our decision and convey my hope that we will be back in our Churches before too long.

Our Christmas plans may be disrupted, but will still celebrate the birth of Jesus; God coming into the world, just as we have done for over two thousand years.
with blessings and best wishes,
Rob  

St Cybi’s Church
St Cybi’s (Holyhead) is open for a service at 11 am on Sunday mornings. There is limited space to ensure 2 metre social distancing. The service will be either Holy Communion or Morning Prayer. There is also a service of Holy Communion on Wednesday morning at 10 am. Hand sanitising gel is available – please use when entering & leaving the Church. Please wear a mask when entering and leaving the Church – and during the service.

St David’s Church
St David’s Church opened for services on 6 December 2020 at the moment to enable building work to be carried out. There is limited space to ensure social distancing. Service takes place at 9.15 am.

St Ffraid’s Church
There is a service at 11 am at St Ffraid’s Church every Sunday. Church in Wales Guidance is being followed. Limited space is available to ensure 2 metre social distancing. The service will be either Holy Communion or Morning Prayer. Sanitiser hand gel is available – please use when entering & leaving the Church. Please wear a mask during the service. To make sure there is space available please call our Churchwarden Marje: 01407 861580

St Gwenfaen’s Church, Rhoscolyn
There is currently a service at St Gwenfaen’s on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 10am. The service will be either Holy Communion or Morning Prayer. There is limited space available to ensure 2 metre social distancing. Sanitiser hand gel is available – please use when entering & leaving the Church. Please wear a mask during the service. To make sure there is space available please call our Churchwardens: Edna 01407 781388 or Susan: 01407 860569

It is also possible to join a live Zoom service on Sunday morning & evening and at other times. If you would like to know more, please email Edna Aldred – gwenfaen@gmail.com – or phone 01407 861388

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Newsletter – Information about the Ezra process
The Bangor Diocese has launched an initiative called Ezra to safeguard the future of our Church in North West Wales. Ezra requires us look at all our Church activities and buildings and to gain a vision for what our Churches and our services and activities will be like in the future.

WANT TO BE PART OF THE EZRA PROCESS?
There will be a series of meetings throughout the Bro Cybi Ministry Area to explore ideas together.

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BRO CYBI GIFT DAY
Please download letter from Archdeacon of Anglesey, Rev’d Andrew Herrick here:
Gift Day Letter 2018 4 November 2018

New leaflet about what it means to belong to the family of Bro Cybi Ministry Area – Gift Day 4 November 2018 – Belonging to Bro Cybi Leaflet

Walsingham programme 2018/19 Walsingham Dates 2018-19

Licensing of Glenys Samson as Reader
On Saturday 30 June Glenys Samson was licensed as a Reader in the Church in Wales, by our Bishop, the Right Rev’d Andrew John.  It was such a happy occasion.  We are so pleased to have Glenys as a member of our Bro Cybi Ministry Team  – and give thanks to everyone involved in her training – especially Canon Tracey Jones at Bro Padrig Ministry Area.

Message from our new Ministry Area Leader:
Rev’d Andy Herrick (Archdeacon of Anglesey)

27 May 2018

To all members of the Bro Cybi Ministry Area

Last Sunday evening in St Cybi’s was a very special occasion for Sara and I – the beginning of a new chapter
in our life and ministry. To share it with the people of the Ministry Area in which we will serve was wonderful and we came home excited about what lies ahead. Thank you all for being there.

We are very aware that, like almost all other ministry areas, the challenges are huge. Fewer and fewer clergy, rising costs, and buildings that are difficult and expensive to maintain and develop. If we only
focus on those issues the result is inevitable – the church will die. But I have always believed in a God
of life and hope from whom can come new beginnings and growth.

The Good News of Jesus is still able to change lives as it has done down through the past 2000 years.

The Holy Spirit is alive and at work in the church today if we will only open up to receive him. As we step out together in this new chapter for our churches let’s look at the problems sensibly and with a sense of responsibility. But let’s also look to the Jesus who can transform and renew both individual lives and churches as we boldly tell the Good News and look to the Holy Spirit to work in power.

Today is Trinity Sunday – a day to consider the One God who is the Father who loves us, the Son who died to redeem us, and Holy Spirit who breathes power and life into us. Let’s look to him today and say with Isaiah -“Lord, here am I. Send me.”

Andy Herrick
Archdeacon of Anglesey and Bro Cybi Ministry Area Leader

Induction – 20 May 2018

It was lovely to have a full church at St Cybi’s last night when the Bishop of Bangor inducted Archdeacon Andy Herrick as our new Ministry Area Leader. A big WELCOME to Andy and his wife Sara. Special thanks to the children of Ysgol Cybi who came to sing for us. The congregation included our MP, Mayor, local councillor’s, church leaders from other denominations and clergy from across the diocese.

20 May 2018 – at 6 pm – Induction and Licensing Service

Archdeacon of Anglesey, Andy Herrick, will be inducted and licensed as Ministry Area Leader and Vicar of Bro Cybi. The service will be conducted by the Right Rev. Andrew John, Bishop of Bangor, on Sunday 20 May (Pentecost), at 6 pm in St. Cybi’s Church, Holyhead.
Everyone welcome. Refreshments will be served in the church after the service.  

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A photo of the Holy Island Ministry Area Pastoral Group, who were commissioned on the 31st January 2016 by the Rev Kevin Ellis, at the Ministry Area Service in St Cybi’s Church.

To find out about more Church related events in Holyhead, Trearddur Bay and Rhoscolyn, please visit our Events page.

The Reverend Dr. Kevin Ellis shares his experiences as the Vicar and Team Leader of the Bro Cybi Ministry Area in his Latest Blog Post

Over 200 people attended a special service on Saturday, 22 February at St. Cybi’s Church, Holyhead for the Induction of the Rev’d Dr. Kevin Ellis as the new Vicar of the Holy Island (Bro Cybi) Ministry Area.

Singing in the chancel during the service

The Bishop of Bangor, the Right Reverend Andrew John, led the service. The Bro Cybi Ministry Area is the newest Ministry Area in the Diocese of Bangor, as the Diocese develops a new way of working. The name ‘Ministry Area’ reflects the fact that the ministry and mission of the Church – serving the people of the local community – is the responsibility of all Church people, not just the new Vicar.

In his sermon the Bishop reminded us of the generosity of God and that no matter how miserable we felt we should remember that God still loved us. And that as Christians what mattered most is what we do, rather than what we say.  He also reminded us about how important Food Banks are to families who are struggling financially, and how pleased he was that local Christians were taking part in supporting this work.

Kevin presented Jane with a bouquet and a big thank you for her hard work during the Interregnum

Alongside the Induction of Kevin other members of the Ministry Area were commissioned, including the Rev Jane Bailey, two Lay Readers and the Home Communion Team, who will share the responsibility of leading the Church’s ministry in Bro Cybi, under the guidance of the Rev’d Kevin Ellis.

The four Churches in the Bro Cybi Ministry Area are: St Cybi’s Holyhead, St Ffraid’s Trearddur Bay, St Gwenfaen’s Rhoscolyn and St David’s Morawelon

The Archdeacon of Bangor, The Venerable Paul Davies took part in the service and the Dean of Bangor, the Very Rev’d Dr Sue Jones was also present as well as the Area Dean, Rev Canon Christine Llewellyn. There was wide representation and support from all the churches and chapels in Holyhead

as well as from members of the town and county council.  Members of Kevin’s previous congregation in Birmingham had travelled to Holyhead to attend the special service.

Refreshments were provided after the service at Ysgol Thomas Ellis School.

Holy Island and its main town of Holyhead – on the west of the Isle of Anglesey – will be welcoming a new vicar and a new way of working on Saturday, 22 February.

At a special service, at 3pm in St. Cybi’s Church, Holyhead – led by the Bishop of Bangor, the Right Reverend Andrew John – the Bro Cybi Ministry Area will be inaugurated, and the Rev’d Dr. Kevin Ellis will be inducted as it’s new vicar and the Bro Cybi Ministry Area Team Leader.

The Bro Cybi Ministry Area will become the newest Ministry Area in the Diocese of Bangor, as the Diocese develops a new way of working. The name ‘Ministry Area’ reflects the fact that the ministry and mission of the Church – serving the people of the local community – is the responsibility of all Church people, not just the new vicar.

Looking forward to the service, the Bishop of Bangor, commented, ‘I am delighted and thrilled that Kevin and his family are with us and wish them all blessings, joy and happiness on Holy Island and here in our Diocese. It is an exciting time for the new Bro Cybi Ministry Area.’

The Rev’d Dr. Kevin Ellis added, ‘As Vicar of Holy Island and Team Leader of the Bro Cybi Ministry Area, I hope to nurture the confidence of Church people and remind them that their Christian faith is credible, relevant and fun. I will encourage people on the fringes of the Christian Church to take another look at the extraordinary claims made by Jesus Christ. I will also be a passionate advocate of the holy history of the incredibly beautiful place in where I am now so fortunate to live.’

Kevin was born and grew up in Sheffield. Prior to being ordained, he worked in a number of settings, such as an assistant manager of a newsagents, a mystery shopper,  and as a New Testament theologian. Indeed, one of his passions is making the stories of the Bible intelligible and accessible to all, particularly people who have limited contact with the Church community.

Since being ordained, Kevin has served in a number of places, such as Matson, a council estate on the edge Gloucester, Maryport and Flimby on the west coast of Cumbria, and most recently as the vicar of St Michael and All Angels, Bartley Green in Birmingham.

During his ordained ministry, Kevin has developed an interest in community regeneration, as well as a passion for working closely with schools and for developing work with young people. His Grove Booklet called Mission in Schools will be published in April.

During 2013, with the assistance of grant funding from Heritage Lottery Fund, Cadw and the Isle of Anglesey County Council, restoration work costing £75,000 was carried out to St Cybi’s Church.

This included the removal of unsightly vegetation from the tower and the installation of new window guards on all the windows which has considerably improved the aesthetic look of the building.

During the restoration work evidence of a previous roof line over the Nave was discovered.  This shows that the earlier roof was pitched with a considerable slope, to assist with a quick run off of rainwater.  Evidence of an opening high up on the west wall of the Nave was also discovered.  Gwynedd Archaeological Trust have carried out an investigation and are preparing a report.  One possibility is that the filled in opening was once the entrance to a Minstrels Gallery.