Current Vacancies › Vicar, St Catherine’s Mission Hub

Clergy Vacancy

Vicar for St Catherine’s Mission Hub and Priest in the Llwchwr Ministry Area

This appointment presents an exciting opportunity. Foundations have been laid through significant investment, an outstanding staff team, modern facilities and a congregation eager to grow. We are looking for someone who will embrace our vision wholeheartedly; someone who loves teaching the Bible , helps people encounter God through lively and meaningful worship, delights in seeing people come to faith, develops leaders and can help us discern the next chapter of God's purposes for St Catherine’s.

Croeso! Welcome!

I believe that you are reading this profile because you have discerned that God may be calling you to a new ministry in your Christian journey.

We want to discern with you exactly what the road ahead may look like and whether this indeed might be the beginning of something new. This project offers an opportunity to serve God by joining and leading a very skilled team into the next phase of what already is a good, successful ministry to the people of Gorseinon, the wider ministry area of Llwchwr and beyond.

We know this is no easy task, but what God is already doing gives us confidence to believe that the investment in people, resources and finance thus far is proving worthy of all our efforts and desire to see the Gospel proclaimed through the pioneering and transformational model of growth that is Stepping Stones to Faith.

Through prayer and this discernment process we hope to find an open and generous hearted leader, courageous and confident in the calling that Jesus has upon their lives. One who, if discerned, is willing to follow that call and to join us here in Swansea and Brecon. As Bishop of the diocese, please be assured of my prayers and best wishes as you test this calling.

+John
Bishop of Swansea and Brecon

Our Vision

Following Jesus

At the heart of everything we do is Jesus Christ. We believe the Church exists first and foremost to help people know Him, love Him and follow Him.

Whether someone joins us for worship, brings their child to Little Lions, attends Alpha, visits the Pop-up Café or simply walks into church seeking a quiet place to pray, our hope is always the same, that they will encounter Jesus.

Discipleship is a lifelong journey. We want people not simply to attend church but to grow in prayer, Scripture, worship, service and confident witness. We are developing clear pathways that help people move from first contact within the church to mature Christian faith.

Building Community

We believe that the Gospel is lived out in community. Church is not simply somewhere we attend on Sundays; it is a family to which people are invited and where lives are shared.

The Pop-up Café, Little Lions, schools’ ministry and many other initiatives exist because relationships matter. Through friendship, hospitality and practical care we seek to create places where people belong before they believe.

Famous for Love

Our prayer is that The Mission Hub will become known not first for its buildings or programmes but because people encounter the love of Christ through His people.

Hospitality is part of our discipleship. Every welcome, every conversation, every shared meal and every act of kindness reflects our desire to demonstrate the generous love of Jesus Christ to our community.

Our Story

St Catherine’s Church has been a visible Christian presence at the heart of Gorseinon for generations. We give thanks for generations of faithful Christians whose worship, prayer and service have shaped this church. Their commitment has ensured that the church has remained a visible Christian presence at the heart of Gorseinon through changing times.

Like many churches across Wales, however, we recognised that simply continuing to do what had always been done would not be enough. Our community was changing. New housing was bringing new families into the area. Increasing numbers of people had little or no experience of church. Children were growing up with very limited knowledge of the Christian faith. At the same time, people continued to ask the timeless questions of life, faith and meaning.

Rather than seeing these changes as a threat, we increasingly recognised them as an invitation. God was calling us to become more intentional in mission, more confident in sharing the good news of Jesus and more outward-looking in every area of church life.

The change that has already taken place did not happen overnight. It emerged through prayer, careful listening, courageous leadership and a willingness to ask difficult questions about what God was calling us to become. Over the past decade we have seen a transformation in culture as much as in buildings. Today there is a growing expectation that church should be a place where people encounter Jesus, where questions are welcomed, where disciples are intentionally nurtured and where every member is encouraged to discover and use their gifts.

We are grateful to God for how far he has brought us and for the foundations that have been laid. Whilst we know that we have come a long way, we wholeheartedly believe that there is part of our story still to be written with Christ centered leadership under God. We believe this vacancy represents a remarkable opportunity. We are praying for a priest who will build on this momentum and help write the next chapter of St Catherine's story.

The Heart of the Community Project

Perhaps nothing illustrates this transformation more clearly than the redevelopment of our Hall. Rather than asking how we might simply refurbish an ageing building, we asked a much bigger question: what would happen if our buildings became one of the principal ways in which we served the whole community?

That question led to the Heart of the Community project. Supported by approximately £1.6 million of investment from a range of funding partners, the Hall has been completely reimagined. A superb new kitchen, flexible meeting rooms, improved accessibility, modern technology and energy-efficient systems have created a building designed not simply for church activities but for mission seven days a week.

We believe this building is one of our greatest resources for mission. It is not simply an excellent facility; it is a practical expression of our vision to build community and become famous for love. We believe its potential is only beginning to be realised, and we are excited about how our next Vicar will help us use it even more effectively in serving this community and sharing the love of Jesus.

Stepping Stones to Faith

The most significant development in the recent life of The Mission Hub has not simply been the transformation of our buildings. It has been the emergence of a clear and compelling vision for mission.

That vision has become known as Stepping Stones to Faith.

At its heart lies a simple conviction: people rarely move from no connection with church to mature Christian discipleship in a single step. Faith is normally a journey. Relationships are formed. Trust develops. Questions are asked. People explore. Lives are changed through an encounter with Jesus.

As a church, we aim to create those stepping stones, ensuring that every ministry helps people move from first contact with The Mission Hub to a growing relationship with Jesus and an active place within His Church.

This vision captured the imagination of the Church in Wales and led to an investment of £2.8 million through the Church Growth Fund, establishing St Catherine's as a Mission Hub serving Gorseinon, the wider Ministry Area and beyond. It represents one of the most significant investments in mission currently taking place within the Province and reflects confidence in our vision and leadership and the opportunities that exist here.

The successful applicant will inherit a church with a faithful, skilled and motivated team of staff and volunteers who share a common vision and are eager to see more people come to know Jesus.

Our Worship, Prayer and Spiritual Life

Our principal Sunday morning congregation reflects the breadth of Anglican worship, bringing together Scripture, prayer, preaching and the celebration of Holy Communion in a way that is welcoming and accessible. We are grateful for our Anglican heritage and value the richness it brings to our common life. At the same time, we recognise that many people in our community have little or no church background. We therefore seek to communicate the timeless gospel in language, music and worship that connects with people today.

The Six

One of the most exciting developments in recent years has been the growth of The Six, our contemporary Sunday evening congregation.

What began as a new initiative has become an increasingly significant expression of the church’s worshipping life. Contemporary music led by a worship band, engaging biblical preaching, testimony, prayer ministry and generous hospitality have created an environment where many people have encountered Jesus for the first time. Younger adults, families and those exploring faith have found a place where they can ask questions, build relationships and begin following Jesus.

We believe The Six represents an important direction of travel for The Mission Hub. We want to continue developing contemporary worship with excellence, authenticity and theological depth, creating opportunities for new generations to encounter Jesus. Alongside our already established morning service, we would like to see more informal expressions of church develop that would connect with those who don’t know Jesus.

Our newly appointed worship leader represents our aspiration for contemporary worship to play a much bigger part in the life of the church.

Our Future

We hope our next vicar will be an inspiring Bible teacher, a confident communicator of the gospel and a leader who is excited by developing contemporary worship and new expressions of church, whilst valuing what already exists. A leader, who sits at the feet of Jesus investing in their own relationship with him whilst leading our staff and congregation to do the same. They need to be committed to working with a gifted team on the next phase of our capital redevelopment scheme. This involves a complete renovation of the church for which over £600,000 has already been provided.

Further funds will need to be sought. The church Vision Group has already successfully navigated the renovation of the church hall alongside a professional fundraiser and experienced diocesan staff. They will offer continued support with this venture.

St Catherine’s and the wider Llwchwr Ministry Area

St Catherine’s is a church within the Llwchwr Ministry Area. The Ministry Area is centred around the communities of Gorseinon, Loughor, Gowerton, Waunarlwydd, Pontarddulais and Penllergaer. There are seven churches in the Ministry Area and Ben Jones has recently been appointed as Ministry Area Leader. The newly appointed priest will be required to work closely with both lay and ordained colleagues and in collaboration with the Ministry Area Council which operates in accordance with the constitution of the Church in Wales and the requirements of the Charity Commission.

Ben Jones
Ministry Area Leader
[Name]
[Role]
[Name]
[Role]

St Catherine’s Mission Hub newly recruited team

The Church Growth Fund has enabled significant investment in people as well as buildings. A leadership team for children and families, older people, hospitality, an evangelist, operations, administration and site management. Together they are helping create a culture where worship, welcome, hospitality, pastoral care, discipleship and evangelism work together rather than existing as separate activities.

[Name]
Children and Families
[Name]
Older People
[Name]
Hospitality
[Name]
Evangelist
[Name]
Operations
[Name]
Administration
[Name]
Site Management
[Name]
Worship Leader

The Vicarage

The Vicarage provides comfortable family accommodation. It is a large, modern, four-bedroom family home which has been newly refurbished. It is located within walking distance of the church. With office and meeting facilities available at St Catherine’s, the Vicarage can remain primarily a home while much of the practical business of ministry is carried out at church.

Gorseinon

The church occupies a prominent position at the heart of the town and is increasingly recognised as the principal Anglican church serving the Llwchwr Ministry Area.

Gorseinon has a strong community spirit with expanding housing developments, excellent schools, thriving local businesses and increasing opportunities for ministry. Like many post-industrial communities across Wales, parts of our area continue to experience economic hardship, social isolation and the long-term effects of changing patterns of employment and community life. Yet alongside these challenges there is a strong sense of local identity, resilience and community spirit.

We believe God has placed St Catherine's in this community for a purpose. New housing, growing families, excellent schools and strong community partnerships provide significant opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ and to serve our neighbours with generosity, compassion and hope.

Llwchwr Ministry Area exists within the Archdeaconry of Gower. Swansea, the second city of Wales, accounts for the bulk of the civil population of the Diocese and is the business, social, cultural, economic and commercial centre of the West Wales region.

Gorseinon lies around 6 miles north west of Swansea with a population of nearly 9,000. An expanding town with a busy high street that runs through the centre and leads to St Catherine’s Church on Alexandra Road.

Gallery

The Church

The Hall

The Vicarage

The Community

Select any image to view it full size.

How to apply

[Short invitation to apply or to arrange an informal conversation: add wording here.]

Closing date: [CLOSING DATE]
Interviews: [INTERVIEW DATE]
Informal conversations and application packs: [CONTACT NAME], CONTACT-EMAIL-HERE

• • •