There are people of all sorts in our churches, all with different stories of how God has worked in their lives. This time, we’re meeting one of our BUW trustees….
Thank you for talking to us, Ann. What kind of upbringing did you have and where?
I had a Welsh, Christian upbringing, in Rhyl on the North Wales coast. There was a Baptist background in the family on my Mam’s side but Dad was Independent and so we went as a family to Carmel, the Independents’ chapel. I was fortunate to attend Ysgol Glan Clwyd, the first Welsh-language comprehensive in its early days as well.
And so did you grow up as a Christian? How would you describe your journey as a Christian through the rest of your life so far?
Well, it was a thoroughly Christian background, but having left home I turned away. But then when I was a student in my second year there was a very active Christian Union in Bangor, and it was through their witness that I came to accept Jesus as my personal savior. And then there was a gradual process of growing as a Christian afterwards, through different things. I remember a very lovely period for example when we lived in Penygroes, near Ammanford and my husband was a minister in Calfaria, Tabor and Penrhiwgoch. The influence of the Apostolics was strong in that area and I had the privilege of seeing a number of the youth coming to believe and there was real life in our times of worship.
What a thrill that must have been. And it would be fair to say you’ve had a burden for the younger generation your entire life?
Well, yes. My career was as a teacher, at in primary schools in Llandudno and then here in Lampeter. And I’m still teaching to an extent, but my field is now Welsh for adults. Y
You are very active in your locale in the church and in the community.
Lampeter is a very close-knit place, and we are fortunate in the churches where Densil my husband is a minister. It’s a group of six chapels, and I try to be involved in the work as I can. I’m also glad to be able to contribute to the wider community through the town council and the Family centre – and yes, I had the special privilege of being Mayor in 2018-19 too! Organising activities through the medium of Welsh is very important to me.
And what is your latest role within the Union and your vision for that role?
I have been asked to take the reins as President of the Association (Carmarthen and Ceredigion) for this year. I have come in towards the end of the Covid period so there are challenges as a result. But we’ve also seen fruit, for example a series of zoom prayer meetings that is still running, and which is a good way to bring people together across a very wide geographical area. It is good to see new faces coming to those, and it is a means of building unity between us.
How can we pray for you and your work, Ann?
Pray for a youth worker for us here in the Lampeter area; we have a link with other churches here for that role and we have advertised without success to date. On the Association front, pray for the situation of the Sunday schools and the lost generation, and then in terms of the Union we will need to appoint two new trustees this year! Thank you.
Do you know of anyone who would be interested in serving as a BUW trustee? Email judith@ubc.cymru for further details