We are delighted to introduce our new Presidents for 2026/27! This summer we welcome two new Presidents to our midst…
Firstly, we welcome the Rev. Dr Rosa Hunt as President of the Welsh-Language Wing. Originally from Malta, Rosa is minister of Tabernacl in Cardiff City Centre, having also previously ministered in Salem, Tonteg and having served as Co-Principal at Cardiff Baptist College.
Some of Rosa’s hopes for her presidential year include exploring the theme of pilgrimage (as well as hosting a real pilgrimage to Malta in 2027!), and looking at the question of language and positive bilingual (or multi-lingual!) engagement across the life of our churches.
We also pleased to welcome the Rev. Paul Smethurst as President of the English-Language Wing. Paul lives in Talgarth with his wife Robyn and serves as the Missional Minister for Breconshire and as Pioneer Lead for the BUW.
Paul has also – incidentally! – chosen ‘pilgrimage’ as a key theme this year, and hopes to explore the need for the heart of pioneering mission to be restored to us as a Baptist family. He believes that tracing our roots back to early Baptist believers in Wales who risked much to worship our Lord Jesus Christ – and to share Him with others – can help us in our consideration of mission today!
Croeso, Rosa a Paul!
Gratitude to our Past Presidents
We also extend our thanks to the Presidents of 2025/26, with gratitude for all their service and contribution to the BUW family!
We asked the Rev. Maggie Rich Past President of the English Language Wing) what her highlights were. According to Maggie, they included: “getting to know people from the Welsh Wing and enjoying the melody of the language even if I only understood a very small percentage of it! It was good to co-operate and work together!”. Maggie shared also how the experience of serving on many meetings “made [her] more appreciative of the hard work of all BUW officers.”
Rev. Rob Nicholls (Past President of the Welsh Language Wing) comments: “It has been a huge privilege to serve as BUW President in the year that has passed. The greatest privilege by far has been to visit the Associations, and to meet the ‘faithful remnant’ who are keeping the flame burning in the face of the apathy we see around us in general… There are signs of increase in the land, and the Church of Jesus Christ is still shining His light in Wales, thanks to the faithful remnant who are sharing the light of Christ to a world in need!”
There are signs of increase in the land, and the Church of Jesus Christ is still shining His light in Wales, thanks to the faithful remnant who are sharing the light of Christ to a world in need!”
Diolch, Maggie a Rob!