Here at Bryn Sion we are one big growing family of all ages, welcoming to all. We are a local church family based in Aberdare, South Wales – in the community for the community.
We believe that church isn’t a place you visit on a Sunday, but a family you belong to. Encouraging and supporting one another is central to who we aspire to be. Our aim is that everything we do is driven by a desire to be plugged-in to Christ’s life, connected-up in Christ’s love, and shining-out Christ’s light – loving and serving the people of Trecynon and the wider Cynon Valley.
Life and faith is a journey. Each of us are at a different place on that journey. That’s why we provide a variety of groups and activities. Gathering together to worship and hear the Bible taught is really important to us, as are our Connect Groups where we can share and grow together in smaller groups. All of this flows into our mission to shine Jesus by being his hands and feet to our communities, serving people and sharing Christ’s love in practical and relevant ways.
Bryn Sion has been serving in the community Trecynon for many years. We own a chapel building which we are sadly unable to use at present due to problems with the internal listed ornate plaster work ceiling. Consequently, we hold our Sunday morning gatherings in the Trecynon Community Hall. The rear section of our chapel building, which we call the Hub, is busy with most of our ongoing community activities.
Ian is married to Deborah, and they have two sons. As a family they came to serve with us here in Bryn Sion in February 2015. Ian was a school teacher before coming into to full time ministry. He was ordained in 2002 and has led churches in Scotland and Wales, and supported churches and church leaders in South America. He loves to help people discover and then grow in everything God has created them to be. He also has a passion to train and equip people for ministry.
Ian is very committed to the life of our local community, serving as a school Governor and Chaplain at Aberdare Town FC.
If you would like to speak to Ian, he is always available for a chat.
Pastor
Youth & Community
Church Secretary
Deacon & Safeguarding Trustee
Worship Team Leader
Designated Person for Safeguarding
Administrator
Treasurer
As a church we believe we have a responsibility to God and each other to care for adults at risk, and nurture and protect children and young people. For this reason, we work to best practice guidelines as set out in the Baptist Union’s Model Policy and Procedures documents. At Bryn Sion we have a safeguarding team consisting of two Designated Persons for Safeguarding and a Designated Trustee for Safeguarding, who work alongside our Minister.
Only the Designated Persons for Safeguarding should be consulted if anyone has concerns, comments or disclosures about any aspect of the church’s involvement with children and young people or adults at risk. This is particularly important where there is suspicion of abuse of any child or adult.
A copy of our church Safeguarding Policy and Procedures can be obtained by contacting us
Designated Person for Safeguarding – Susan Gardner
Deputy Designated Person for Safeguarding – Alastair Cope
Designated Trustee for Safeguarding – Andrew Jarvis
We love to gather as one big church family on Sundays to worship God and encourage one another. We are a church of every age group from newborns to those in their 90s, and we come from many different backgrounds.
We are an active and growing church with a heart to continue to serve our local community. Having a building that can continue facilitate this is very important to us.
An invitation to partner with our building project
We own an historic chapel building in the centre of Trecynon. We currently only use the rear of this building, ‘the Hub’ on Mount Pleasant Street, for community events and are in desperate need of more space. We want to reopen the chapel to expand our community activities and engage with the needs of our community in new ways. This will involve two stages: fixing the internal plaster work ceiling, and then redeveloping the chapel to remove pews and level the floor creating a multi-functional space, installing a new glazed door entrance, and disabled access.
Historically the chapel building was at the centre of village life. We want it to be a shining place in the centre of our village again, meeting the needs of Trecynon. So we are renovating for renewal.
UPDATE
The ornate plasterwork of the Gr II listed chapel ceiling is now close to the end stage of being repaired and restored. We are grateful for grant finance raised so far to adding to what is already in hand to enable the work on the £130,000 project. In particular we are delighted to acknowledge 2 large grants. National Churches Trust are supporting us with a £30,000 grant, part match funding the £64,000 grant from CADW. In addition, James Pantyfedwen Trust (£10,000), Benefact Trust (£4,880) and Welsh Church Act Fund (£10,000) have made the ceiling restoration possible.
We are still continuing to welcome donations towards the work. If you feel you would like to play a part in securing the building for future generations – please consider a gift. It can be gift aided if you are an income tax payer, with HMRC adding 25%, please let us have your name and address details if this applies to you. Your partnership would be a great help, and a valued contribution, no matter how large or small. Thank you!
Bank details:
Sort Code: 09 06 66
Account no: 42742732
‘Bryn Sion Baptist Church’
Our Kids Church caters for ages 3 to 13 alongside part of our Sunday morning service. All the children and helpers leave our Sunday morning service about halfway through and are led across to our church Hub. They gather to share news from their weeks and pray, and then go into two groups for age appropriate group activities. If you are new to church, you are welcome to accompany your child across to Kids Church.
We also have a group alongside kids church specifically for those in school years 5 to 8.
If you have younger children they are welcome to stay with you in the service, or you can take them across to the Hub where there is a tots space with toys and baby changing facilities.
Bryn Sion Baptist Church
Mill Street,
Trecynon,
Aberdare
CF44 8LY
To learn more about our connect groups click here