About

Bryn Sion

Here at Bryn Sion we are one big family of all ages based in Aberdare, South Wales. You are very welcome here.

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. 

Bryn Sion is a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and the South Wales Baptist Association.

our pastor

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.  

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.

Church Leaders & Staff

Ian Ross

Pastor

Paul Poloha

Elder

Nathan Awad

Deacon & Young Adults

Alun Lewis

Deacon & Treasurer

Jayne Love

Worship Team

Jo Jones

Kids Church

Cerys Evans

Starfish & Worship Team

Candice Griffiths

Toddlers

Rachel Harris

Kids Club

Vacant

Youth Ministry Leader

Ruth Jones

Open the Book

Sha Poloha

Ladies Flourish Group

Andrew Jarvis

Men's Catalyst Group

Will & Kathryn Davies

Simply Bible Group

Leighton & Bev Rees

Clothes Hub

Rebecca Vowles

Griefshare

Elaine Lewis

Administrator

Susan Gardner

Designated Person for Safeguarding

SAFEGUARDING

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

SUNDAY Morning Services

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 also have a Kids Church (our Sunday school) that meets alongside our service.

Look out on social media for our next All Age Family Service & Lunch!

BUILDING PROJECT

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.

GRANTS RECEIVED TO HELP US COMPLETE STAGE 1

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 5 grants, including 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 so grateful for the generosity of each of these grant funders.

MORE GRANTS RECEIVED TO HELP US COMPLETE STAGE 2!

We are now a month into building works that will enable the reopening of our chapel building in the heart of Trecynon! These works have been made possible by two significant grants, along with the giving of church members.
 
We want to acknowledge the generosity of the Welsh Government Community Facilities Programme who awarded us £221,806, and a Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund CIC grant of £36,160. We are thankful to both for their partnership in this project.
 
We are remodelling the chapel and entrance to enable better accessibility and flexibility of use. This will mean we will be able to expand our community activities for the benefit of the whole community!
 

WE’RE RAISING FUNDS FOR THE FINAL STAGES

We are continuing to welcome donations towards furnishing the chapel with new chairs, and an audio visual system, and to then repaint the external side walls… 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’

HOW TO FIND US

Bryn Sion Baptist Church
Mill Street,
Trecynon,
Aberdare
CF44 8LY