Landmark report by Church in Wales recommends replacing parishes with ministry areas

The days of vicars working as “lone rangers” could come to an end following a unanimous vote by the governing body of the Church in Wales this afternoon.

The Anglican church will now study in detail the recommendation of a landmark report which recommends clergy in close cooperation with colleagues, lay people and members of other denominations.

The governing body, meeting at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, in Lampeter, gave the go-ahead for sweeping proposed changes to be discussed throughout the church in a bid to confront a shrinking membership.

Key recommendations include replacing traditional parishes with "ministry areas" modelled on the catchment areas of secondary schools. Each area could include around 25 parishes.

People living in these areas would be served by teams consisting of ordained clergy and trained lay people. Read More