Major new role for Cardiff vicar

A theology tutor who also leads a thriving city church will help develop ministry across Wales in a key new role for the Church in Wales.

Canon Dr Trystan Owain Hughes has been appointed as the Church’s first Director of Ministry Development. He will support clergy and lay people in existing and emerging ministries as the Church invests in growth.

Originally from Penmaenmawr in North Wales, Dr Owain Hughes has devoted most of his ministry to Wales. For the past nine years he has served as Vicar of Christ Church, Roath Park (Ministry Area of North Cardiff), overseeing significant growth and development there. He is also Tutor in Applied Theology at St Padarn's Institute, Cardiff, where he has helped develop the MA in Theology, Ministry, and Mission, validated by Durham University. In 2019, he was appointed as Canon Theologian of Llandaff Cathedral.

A prolific writer, Dr Owain Hughes has published six books on faith, and presented talks internationally. He has been a regular voice in the broadcast media, including presenting BBC Radio 4’s ‘Prayer for the Day’ and BBC Radio 2’s ‘Pause for Thought’.

Dr Owain Hughes will take up his new role in February.

The Bishop of Monmouth, Cherry Vann, who is the lead bishop for ministry, says, “I very much welcome Trystan’s appointment to this new and exciting role of Director of Ministry Development and I look forward to working with him.

“A fluent Welsh speaker, Trystan brings with him a breadth and depth of knowledge, experience and wisdom in relation to ministry matters as well as an infectious enthusiasm and creativity. He will be working with the Bench of Bishops, the Diocesan Ministry Teams and St Padarn’s Institute to ensure that we are discerning, equipping and supporting ordained and lay ministers for the needs and the opportunities of today’s Church.”

Trystan brings with him a breadth and depth of knowledge, experience and wisdom in relation to ministry matters as well as an infectious enthusiasm and creativity

Dr Owain Hughes says, “I’m delighted to have been appointed as the Director of Ministry Development at a time when the Church in Wales is thinking about ministry with creativity and fresh vision. Christian ministry champions God’s love, justice and compassion by supporting and transforming communities, so important at times like these when we are facing a cost of living crisis. This role will assist and support the Church in inspiring, encouraging, and caring for those who are involved in our many various and exciting ministries, and also those discerning their own calls to ministry, not least those from underrepresented groups in our churches.”

Simon Lloyd, chief executive of the Church In Wales, says, “I’m delighted to welcome Trystan to his new role as part of the Church in Wales national team and very much look forward to working with him in this vital new role.”

After graduating from Bangor University with a doctorate degree, Dr Owain Hughes began a career in academia as head of theology and religious studies at Trinity College Carmarthen. He trained for ministry at Wycliffe Hall Oxford and was ordained as a priest in 2007. A fluent Welsh speaker, he has held a number of roles in the Diocese of Llandaff, including Chaplain of Cardiff University, Director of Ordinands and Director of Vocations.

His books include Winds of Change (UWP 1999), Finding Hope and Meaning in Suffering (SPCK 2010), The Compassion Quest (SPCK 2013), Real God in the Real World (BRF 2013), Living the Prayer (BRF 2017), and Opening our Lives (BRF 2020).

He also writes a regular blog at https://trystanowainhughes.wordpress.com/