Tue, 24 Oct 2017 21:30 Y Byd ar Bedwar


Tue, 24 Oct 2017 21:30

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-# Let us go to his gracious throne

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-# Let us raise... #

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-According to a recent review...

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-..over half the British

-population are atheists.

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-Tonight, we ask if this

-is the beginning of the end...

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-..for Christianity in Wales?

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-The plain truth is

-this is the end of a chapter.

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-When a chapter ends,

-some things stop for good.

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-We reveal new statistics

-which highlight the fall...

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-..in membership

-amongst the main denominations.

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-The way we worship...

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-..and gather together as Christians

-is coming to an end.

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-As our chapels and churches empty...

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-..we ask if Wales

-is losing its faith.

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-It's not looking good for you

-right now.

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-You're right.

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-Questions were raised in 1990

-that were raised in 1980.

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-How do we face

-the statistical decline?

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-You're failing right now.

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-You're failing right now.

-

-I think we are.

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-Capel y Graig, Machynlleth.

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-Since 1789...

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-..this has been home

-to the Independents in the town.

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-Today, the Bible leaves the pulpit

-for the final time.

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-Things have come to a head.

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-We decided about two years ago

-that we had to close.

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-Unfortunately, the only option

-for us was to close the chapel.

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-Today is the final service,

-the dissolution service.

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-I declare in their names...

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-..that the covenant

-made by the founders...

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-..to establish

-a congregational church...

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-..has been annulled.

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-No services have been held

-in the chapel since January 2016.

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-Today, the service is being held

-in the vestry.

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-I can remember the wonderful sounds

-from this chapel...

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-..of the cymanfaoedd of yesteryear.

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-It's a sad situation and a situation

-that's becoming more common.

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-Eternal God,

-we come to thee in prayer...

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-..as generations before us

-came to you.

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-After more than

-two centuries of worship...

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-..the doors of the chapel

-will close for the final time.

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-As we come to share bread and wine

-together...

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-..Mairlynne,

-can you help me share the bread?

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-I will publically state...

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-..that this service

-would have happened years ago...

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-..without Mair's perseverance

-and hard work.

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-There are no members

-attending the chapel.

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-We have to pay for the upkeep

-of the chapel.

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-That's the two main factors.

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-There are no officers or trustees.

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-Unfortunately,

-it's become impossible to carry on.

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-Do this in remembrance of me.

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-It's a very sad day.

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-That's the situation we face

-and it's impossible to carry on.

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-Many other chapels and churches

-have closed down in recent years.

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-I tried to measure

-the size of the decline.

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-I asked for figures from the Church

-in Wales, the Catholic Church...

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-..and some of Wales'

-main nonconformist denominations...

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-..the Independents,

-Presbyterians and Baptists.

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-I wanted to measure the strength

-of Christianity in Wales today.

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-According to the figures

-we received...

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-..over 350 Welsh worship houses

-have closed over the past decade.

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-In Talysarn, Nantlle Vale,

-six chapels and churches...

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-..used to open their doors

-in a village of 2,000 people.

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-I visited Talysarn

-and met former MP Betty Williams.

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-She's sad to see

-five places of worship closed.

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-Look at the state of Capel Mawr.

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-There were a lot of worshippers

-in Capel Mawr and Capel Seion.

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-Both are two-storey buildings.

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-The Baptist chapel, Capel Salem...

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-..that's also two-storey.

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-Capel Moreia, the Wesleyan chapel,

-used to be here.

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-It also had a chapel house.

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-Betty Williams is a chapel elder

-in Seion.

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-It's the only chapel

-that remains open here.

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-The village has changed.

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-When I walk to chapel on Sunday,

-I might not see anyone.

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-I used to see and greet

-the other people attending chapel.

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-We all knew each other

-and took an interest in each other.

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-The hustle and bustle of life

-has taken over.

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-Seion Independent chapel

-has 16 members.

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-Only six

-are in the congregation today.

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-We're not a large group

-but we are close.

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-If there's something to do,

-we'll all help.

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-It's a worry that we're not

-attracting younger members.

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-That's my main worry.

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-The chapel has no Sunday school

-or minister.

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-The worshippers are determined

-to persevere.

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-We're the older generation

-but we are committed.

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-What will happen when the older

-generation are no longer here?

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-I can't answer that.

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-That make us sad

-but it makes us want to battle on...

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-..while we can.

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-We can't do more than that.

-We're doing as much as we can.

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-The headquarters of the Union

-of Welsh Independents is in Swansea.

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-Two point six.

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-The union is trying

-to make Christianity attractive...

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-..in the modern age.

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-This sound is being recorded

-for a new app.

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-Being a hero means going on an

-adventure and discovering stories...

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-..to share in Ancora.

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-The Arwyr Ancora app is available

-for smartphones and tablets.

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-It gives children an opportunity

-to play games...

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-..and learn about Jesus.

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-Choose your character below.

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-Welcome to Ancora.

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-I hope it grabs the imagination

-of our youngsters...

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-..and I hope we can convince

-the parents.

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-As a parent, I know how much

-children play these modern devices.

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-This will introduce the story

-of Jesus in the most up-to-date way.

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-Beti-Wyn James is the minister

-at Y Priordy chapel in Carmarthen.

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-The chapel has taken steps

-to modernise.

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-The elders' pew has been removed

-and TV screens have been installed.

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-Beti-Wyn James uses contemporary

-methods in her services.

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-According to Beti-Wyn, the chapel

-is flourishing with 200 members...

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-..but she doesn't want to place

-too much emphasis on numbers...

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-..when measuring

-the importance of chapels.

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-We've begun to measure success

-in terms of numbers...

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-..but it doesn't always ring true

-in this context.

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-I have two other chapels

-with smaller congregations.

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-I doubt I'll see a congregation

-as large as this in the other two...

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-..but they are close communities

-and important in their localities.

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-Over the past two years, four

-chapels in Carmarthen have closed.

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-Beti-Wyn insists that

-Christianity has a role to play...

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-..in people's lives.

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-The chapels have been convenient

-places to worship...

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-..but when chapels close, we must

-safeguard the chapel's society.

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-Often, when chapels close,

-it's down to dwindling membership.

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-Dwindling membership, yes.

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-Even when there is good membership,

-the commitment isn't always there.

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-It's important to safeguard

-the membership we have...

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-..and ensure that they

-are eager to continue...

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-..after the cause they were

-a part of has closed.

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-After the service, Beti-Wyn James

-joined be in Carmarthen town centre.

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-I wanted to know if people there

-used to attend a chapel or church.

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-We're asking if you've attended

-a chapel or church today.

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-No? Why haven't you been?

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-No time.

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-What do you do on Sundays?

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-What do you do on Sundays?

-

-Go shopping.

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-You prefer shopping.

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-Sometimes I attend church.

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-Why don't you go every Sunday?

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-I don't know, it's finding the time.

-You know how it is, busy life.

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-She's asked to go, haven't you?

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-Many of her friends want to go.

-She'll go with friends.

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-No, I haven't been, sorry.

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-Did you used to go?

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-When I was younger, her age.

-I don't go anymore.

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-Why did you stop going?

-Was there a reason?

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-It didn't do anything for me.

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-In Carmarthen on a Sunday morning...

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-..shopping and sport was the

-religion of those who spoke to us.

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-I wouldn't be happy if someone felt

-they couldn't attend if they wanted.

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-We can't force them.

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-Our aim is to ensure

-that the Church is a community...

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-..with its doors flung open...

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-..and a community where everyone,

-whatever their background...

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-..whatever their ability,

-can be part of it.

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-People know there's a community

-and a welcome in the Church...

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-..but there's nothing there

-that interests them.

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-Does that concern you?

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-It's a challenge for us.

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-It's a challenge for us

-to present the gospel...

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-..in a more interesting way...

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-..but however interestingly

-you present the gospel...

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-..it's still a difficult challenge.

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-It's the same as trying to get me

-to watch a football match.

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-I have no interest in it

-and I won't go.

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-In Part 2, we reveal worrying new

-statistics highlighting a decline...

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-..in the membership

-of Christian denominations in Wales.

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-I ask the leaders

-of the denominations...

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-..if they're doing enough

-to keep the flame burning brightly.

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-Is it not a failure on your part,

-and other denominations...

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-..that you haven't been able

-to sustain the congregations...

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-..and attract people

-through the doors?

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-It's not our role

-to sustain past traditions.

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-Our task is to make the

-Christian faith relevant today.

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-.

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-Subtitles

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-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

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-It's Sunday morning.

-Dafydd Iwan is on his way to preach.

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-He supports merging

-nonconformist denominations...

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-..after seeing chapels closing

-and congregations dwindling.

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-I don't do a head count.

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-If I did, my heart would have

-been broken a long time ago.

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-I'm pleasantly

-surprised sometimes...

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-..because, often, I travel far

-to preach to a congregation of six.

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-At other times,

-that six can turn into 25.

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-Everyone can see

-the decline happening.

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-He's worried that very few people

-have responded to the decline...

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-..or the closure

-of churches and chapels.

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-Numbers are dwindling, the age

-of the congregation is increasing...

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-..and you have to ask the question.

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-What will be here

-in ten years' time?

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-How much of a decline has there been

-over the past few years?

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-I checked the most

-recent membership figures...

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-..for the Church in Wales,

-the Catholic Church...

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-..and the nonconformist

-denominations.

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-Each one had lost at least

-half their members since 1990.

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-Statistics show that only

-4% of the Welsh population...

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-..are members of a church

-or the main denominations.

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-I asked Dafydd Iwan

-for his response to our research.

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-What do you make of the statistics

-in these documents?

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-Very disheartening,

-very frightful to be honest.

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-Then again, it's not a surprise.

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-This is the picture I see regularly

-when I preach on Sundays.

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-One interesting thing

-I can see in these figures...

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-..is the belief that chapels

-were suffering more than churches.

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-According to the figures...

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-..the decline has affected

-everyone the same.

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-There's been a dramatic decline

-across the spectrum...

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-..for all the denominations

-and all the churches.

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-Bangor Cathedral attracts 200 people

-on a normal Sunday.

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-Even though it attracts

-a healthy congregation...

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-..the Church has lost ground.

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-Since 2006,

-over 100 Welsh churches have closed.

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-Almost another 100

-are not being used.

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-Bishop Andy John says

-the Church in Wales...

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-..needs to be more relevant.

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-If I regret anything...

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-..I regret this.

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-We should have had the discussion

-we're having today 20 years ago.

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-It's our fault,

-the people leading the Church.

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-We could all see the statistics...

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-..but we might not have been

-radical enough.

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-The Church in Wales

-manages to attract more people...

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-..than any of

-the nonconformist denominations.

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-Latest figures show 45,759 members

-on their electoral list.

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-There were almost 100,000

-back in 1990.

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-As part of their 2020 Vision plan...

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-..the Church published this report

-in 2012.

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-According to the report,

-the Church had to act quickly...

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-..to continue to influence

-Welsh public life.

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-The Bishop of Bangor

-is one of those responsible...

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-..for implementing

-the recommendation.

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-Do you think the plan has worked?

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-On the whole, yes.

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-There are simple things

-in the report...

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-..but the more substantial aspects

-are challenging the Church.

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-We need to modernise

-the way we work.

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-We're changing slowly

-but we must move forward...

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-..and ensure we don't go back

-to our old ways.

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-You said in 2012 that you were

-giving yourselves three years.

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-During that three-year period,

-you lost an extra 10,000 members.

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-It suggests that the plan

-hasn't been a success.

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-I think the declining membership

-will level out.

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-I don't think the Church is in

-crisis but there is a challenge...

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-..to ensure we can sustain

-whatever we start.

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-That's one of the greatest

-challenges for the Church.

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-We don't want to start things

-just to see them fail.

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-We must ensure we can continue.

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-The Baptists face

-the same challenge.

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-In 1990, they had 28,713 members.

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-They have 10,231 members this year.

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-It's a fall of almost two-thirds.

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-That's a really good idea, isn't it?

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-Wouldn't it be nice

-to put flowers on Jesus's grave?

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-Judith Morris is the general

-secretary of the Baptists Union.

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-She invited me to a summer school

-in Salem, Tonteg, near Pontypridd.

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-190 of the denomination's chapels

-have closed since the early-'90s.

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-According to Judith Morris, some,

-like this one, are flourishing.

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-To be honest, I'm sure more chapels

-will have to close their doors...

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-..but our role

-is to try and help those chapels...

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-..to keep the faith alive.

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-Isn't your role attracting

-new members through the doors...

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-..to keep the chapels open?

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-The union's work is to support

-and encourage our chapels.

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-That hasn't been happening.

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-Membership is dwindling -

-have you done your work properly?

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-These are different times.

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-We live in the shadow of the past...

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-..when congregations

-were in their hundreds.

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-Our situation has changed.

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-Some denominations have felt

-that change more than others.

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-The denomination that's seen the

-greatest decline in membership...

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-..since 1990 is the Presbyterians.

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-Back then,

-they had 61,616 members in Wales.

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-Today, that number has fallen

-to 19,818, a fall of 68%.

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-You have around 20,000 members

-in Wales.

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-You've witnessed a major decline

-over the past 25 years.

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-What does the future hold for

-your denomination in 15 years' time?

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-I think...

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-..it's a crisis now, in a way...

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-..that people living two generations

-ago would never have imagined.

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-Of course, in our generation,

-it's a crisis that's far too common.

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-Moving forward, I think

-the Welsh Presbyterian Church...

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-..will have to take

-a long look at how we operate...

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-..what are our expectations,

-what we think we can do...

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-..and what we'll have to surrender.

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-Strategically,

-we need to target certain areas...

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-..and accept that in some areas,

-others are being more successful.

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-At the turn of the century...

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-..there were moves to merge

-the nonconformist denominations.

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-Those moves were unsuccessful.

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-Some encourage cooperation but

-the denominations remain apart...

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-..and continue to weaken.

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-The Independents

-have dislodged the Presbyterians...

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-..as Wales' most popular

-nonconformist denomination.

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-According to the Independents Union,

-they have 22,290 members.

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-That's a fall of 57%

-since the early-'90s..

0:20:550:20:59

-Isn't it a failure on your part and

-other Christian leaders in Wales...

0:21:020:21:07

-..that you've not been able

-to retain your congregations...

0:21:070:21:11

-..or attract new members?

0:21:110:21:13

-No, our role isn't to sustain

-the tradition of the past.

0:21:140:21:20

-Our task is to make

-the Christian faith relevant today.

0:21:200:21:26

-Are you failing in that respect with

-less people attending your services?

0:21:260:21:31

-You're seeing the end of the old era

-and the beginning of a new era.

0:21:310:21:36

-We have a foot in each camp.

0:21:360:21:38

-Back in Machynlleth, the old era

-is over for Capel Y Graig.

0:21:380:21:43

-With sorrow and sadness...

0:21:450:21:47

-..we cannot continue to say,

-with Dafydd Iwan...

0:21:470:21:50

-..that Capel y Graig is still here.

0:21:500:21:53

-Since its formation,

-14 ministers have served the chapel.

0:21:560:22:00

-The final service is an

-emotional one for the 14th minister.

0:22:000:22:05

-As it happens,

-there have been 14 ministers...

0:22:070:22:10

-..since seventeen eighty-something.

0:22:100:22:13

-I'm the last of the 14.

0:22:130:22:15

-That adds a little...

0:22:150:22:17

-..to the sadness.

0:22:170:22:19

-Someone said that though the chapels

-were made of stone and mortar...

0:22:200:22:27

-..this is where people were raised.

0:22:270:22:30

-As she closes the door

-for the final time...

0:22:370:22:40

-..Mairlynne Davies is worried

-that her town and generation...

0:22:400:22:45

-..is losing its Christian faith.

0:22:450:22:47

-There's a lot of apathy

-and we can't attract the youngsters.

0:22:470:22:52

-The future doesn't look bright...

0:22:520:22:55

-..unless we can attract

-the children and youngsters.

0:22:550:22:59

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

0:23:170:23:20

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0:23:200:23:21

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