Ffald y Brenin 3 The Chapel

This simple "beehive" chapel preserves at its heart the outcrop of rock on which it's built. It is a special place, a place where a rhythm of prayer is perpetuated - morning, noon and night and a place where the presence of Jesus has been made manifest according to many testimonies. It is is place from which prayer for Wales and our nation rises daily. Roy Godwin describes it as a "thin" place, a place where the veil between an ever-present heaven and earth is often drawn aside. It is a simple, peaceful place - a place of light.

Ffald y Brenin 2 The High Cross

When we arrived, Roy and Daphne Godwin were preparing to leave for a holiday but Daphne very kindly took time out to show us around while Roy caught up with some last minute calls. We had an enjoyable three quarters of an hour being taken around the various buildings which culminated in a cup of coffee in the sunshine outside the farmhouse. We thoroughly enjoyed the conversation and Roy and Daphne having departed for their break we were left to wander around the buildings and grounds.The first wander took us down a tree-lined lane.

The lane leads to a promontory which overlooks the valley on which there is set a simple wooden cross which is at the centreof this picture.

What a wonderful spot to stop and meditate and pray - which we duly did.

There is a simplicity about this place which is truly wonderful

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Ffald y Brenin 1

On the evening of my daughter's wedding I fell into conversation during which the book "An Outpouring of Grace" by Roy Godwin was mentioned. The book had obviously had a profound effect on the person who I was talking to  and the following morning I found myself googling it and sending for a copy. Having read the book I can recommend it to anyone who is interested in what God is doing in a comparatively remote community in the North of Pembrokeshire. Ffald y Brenin (The Sheepfold of the King) is a Christian Retreat Centre situated high above Cwm Gwaun (Meadow Valley) just south of Newport on the edge of the Preseli Hills National Park. The story of how Roy and Daphne Godwin came to Ffald y Brenin to become leaders there is in itself a glorious testimony to God's leading but the testimony of what God has been doing at Ffald y Brenin since that time is simply amazing. You can find details of the centre on-line but I really recommend you read the book. As it happened my wife and I were on long planned holiday in Pembrokeshire and we decided to drive up to Ffald y Brenin one morning. It was a reasonably good day with a cool wind but dry. We made our way up through the lanes and through the wonderfully named Maenclochog (Bell Stone) and down into the beautiful Gwaun Valley. Turning up the steep drive we climbed up the winding road to the group of buildings and wonderful gardens which are Ffald y Brenin.

The Buildings in the photos above are the main residential block and the wonderful beehive chapel can be seen at the rear - see next post for the interior.



This is the original farmhouse at Ffald y Brenin.

More about Ffald y Brenin to come.

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The thing that amazes me about the Gospel

I must confess that as a Christian I am often beguiled, fascinated and also frustrated by the great (?) theological debates of the moment. We have the New Perspective - every adherent of which has to carefully specify exactly where he or she stands in a range of views on the poor old Apostle Paul and his theology. Then the same thing seems to apply to Jesus. Should we be part of one of three quests for the historical Jesus (nothing but the latest quest will do!)

On reflection I realise that I have never met more appealing Christians than those of my mother's generation - not only in belief but also in practise. I believe it was G.K. Chesterton who said, "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and not tried." I have been blessed to meet may Christians during my life who have not only tried, but with God's help have succeeded in literally shining the truth of the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ into the world in which they lived. That world was mostly what would today generally be called 'mundane' - but against this grey and often dark background they shone - they radiated!

How could they do that without ever having known about the New Perspective on Paul or the Third Quest for the historical Jesus? It does not take much reflection to realise that in the fires of the reformation, the revivals of the 19th century, the early to mid 20th century, men and women of comparatively little means and education were transformed by the simple message of a Saviour who had come down from heaven's glory to live among men and through His sinless life, sacrificial death and resurrection made it possible for them to not only know forgiveness of sin and release from guilt, but to enjoy fellowship with their Creator both in this life and the next.

This is the glory of the gospel - the transforming power of truth believed and lived. I thank God that in my family history I know of a mother saved through the Pentecostal movement of the 1940's and a grandfather saved in the 1904 revival. I know of older generations who, in the 17th century worshipped in a cave before a relaxation in legislation allowed them to meet in a small chapel in a valley many miles from their homes.

I think of the days of Daniel Rowland of Llangeitho in Cardiganshire (1713 - 1790) when hundreds, even thousands of Welsh people would walk to what must have seemed the middle of nowhere to hear the good news of what God has done and to be transformed by that message.

And so, when I hear of the 'Third Quest for the historical Jesus' and the 'New Perspective on Paul', I think of my ancestors who did't have the benefit (?) of modern day theological thinking and thank God for what Thomas Scott in 1814 called "The Force of Truth". "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes" Romans 1: 16
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