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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