Exploring your Vocation

Part time training takes around 15 hours per week. This includes placement, theological learning, residentials and formational cells. It is very important that you consider very carefully if you are able to make this sort of a time commitment before starting the discernment process and training. We will however work with you to help you prioritise your time if you are sponsored for training by your bishop. You will also need to consider whether you are able to devote the time to a week long residential and three residential weekends per year. Training for ministry is an important commitment to make, and we are always happy to discuss with you what the training involves. Whilst it’s important to be realistic about how much time you can commit to training, we have had candidates train successfully from all sort of backgrounds and situations.

No. The Church in Wales also provides grants for people training for ministry. For part time candidates this is currently £435 per year and expenses are provided for travel. For full time candidates see the answer below

See the question above. There is no charge, and grants are available, for full time candidates, to cover basic living costs. This grant is calculated individually dependent on housing, household income and other living costs. Once St Padarn’s receives a candidate’s sponsor form from their sending Diocese the information is passed on to the Church in Wales Finance department. They will send out more information about grant entitlements and forms to be completed in order to apply for grants. You can view information regarding Training Support Grants here Information on Support Grants

In short, yes! We have had experience of all kinds of people starting to train for ministry with us, even those who have left school decades ago with no qualifications. All you need is a willingness to learn. We will support you every step of the way, and we also have learning needs support if you need it from a dedicated tutor.

You will have a tutor who will meet with you on your formation in regular meetings. There is also support for those with learning needs, and all of the tutors are approachable and friendly and very happy to help. The staff team at St Padarn’s are also very happy to help with all kinds of practical queries from financial questions to help with accessing our library and other resources. We have a dedicated staff member whose role is to ensure candidates get the practical support they need.

It is our responsibility to help you flourish as a lay or ordained minister and serve God’s people to the very best of your ability and to grow into the person God is calling you to be. There is always something new we can learn – in fact at St Padarn’s we see lifelong learning as a normal part of discipleship. In certain circumstances we can develop bespoke programmes for those with a very unique set of experiences. Many of our candidates have trained already with us for lay ministries and are training for an ordained ministry. In those circumstances we will help you develop further and build on the training you have already received. However, openness to learning, and to continuing to grow and develop in faith is crucial in ministry.