Congratulations! We are looking forward to working with you on your journey towards ordained or licensed ministry. We call ministry training ‘formation’. This is because we believe that during this period the most important thing is that you grow even more into the person God is calling you to be. It’s not just about learning facts or skills but growing into maturity in Christ. If being a minister is about helping others to do this (see Ephesians 4: 11-13), then formation for ministry is about helping us model this in ourselves.
Training is normally for two or three years, full or part time. Part time candidates are based at home and do a placement and their theological learning locally. Full time candidates come to St Padarn’s Cardiff for 48 hours, Wednesday – Friday for 30 weeks of the year and do a 2 day placement either in the Cardiff area or in their home area, which can be anywhere in Wales. All candidates do a common pattern of residentials where we learn about the theology and practice of ministry together. The dates are available well in advance and you will find them here. Attending all the training is vital so please put the dates in your diary now.
We also believe that the best training is ‘integrated’. What we mean by this is that all our learning whether it is academic theology, ministerial skills or spiritual and emotional growth, all feed into and inform each other. This is why everyone who trains for ministry with us does every part of the training, even if you are highly experienced in any one area. We always want to build on what you already know and help you move on to the next stage. There is always more we can learn – formation for ministry is lifelong.
Meet our candidates
The four building Blocks of training are:
Theology and Practice of Ministry taught through Residentials
You will attend 4 residentials a year, held in locations all over Wales – a week long summer school (usually the third week in August) and three weekends. We look at a different bishops’ priority for ministry at each residential and meet in different year groups looking at the theology and practice of preaching and worship leading, work with all ages, pastoral care, pioneering and growing new Christian communities. Every year at the summer school we either look at Spirituality and prayer or Leading your Church into Growth or Leadership on a rolling programme.
Theological Learning
Learning about God is an important aspect of formation and everyone who trains with us follows some kind of theology course. Most candidates for ministry study on our BTh (degree) programme which is validated by the University of Wales Trinity St David, and specifically designed with the needs of discipleship and ministry in mind.
If you already have a degree in theology you will be able to do a postgraduate course – normally our Masters course which is validated by Durham university. If you already have a Masters in theology you will normally do some kind of research degree. We encourage you to fulfil your potential in terms of theological qualifications – the Church in Wales needs theological educators for the future.
Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to discuss your theological learning.
Formational Cells
You will also belong to a cell where you will meet with other candidates, led by an experienced guide, to reflect on your formation. It is an important space to hold all aspects of training together, to share issues, gain advice and insight, and learn further skills in listening to and supporting others. Working well in groups is an important skill in ministry and as well as gaining support you will learn important skills in listening.
Placements
You will become part of a ministry team in your placement, gain practical experience and be supported by an experienced minister. We have a dedicated tutor who arranges and supports placements. Full time candidates do a 2 day placement each week, and part time candidates do at least 4 hours each week.
Full time programme
Normally if you are training for full time ministry you will train on the full time programme. Currently this is 30 weeks a year 48 hours in St Padarn’s Cardiff where you will do some of the ‘building blocks’ e.g. formational cell, theological learning as well as Welsh (if you don’t already speak Welsh), worship (all worship is planned and evaluated in groups) and a programme of workshops and learning from experienced practitioners. Every term we have a special prayer event and a guest speaker. In the past speakers have included Rowan Williams, Malcolm Guite and Joanna Collicutt. The normal week in those weeks are:
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday-Friday
Saturday
Placement
Placement or Study Day
Placement or study day, depending on what you have done on Monday
St Padarn's Cardiff
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Do I have to pay for this course?
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
I would like to train full time for ministry but worry that I won’t be able to afford it.
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.
This grant calculator includes figures for 2024. 2025 numbers will be updated soon.
*New candidates who already live in clergy housing should contact Siân Trotman, Learner Services Manager to discuss your situation.*
As each person’s circumstances is different, please contact Siân Trotman , our Learner Services Manager who handles grants, and she will be very happy to help.
Normally the decision is made between your bishop, ministry officer and ourselves in consultation. To guide these decisions the bench of bishops have agreed the following guidelines for ordination training:
For those who are entering full time ordained ministry:
The expectation would be 3 years, full time training for all stipendiary clergy
If an ordinand has significant experience of Lay Licensed Ministry, it would be appropriate to consider two years.
If an ordinand has significant life experience and transferable skills, two years may be appropriate. This would be mapped out against the bishops’ priorities’ criteria.
If an ordinand has already some theological qualifications (e.g., a Cert HE, Dip HE, undergraduate or postgraduate degree) it may be appropriate to consider two years.
Ordinands who have a degree or above in theology already, and in particular if they have potential as a theological educator, would be encouraged to complete a Masters or a research degree.
All those entering full time ordained ministry should have gained at least a diploma in theology by the end of their training.
In rare exceptions we can develop bespoke theological training alongside other aspects of formation, however we prefer ordinands to be working towards a qualification if at all possible.
Two years training is the minimum we would recommend for full time ministry, except for in very unusual circumstances e.g., an ordained minister from another denomination entering Church in Wales ministry, or for other reasons of age or considerable experience.
For those entering part time and / or non-stipendiary ordained ministry
Those entering part time and / or non-stipendiary ordained ministry will normally train part time.
3 years part time training would be the norm (for this reason, we would encourage potential candidates for part time ordained ministry to start Theology for Life for a year during the discernment process so that they can complete a diploma in theology during three years of training)
Those not able to gain a diploma by the end of their training will need further discussion
If an ordinand has significant experience of Lay Licensed Ministry, 2 years may be appropriate.
If an ordinand has a theology degree, or in some cases a diploma, 2 years may be appropriate.
In rare exceptions we can develop bespoke theological training alongside other aspects of formation, however we would expect the vast majority to be working towards a theological qualification.
We believe that formation happens in every aspect of the course. God wants to transform us as whole people, our hearts and minds, our practice our understanding of the faith. A definition of formation we like is from Joanna Collicutt’s book The Psychology of Christian Character Formation She writes:
Christian spiritual formation can be understood as the transforming work of the Spirit in every aspect of the life of the believer…… formation is seen to involve the whole of a person’s life – embodied thinking, feeling, acting and being in relationship…..The work of the Spirit is not to change a person into something she is not, but to enable that person to be truly and fully herself. The Spirit is, after all, also the authentic Spirit of truth (John 14.17; 15.26; 16.13). (Collicutt 2015 chapter 1).
So learning about theology, being trained in how to preach and put together a service, learning the importance of listening well in a formational cell, even learning to get on well with people very different from ourselves on the course…. All of this is ‘formational’, as we grow into the best version of ourselves in Christ through the different experiences in the course. During the training you will also meet with your formation tutor to discuss this regularly.
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.
If you are new to studying theology, look out for any taster courses which are advertised in the winter and run early spring. Each year we run open days and evenings in the spring so please do book on to these. All these will be advertised in our social media so we would recommend that you friend / follow us there, though we also send the information to DDOs and dioceses. Read all the information here carefully and familiarise yourself with the course. Each winter we also produce and upload a new leaflet called Help I’ve been Accepted for Training. There is useful information there and more importantly the dates for the coming year. We also have a Preparing for St Padarn’s sheet online in this section.
After each round of provincial discernment panels, DDOs send us the names of those accepted for training. A tutor will then contact you for a conversation about your training. There is no need for you to contact us, we will contact you. Please read the information on this website carefully before that conversation and think about any questions you want to ask. However if you have a specific query or worry, feel free to contact us directly.
On this page you will also find the handbooks currently in use.
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 about Support Grants
Each candidate will have their own tutor who will work with them on their 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 wider 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.
You can view more about Preparation for St Padarn's below:
