Members of the steering group of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) in Europe visited Wales at the end of March as part of a solidarity and learning visit, meeting with church leaders, ecumenical partners, and politicians.
The group, led by WCRC Europe President Jenny Dobers, travelled from as far as Sweden, Germany, Romania, Switzerland and North Yorkshire to meet representatives of the three Welsh member churches of the WCRC: Undeb yr Annibynwir (Welsh Independents), the Presbyterian Church in Wales, and the URC as represented by the National Synod of Wales.
The Revd Dr Kevin Snyman, URC Head of World Justice and Interfaith Relations also attended as one of the steering group’s Vice Presidents.
During the visit, the steering group sought to deepen its understanding of the Welsh ecumenical context, meeting with church representatives, Cytûn, and serving members of the Welsh Senedd. The programme also included visits to local churches, St Fagans National Museum of History, and Cardiff Bay, offering insight into both the cultural and political life of Wales.
As part of the visit, Jenny preached at City United Reformed Church in Cardiff, delivering a sermon reflecting on the difficult questions raised by Palm Sunday, particularly around the illusion of power and the enduring power of hope.
One of the group’s key reflections was the extent to which Welsh churches have progressed on the ecumenical journey when compared with many Reformed churches elsewhere in Europe. Members noted that, despite its relatively small size, Wales has much to offer the wider Reformed family through its rich diversity and long‑standing commitment to working together across denominations.
Commenting on the visit, János Antal, the steering group’s Secretary, reflected particularly on what Hungarian‑speaking churches could learn from Wales, observing parallels between Hungary’s historical experience under the Soviet Union and Wales’s experience alongside England. He noted the creative and non‑violent ways Welsh churches have resisted oppression over centuries, rooted deeply in Reformed spirituality, education, and social action.
Reflecting after the visit, Jenny expressed her gratitude to the Welsh churches, writing:
“I want to extend our deepest gratitude to the Welsh churches for this past weekend. You put so much effort into preparing everything, and so many of you gave generously of your time to welcome us and help us understand more about life in Wales.
“We take with us the warmth of the Welsh people, the care of your church members, the beauty of Welsh nature and culture, and a wealth of wisdom and inspiration on how to live the gospel in our time. We thank God that we are in communion with you. It is comforting to know that even across the distance, we can pray together for a world so deeply in need of peace.”
As a gesture of thanks, Jenny Dobers presented small gifts to the Revd David Salsbury, Moderator of the United Reformed Church National Synod of Wales, Hefin Jones, Annibynwyr, and Peredur Owen Griffiths, Presbyterian Church of Wales.
The steering group is served by Jenny Dobers as its president, János Antal as secretary, Kerstin Koch as treasurer, and two vice presidents: Martin Hirzel and Kevin Snyman.