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Welcome to the home page for the Offa Mission Area.

The Offa Mission Area is a collection of Churches of the Church In Wales.

What is the Offa Mission Area? 

In preparation for the centenary of the disestablishment of the Church In Wales, in 2020, the Church In Wales embarked on a project to make us fit for the next 100 years. This meant looking at our structures, and taking seriously the challenge of falling attendance. The Church In Wales decided that rather than managing decline, it would go for growth and so commissioned a report. This report became known as the Vision 2020 report. This report looked at some of our historic structures, like the parish, and realised that they were no longer fit for purpose. While the report noted that it was important that there be a link between the place in which people lived, and the place in which they worshipped, the old parish structures were hindering modern ministry. In order to get the best out of it’s most important asset, the people, they needed to be able to work across the old parish boundaries. It also took seriously the idea that many people no-longer lived in the parish where they went to church. Most people now drive to church, and often pick a church that has a special connection for them. Maybe the one they grew up in, or the one they felt more comfortable with the style of worship.

To make this work, the old parish boundaries had to go. The new legal entity became what used to be the old deanery. In our case, this includes Rhosymedre, Ruabon, Chirk, Johnstown, Penycae, and the Rhos. This means that the clergy, and the people can work more freely across the whole area, sharing their expertise and helping to grow God’s Kingdom in this place.