Beliefs

The purpose of the Presbyterian Church of Wales is to worship God and spread the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

God deserves and requires us to worship Him. As we arrange a variety of worship services, bible studies, prayer meetings, youth and children’s work, and other events, we seek to teach and encourage God’s people, as well as fulfill our mission to reach other people with the Gospel. Our services are open to everyone and forms and times of worship vary from church to church, so we hope that everyone can find a place of worship where they feel comfortable. You can find out about local churches’ worship by browsing the Churches section.

We express love for God through our love for one another and for those around us. Following Jesus’ teaching, our churches emphasise pastoral care, which means caring for church members and other people in the community. Our churches are active in their local communities and the Presbyterian Church of Wales also employs and supports community workers and chaplains who work with various groups all over Wales.

We seek to take a stand for justice and peace in our world, and we try to safeguard our environment in every possible way.

Confession of Faith

Our Confession of Faith was drawn up and adopted in 1823. It follows the broad pattern of other Reformed Confessions, and particularly the Westminster Confession. The wording of the Confession is heavily reliant on Thomas Charles’ Instructor and Bible Dictionary. Following the First World War, the essentials of our beliefs were summarised in the Shorter Declaration of Faith and Practice, and then in a series of Declaratory Articles which were incorporated in the Calvinistic Methodist or Presbyterian Church of Wales Act 1933.

Short Confession of Faith

Our Short Confession of Faith is a summary of the Declaratory Articles and reflects the core beliefs of the Presbyterian Church of Wales.

We believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator and Ruler of all things.

We believe in Jesus Christ. His only-begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour. Through His Life, His death on the Cross, and His Resurrection, He overcame sin and death, forgiving our sins and reconciling us to God.

We believe in the Holy Spirit. Through Him Christ dwells in those who believe, sanctifying them in the truth.

We believe in the Church, the Body of Christ and the fellowship of the Saints, in the Holy Scriptures and in the Ministry of the Word and the Sacraments.

We believe in the coming of the Kingdom of God and in the blessed hope of the eternal through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe that the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever.