Cytûn (Churches Together in Wales) has announced that after the retirement of Rev Canon Aled Edwards OBE, its next Chief Executive is to be Rev Siôn Brynach.
Commenting, Chair of Cytûn, Dr Patrick Coyle, said:
‘The handing over of the responsibilities of Chief Officer is always a time of anticipation and excitement. We look back with immense gratitude for the long service given with great distinction by the Rev Canon Aled Edwards during a time of great change for the churches and people of Wales. We now look forward to having the wide experience that Siôn will bring from his previous career in Church, public relations and public affairs. I know him to have a deep Christian faith and knowledge of ecumenism in Wales and beyond.’
Siôn Brynach is currently Head of Communication and Public Affairs for Arts Council of Wales, having previously been Chief Executive of Hanfod Cymru (2017-18), Accountability Adviser for the BBC Trust for ten years (2006-2017), Archbishop’s press officer and communication team leader for the Church in Wales (2000 and late 2006) and British Gas (1996-2000). He was ordained deacon in the Church in Wales in 2020 and priest in 2022, and has served as self-supporting assistant curate at Christ Church, Roath Park, Cardiff since 2020. He was born in Bangor and raised in Dyffryn Nantlle and Gorseinon, and also has strong family links with north Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. He was educated at the University of Bangor and Jesus College, Oxford. He has lived in Cardiff since 1993, is married to Catherine and they have four children. He is a first language Welsh speaker.
Commenting, Siôn said:
‘I am delighted to have been appointed to this exciting and important post but well aware that I am following in the footsteps of some real giants in the field of ecumenism such as the Rev Noel Davies and the Rev Gethin Abraham-Williams. My immediate predecessor, Canon Aled Edwards, has also done much to bring the churches to the fore in the public’s attention in Wales as well as developing relationships with politicians and Welsh Government. I hope that I’ll be able to further build on these important foundations once I take up this post.
‘At interview for this post I highlighted the challenges and dangers of the neo-tribalism which academics have identified as being a feature of contemporary society and one which has grown in recent years. The churches have an important role to play in bridging those tribes. Before God we are all loved equally.
‘I also look forward to further developing links with churches beyond Wales as well as other faith communities in Wales and growing my own understanding of how we might actively work together both as Christian denominations and different faiths to the Glory of God.’
Siôn will begin in post as Chief Executive of Cytûn on 1 April 2023.
Cytûn yn cyhoeddi penodiad ei Brif Weithredwr nesaf
Mae Cytûn – eglwysi ynghyd yng Nghymru wedi cyhoeddi mai ei Brif Weithredwr nesaf, ar ôl ymddeoliad y Parch Ganon Aled Edwards OBE, fydd y Parch Siôn Brynach.
Gan siarad heddiw, dywedodd Cadeirydd Cytûn, Dr Patrick Coyle :
‘Mae trosglwyddo cyfrifoldebau’r Prif Swyddog bob amser yn gyfnod o gyffro ac edrych tua’r dyfodol. Edrychwn yn ôl gyda diolchgarwch aruthrol am y gwasanaeth hir a chlodwiw a roddwyd gan y Parch Ganon Aled Edwards yn ystod cyfnod o newid mawr i Eglwysi ac i bobl Cymru. Edrychwn ymlaen yn awr at fanteisio ar y profiad eang a ddaw yn sgil gyrfa flaenorol Siôn yn yr Eglwys, cysylltiadau cyhoeddus a materion cyhoeddus. Gwn bod ganddo ffydd Gristnogol ddofn a gwybodaeth am eciwmeniaeth yng Nghymru a thu hwnt.’
Mae Siôn Brynach bellach yn Bennaeth Cyfathrebu a Materion Cyhoeddus Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, ar ôl bod yn Brif Weithredwr Hanfod Cymru (2017-18), yn Ymgynghorydd Atebolrwydd dros Ymddiriedolaeth y BBC am ddeng mlynedd (2006-2017), arweinydd tîm y wasg a chyfathrebu’r Archesgob ar gyfer yr Eglwys yng Nghymru (2000 a diwedd 2006) a British Gas (1996-2000). Cafodd ei ordeinio’n ddiacon yn yr Eglwys yng Nghymru yn 2020 ac yn offeiriad yn 2022 ac mae wedi gwasanaethu fel curad cynorthwyol hunangynhaliol yn Eglwys Crist, Parc y Rhath, Caerdydd ers 2020. Cafodd ei eni ym Mangor a’i fagu yn Nyffryn Nantlle a Gorseinon, ac mae ganddo gysylltiadau teuluol cryf gyda gogledd Sir Benfro a Cheredigion hefyd. Addysgwyd ef ym Mhrifysgol Bangor a Choleg yr Iesu, Rhydychen. Mae’n byw yng Nghaerdydd ers 1993, yn briod â Cathrin ac mae ganddynt bedwar o blant. Mae’n siaradwr Cymraeg rhugl.
Heddiw, dywedodd Siôn:
‘Pleser o’r mwyaf yw cael fy mhenodi i’r swydd gyffrous a phwysig hon ond ar yr un pryd rwy’n ymwybodol iawn fy mod yn dilyn ôl traed rhai cewri go iawn ym maes eciwmeniaeth fel y Parch Noel Davies a’r Parch Gethin Abraham-Williams. Mae fy rhagflaenydd, y Canon Aled Edwards, hefyd wedi gwneud llawer i ddod â’r eglwysi i’r amlwg yn sylw’r cyhoedd yng Nghymru yn ogystal â datblygu perthynas adeiladol gyda gwleidyddion a Llywodraeth Cymru. Gobeithio y byddaf yn gallu adeiladu ymhellach ar y sylfeini pwysig hyn ar ôl i mi ymgymryd â’r swydd hon.
‘Mewn cyfweliad ar gyfer y swydd hon, tynnais sylw at heriau a pheryglon y neo-lwythiaeth y mae academyddion wedi’u nodi fel nodwedd o’n cymdeithas gyfoes a her sydd wedi tyfu yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Mae gan yr eglwysi swyddogaeth bwysig o ran pontio’r carfannau hynny. Ond mae Duw yn ein caru oll yn gyfartal.
‘Rwyf hefyd yn edrych ymlaen at ddatblygu cysylltiadau pellach gydag eglwysi tu hwnt i Gymru yn ogystal â chymunedau ffydd eraill yng Nghymru a thyfu fy nealltwriaeth bersonol o sut y gallem fynd ati i gydweithio fel enwadau Cristnogol a gwahanol grefyddau er gogoniant Duw.’
Bydd Siôn yn dechrau fel Prif Weithredwr Cytûn 1 Ebrill 2023.
