These interviews offer a space for candidates to reflect on matters of faith, values, and public life – exploring how their beliefs and convictions shape their approach to serving the people of Wales. In an election widely regarded as the most consequential for Welsh politics since the Senedd was established in 1999, Cytûn believes it is more important than ever to create space for these deeper conversations – conversations that go beyond the manifesto and the soundbite to ask what candidates truly believe, and why.

With the formal campaign period now under way and polling day on 7 May just weeks away, this interview is one of the last in our current series before Wales goes to the polls. We are grateful to all the candidates who have given their time to take part in what we hope has been a valuable contribution to public life in Wales during this crucial period.

This interview sees Cytûn’s General Secretary, Dr Cynan Llwyd, in conversation with Huw Thomas, Welsh Labour candidate for Caerdydd Penarth. The interviews in this series have already brought thoughtful and candid exchanges with candidates from Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Conservatives, the Green Party, and Reform UK, and we are glad to continue that spirit of open, respectful dialogue across the political spectrum.

Huw Thomas is a Welsh Labour politician whose background will be familiar to many in the faith community. Originally from Aberystwyth and a fluent Welsh speaker, he studied Music at Oxford University before completing a Masters in International Relations at Aberystwyth University. Before entering politics he worked in the third sector, including for the sustainable travel organisation Sustrans and as Head of Christian Aid Wales. He has been a Cardiff Councillor for the Splott ward since 2012 and Leader of Cardiff Council since 2017.

In this interview, Dr Cynan Llwyd invites Huw to reflect on the values that have shaped his journey from the third sector into elected office. Among the most striking threads of the conversation is the question of what his years working for Christian Aid – an organisation rooted in the shared witness of the churches – meant for his understanding of justice, community, and public responsibility. Huw speaks with candour about how that experience of working alongside faith communities, both in Wales and internationally, formed his conviction that politics must be about more than the transactional, and must ask deeper questions about what kind of society we are building together.

The conversation also explores what Huw believes the new Senedd must prioritise for the people of Caerdydd Penarth and Wales more broadly, and how he sees the relationship between faith communities and democratic life in a changing Wales.

Part of a Wider Programme

This interview is part of a series Cytûn has been publishing in the weeks leading up to polling day on 7 May 2026. We have reached out to candidates from a range of parties and constituencies throughout the campaign, and we hope this series has made a valuable contribution to public life in Wales during this crucial period.

The interviews form part of Cytûn’s Public Theology Programme – an ongoing commitment that extends well beyond election season. Through this programme, Cytûn works to equip the ecumenical Christian community across Wales to engage meaningfully with democratic institutions, political parties, and the full breadth of issues devolved to the Welsh Government and scrutinised by the Senedd – from health and education, to housing, the environment, and social justice. Our aim is not to tell people how to vote, but to help Christians across Wales to listen carefully, ask good questions, and engage as informed and active citizens in the life of our nation.

Get Involved

We welcome responses and reflections from churches and individuals across Wales. If you have questions you would like to see put to candidates in future interviews, or if you are involved in organising a hustings event and would like support from Cytûn, please get in touch at post@cytun.cymru.

These interviews offer a space for candidates to reflect on matters of faith, values, and public life – exploring how their beliefs and convictions shape their approach to serving the people of Wales. In an election widely regarded as the most consequential for Welsh politics since the Senedd was established in 1999, Cytûn believes it is more important than ever to create space for these deeper conversations – conversations that go beyond the manifesto and the soundbite to ask what candidates truly believe, and why.

This interview sees Cytûn’s General Secretary, Dr Cynan Llwyd, in conversation with James Evans, candidate for Reform UK. The interviews in this series have already brought thoughtful and candid exchanges with candidates from Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Conservatives, and the Green Party, and we are glad to continue that spirit of open, respectful dialogue across the political spectrum.

In this interview, Dr Cynan Llwyd invites James to reflect on the convictions that underpin his political life. Amongst the most candid and personal moments of the conversation is James’s account of his own faith journey – a thread that, he explains, has shaped both his values and his sense of vocation in public service. The conversation also explores what he believes Wales needs from its next Senedd, and how he sees the role of faith communities in the life of the nation.

Part of a Wider Programme

This interview is part of a series Cytûn will be publishing in the weeks leading up to polling day on 7 May 2026. We are reaching out to candidates from a range of parties and constituencies, and we hope to share further interviews in the coming weeks.

The interviews form part of Cytûn’s Public Theology Programme – an ongoing commitment that extends well beyond election season. Through this programme, Cytûn works to equip the ecumenical Christian community across Wales to engage meaningfully with democratic institutions, political parties, and the full breadth of issues devolved to the Welsh Government and scrutinised by the Senedd – from health and education, to housing, the environment, and social justice.
Our aim is not to tell people how to vote, but to help Christians across Wales to listen carefully, ask good questions, and engage as informed and active citizens in the life of our nation.

Get Involved

We welcome responses and reflections from churches and individuals across Wales. If you have questions you would like to see put to candidates in future interviews, or if you are involved in organising a hustings event and would like support from Cytûn, please get in touch at post@cytun.cymru.

These interviews offer a space for candidates to reflect on matters of faith, values, and public life – exploring how their beliefs and convictions shape their approach to serving the people of Wales. In an election widely regarded as the most consequential for Welsh politics since the Senedd was established in 1999, Cytun believes it is more important than ever to create space for these deeper conversations – conversations that go beyond the manifesto and the soundbite to ask what candidates truly believe, and why.

This third interview in the series sees Cytun’s General Secretary, Dr Cynan Llwyd, in conversation with Paul Rock, candidate for the Green Party of England and Wales. The interviews in this series have already brought thoughtful and candid exchanges with candidates from Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives, and we are glad to continue that spirit of open, respectful dialogue across the political spectrum.

Paul is no stranger to community politics in the area. Having made Llandaff North his home after moving to Wales, he has spent a number of years as an active and well-regarded figure in local community life. Paul has built a life in Llandaff North and has, over the years, dedicated considerable time to working on local causes to make a real difference to the lives of local people. That commitment to grassroots engagement has been a hallmark of his approach – he is known locally not as a career politician but as someone who has rolled up his sleeves in the community long before seeking elected office. He previously stood as a council candidate for Llandaff North under the Common Ground Alliance – the electoral partnership between the Green Party and Plaid Cymru formed for the 2022 Cardiff Council elections – demonstrating a commitment to collaborative, values-driven politics.

In this interview, Dr Cynan Llwyd explores with Paul how that faith informs his political convictions, what he believes Wales needs from its next Senedd, and why – as someone who chose to make Wales his home – he is passionate about its future. The conversation also touches on the particular significance of this election: the first fought under proportional representation, and the first in which the new voting system gives the Greens a genuine opportunity to elect candidates across Wales ready to work for the changes they believe are urgently needed.

Part of a Wider Programme

This interview is the third in a series Cytun will be publishing in the weeks leading up to polling day on 7 May 2026. We are reaching out to candidates from a range of parties and constituencies, and we hope to share further interviews in the coming weeks.

The interviews form part of Cytun’s Public Theology Programme – an ongoing commitment that extends well beyond election season. Through this programme, Cytun works to equip the ecumenical Christian community across Wales to engage meaningfully with democratic institutions, political parties, and the full breadth of issues devolved to the Welsh Government and scrutinised by the Senedd – from health and education, to housing, the environment, and social justice.

Our aim is not to tell people how to vote, but to help Christians across Wales to listen carefully, ask good questions, and engage as informed and active citizens in the life of our nation.

Get Involved

We welcome responses and reflections from churches and individuals across Wales. If you have questions you would like to see put to candidates in future interviews, or if you are involved in organising a hustings event and would like support from Cytun, please get in touch at post@cytun.cymru.

New rules governing who needs to register as a childminder or day care provider in Wales come into force in April 2027 — and churches need to take note. The Child Minding and Day Care Exceptions (Revocation and Transitional Provision) (Wales) Order 2026, published on 25 March by Minister Dawn Bowden MS, updates the exemption framework for the first time since 2010 and has direct implications for creches, parent-and-toddler groups, Sunday schools, holiday clubs, and youth provision across Wales.

The most important changes for churches to be aware of: the two-hour care exemption is retained, but no longer applies where children under 3 are present unless a parent remains on the premises throughout; oversight requirements for children aged 2 and under are strengthened; and — positively — 10-year-olds may now access transitional youth services without providers needing to register, helping churches support children through the primary to secondary school transition.

Cytûn played an active part in shaping the final legislation. Our October 2025 consultation response raised serious concerns about proposals that would have placed unsustainable burdens on volunteer-led church provision — and those arguments were heard. Most significantly, a proposal that would have required registration wherever a provider offered more than one type of activity has not been included in the final Order. Had it been, Sunday schools, holiday clubs, and faith classes across Wales would have faced an uncertain future overnight.

Understanding the Changes and Measuring their Impact

Cytûn has produced a detailed bilingual policy brief to help member denominations work through the implications for their own provision. We encourage all churches and denominational officers to review their current activities against the new framework — and to seek independent legal or professional advice where they are uncertain about their position, as circumstances will vary.

We are also asking members to share the findings of their internal reviews with us. Knowing how this Order is affecting churches on the ground — changes to provision, additional costs, or particular pressures on Welsh-medium or rural communities — will strengthen Cytûn’s hand as the Welsh Government develops supporting guidance ahead of the April 2027 commencement date.

With seven weeks to go until Wales goes to the polls on 7 May, Dr Cynan Llwyd continues our series of Candidate Interviews for the Senedd Election.

Cytun – Churches Together in Wales is pleased to share the second in our series of video interviews with candidates standing in the 2026 Senedd election. We speak with Darren Millar MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, and the number one candidate on the Welsh Conservative list for the new Clwyd constituency.

Darren Millar has served as a Member of the Senedd for Clwyd West since 2007, now in his fourth term. Over that time, he has held a range of prominent roles, including Chief Whip, Shadow Minister for the Constitution and North Wales, and Chair of the Senedd’s influential Public Accounts Committee. Since December 2024, he has led the Welsh Conservatives, serving also as Leader of the Opposition in Wales until January 2026.

His background brings together varied professional experience and a deep personal faith: before entering politics, he worked as an accountant in the Rhyl and Ruthin area, then as a manager for an international charity supporting persecuted Christians around the world – an experience that shaped a lasting commitment to questions of human dignity, freedom of conscience, and global responsibility. A committed Christian, he was commissioned as a Minister by the Assemblies of God in Great Britain in May 2015, and is a founding Chair of both the Senedd’s Cross-Party Group on Faith and its Cross-Party Group on the Armed Forces and Cadets. He grew up in Towyn and now lives in Kinmel Bay with his wife Rebekah and their two children.

Part of a Wider Programme

This interview is the second in a series Cytun will be publishing in the weeks leading up to polling day on 7 May 2026. We are reaching out to candidates from a range of parties and constituencies, and we hope to share further interviews in the coming weeks.

The interviews form part of Cytun’s Public Theology Programme – an ongoing commitment that extends well beyond election season. Through this programme, Cytun works to equip the ecumenical Christian community across Wales to engage meaningfully with democratic institutions, political parties, and the full breadth of issues devolved to the Welsh Government and scrutinised by the Senedd – from health and education, to housing, the environment, and social justice.

Our aim is not to tell people how to vote, but to help Christians across Wales to listen carefully, ask good questions, and engage as informed and active citizens in the life of our nation.

Get Involved

We welcome responses and reflections from churches and individuals across Wales. If you have questions you would like to see put to candidates in future interviews, or if you are involved in organising a hustings event and would like support from Cytun, please get in touch at post@cytun.cymru.

Cytûn – Churches Together in Wales is pleased to share the first in our series of video interviews with candidates standing in the 2026 Senedd election. We begin by speaking with Peredur Owen Griffiths MS, Plaid Cymru’s candidate for the new Casnewydd Islwyn constituency.

Peredur Owen Griffiths has served as a Member of the Senedd for the South Wales East region since 2021, where he has chaired the Senedd Finance Committee and served on a number of other scrutiny committees. His background is as varied as it is relevant: before entering politics, he worked in financial services for thirteen years, including as a bank manager for Santander and with Principality Building Society, before making a significant shift to work with Christian Aid as Regional Co-ordinator for South Wales and Legacy Officer for Wales. He is also the son of a minister, having grown up in communities across Wales — a background that brings a distinctive perspective to questions of faith, public life, and civic responsibility.

Part of a Wider Programme

This interview is the first in a series Cytûn will be publishing in the weeks leading up to polling day on 7 May 2026. We are reaching out to candidates from a range of parties and constituencies, and we hope to share further interviews in the coming weeks.

The interviews form part of Cytûn’s Public Theology Programme — an ongoing commitment that extends well beyond election season. Through this programme, Cytûn works to equip the ecumenical Christian community across Wales to engage meaningfully with democratic institutions, political parties, and the full breadth of issues devolved to the Welsh Government and scrutinised by the Senedd — from health and education, to housing, the environment, and social justice.

Our aim is not to tell people how to vote, but to help Christians across Wales to listen carefully, ask good questions, and engage as informed and active citizens in the life of our nation.

Get Involved

We welcome responses and reflections from churches and individuals across Wales. If you have questions you would like to see put to candidates in future interviews, or if you are involved in organising a hustings event and would like support from Cytûn, please get in touch at post@cytun.cymru.

In a statement issued this week, the international development agency urged all parties involved in the conflict to bring the fighting to an immediate end in order to protect civilian life and uphold international humanitarian law.

Christian Aid said urgent action is needed to halt the war before mounting humanitarian suffering escalates further and risks becoming a global crisis with no clear end in sight.

Partners working with Christian Aid in the region report severe and worsening conditions for civilians. In Gaza, they warn that closed border crossings are leading to growing food shortages. In Lebanon, shelters are reported to be overflowing as people flee violence, while relief operations in Israel are also at risk.

The scale of displacement is creating additional challenges for humanitarian efforts. Local partners say it has become impossible to evacuate some of the most vulnerable people, including older people and those living with disabilities.

Christian Aid is encouraging churches and supporters to pray for peace and to stand in solidarity with all those affected by the conflict. The organisation has published prayers and resources for churches, alongside
information about its Middle East Humanitarian Appeal.

A prayer for peace in both Welsh and English has also been shared by Christian Aid Cymru on social media.

Commenting on the situation, Cytûn said the scale of suffering across the region is deeply distressing and underlines the urgent need for peace.

“People of faith across Wales watch these events with heavy hearts as civilians continue to bear the cost of violence. The current humanitarian situation is deeply alarming, and the protection of human life must be the first priority.

“Cytûn joins the call for an immediate ceasefire and urges all parties to respect international humanitarian law. At this time of profound suffering, we also encourage churches and people of faith to pray for peace and to work wherever possible for reconciliation, justice and the protection of all communities affected by the conflict.”

Next week, Christian Aid will share reflections from the Very Revd Canon Richard Sewell, Dean of St George’s College in Jerusalem, who will speak about how the conflict is affecting people living in the Holy Land.

The lecture, available to view in Welsh only, explores the complex relationship between Christian faith and national identity from a Welsh perspective. As with the first lecture in the series, the resource aims to encourage thoughtful theological reflection on issues shaping contemporary public life.

In the lecture, Dr Llwyd examines the growing international conversation around Christian nationalism and considers how it has emerged in different political and cultural contexts. Drawing particularly on developments in the United States and elsewhere, he reflects on how Christian language and symbols are sometimes used to support political movements and ideologies. At the same time, he asks what lessons might be drawn from the Christian traditions of Wales when considering these questions today.

An English language version of the lecture, can be downloaded from the following link:

The title, Cleddyf Dau Finiog (“a two‑edged sword”), captures the lecture’s central theme: that the relationship between Christianity and national identity can both inspire positive social engagement and present significant dangers if faith becomes closely tied to political power. By exploring this tension, the lecture invites churches and individuals to reflect critically on how Christian faith should shape public engagement in a changing political landscape.

This second lecture complements the wider aims of Cytûn’s Public Theology programme, which seeks to equip churches across Wales to engage thoughtfully with the social and political questions facing the nation.
The Welsh-language lecture by the Revd Dr Rhys Llwyd is now available as a resource on the Cytûn website for churches, students and anyone interested in the intersection of theology, culture and public life in Wales.

The series has been launched to encourage thoughtful Christian engagement with public life
in Wales, offering space for reflection on how faith informs responses
to social, political and cultural issues. By bringing respected
theologians and practitioners into conversation with contemporary
challenges, the lectures aim to support churches and individuals in
thinking more deeply about the public dimensions of Christian belief.

The opening lecture was given by the Revd Dr Helen Paynter, Director of
the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence at Bristol Baptist
College. Dr Paynter is widely known for her work on biblical
interpretation, justice and the ethical use of scripture, and she has
written extensively on how the Bible is sometimes misused to justify
harm or exclusion. In Claiming Christianity: the Challenge of the Far
Right, she explores how Christian language and identity are being used
within current public debates, and reflects on what it means for
Christians to speak responsibly and faithfully in the public sphere.

The lecture also considers the ways in which Christianity can be invoked
to support particular political or cultural agendas, sometimes in ways
that do not reflect the breadth or depth of the Christian tradition. Dr
Paynter examines how elements of the far right have sought to claim
Christian identity in support of nationalist or exclusionary narratives,
and invites listeners to reflect critically on these developments. She
encourages churches to recover a richer and more compassionate public
witness rooted in the life and teaching of Jesus and as an Old Testament
scholar, she reflects on the role of the prophets in speaking truth to
power.

Cytun’s Public Theology series will continue with further lectures
exploring the relationship between Christian faith and public life in
Wales. By making the lectures available online, Cytun hopes to widen
participation in these discussions and provide resources that can be
used by churches, students and others interested in the role of theology
in the public square. The lecture by the Revd Dr Helen Paynter, Claiming
Christianity: the Challenge of the Far Right, can now be viewed via the
Cytun website.