Thomas: a dance with doubt

Posted on July 3, 2026 by 1urcher

For seven long days, he had sat alone even when there had been others around him. For hour after long hour, he could not meet their gaze, he was a stranger in the group. They had so many memories to share; they had partied, laughed, worked, questioned, and followed together. Their journey had come to an end together as the clouds had turned black on that Friday afternoon. He was sliding slowly out of the group. They had hoped he would be the Christ. They had all given up everything to follow him.

Thomas could hardly believe what they had told him. Alive. How was that possible. It had started with Mary, and mother, Mary, and some of the other women. Then Simon and John had said the tomb was empty. Simon had been explaining to everyone that he too had seen him, when Clopas had come crashing through the door from Emmaus saying Jesus had been with them as they had journeyed, and how he had broken bread with them. Story after story had been told, Jesus who had been executed by Roman Empire was now alive. Or so, they said. Their mourning and grief had turned to dancing.

Thomas gazed at his hands. He had not been there with the others. He had needed to get out. Grief and despair had invaded the room. The room in which they are shared the Passover, and where the master had looked into his eyes, as he had washed his feet. Thomas had been gone for just a half an hour, and when he came back; they had started to tell him their rumours of joy. He had seen nothing. Thomas wanted to share their hopes and dreams, impractical though they may be. Simply he could not. Then he had said it, ‘unless I see for myself, I will not believe’.

Those words lingered in the air still seven days later. They had stopped looking at him too. He was no longer a follower of their way. In the morning, he had decided to leave and make him way to wherever his home might be.

‘Shalom’, he said. Thomas had not quite heard the voice, as the others fell silent. ‘Peace’, the voice said, jarring Thomas out of his thoughts. Their eyes met. He was alive, as so was Thomas. ‘Thomas’ said the voice inviting him to stop doubting and believe. No condemnation, just understanding.

Thomas fell to his knees and grasped Jesus’ feet. ‘Lord and God’. Thomas was kneeling, and so were the others. Jesus looked at him and smiled; and then was gone again. Thomas unpacked his bag, and began another journey with his friends.

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The Grey Lady

Posted on June 28, 2026 by 1urcher

A monologue to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Telford Suspension Bridge in Conwy

Just like the ancient church which the town has grown up around, so my two neighbours have grown up around me. They can scarcely believe that I was once the thing. I made everything faster ensuring the mail coaches flowed more freely between Holyhead and the rest of the world. Of course, nothing stays young and vibrant for ever. What I have lost in being new, I have gained by being steady and steadfast. I have seen many things over my time. It has been easy for me to observe, because with age comes a certain invisibility. Although this is helped by my splendid design, Mr T made me to fit in. Nestled as I am beneath the castle, with my turrets I am almost camouflaged, although a squadron of seagulls seems to find me with ease.

The town of Conwy has always been at the heart of development and of course tourism. That of course began with the advent of the railway with Robert Stephenson’s railway bridge that arrived two decades after me. I wondered whether these new things called locomotives would catch on. They did, but they were overtaken by automobiles. Cars were not faster, simply fuelled by people’s desire to travel alone. That was a rarity when I was but a dream in young Thomas’s mind.

Obviously, I am used to being upgraded. 70 years after my opening original wooden road deck was replaced with a more durable iron roadway to accommodate heavier traffic and in 1904 a pedestrian walkway added. I was allowed to retire in 1958 when the new road bridge was completed and opening for automobiles that would travel faster than I thought possible.

I have borne the weight of horses, carriages, ordinary people, and royalty, from Victoria to Charles III. The other Stevenson, with a ‘v’, Robert Louis spent his childhood visiting the castle and being captivated by me. Hence, even I have a history with seadogs, pirates from Long John Silver to modern festival goers. Charles Darwin visited as he studied rock formations along the coastline, not to mention Charlotte Bronte, William Wordworth, and Beatrix Potter. I think it is my melancholy nature that gives the mood for inspiration.

As tourism has increased, I have stood more apart. People see me from the castle, but do not visit now as much. People walking their dogs do, as do couples seeking a moment alone. I keep watch silently, a steward for the ages. People have laughed, wept, danced, and lamented as they have crossed over me. Proposals made and relationships broken.

The town is constantly evolving, although it remains as it has always been a medieval town with a rich history. I have seen industries come and go. Mussels have been farmed, as fishing has ebbed and flowed. I have heard sounds of war and peace. The creation of the mulberry harbour that was then taken to Normandy is just one glorious example.

I have stood the test of time. People gather occasionally to celebrate me, even though at times I do seem to be forgotten. From time to time my story is retold as I am rediscovered. Humans mark time by anniversaries. I am told that people remember playing on my walkways with grandparents and parents and bringing their children to see my finery. I stand firm a place of connection and history. I am a place of memories a reminder of different times. If you listen quietly, I am a reminder of connectivity, of transformation, of hope.

I am 200. That is a lot and yet no time at all. I still stand watching the ebb and flow of the river and of life. That has been my job to watch and keep still. You will see many things if you slow down and keep watch with me.

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Miracle Baby

Posted on May 30, 2026 by 1urcher

In most families I would have been the miracle baby. But then he came along. It did not matter that for our families and friends my birth was celebrated more than his. That was not strange. The gift of a son to a tired couple who had given up hope made more people smile than of rumours of a different sort of conception and birth. Apparently when I heard my aunt’s voice when she greeted my mother, I leapt enthusiastically. Even then it is said that I knew I was in the presence of my Lord.

I suppose being special, different was something that united us. I was expected, destined to serve, like my father, in the Temple, as a priest. That was the way of things. That said, I should have been called Zechariah like him if we had followed the way of things. I wonder what he or my mother would have thought if they had been alive when I wandered off into the wilderness. I hope they would have had a wry smile for the knew the writings, the law, and the prophets; and the hopes and dreams contained within them that had sustained and shaped our peoples.

Of course, I remember him coming to be baptised. We had played together as children, and sometimes as teenagers wondered where we would go and what we would become. I knew of course that the reason for my birth was to prepare the way for him. I had quite a following. Disciples of my own. I was challenged too by the religious leaders who wanted to know who and what I was. I had my own vocation. My own voice. We heard together the voice as he came up out of the waters. I knew I would prepare the way for him.

In many ways that is what we all do, isn’t it? We are ones who prepare the way for him. It was a few months after his baptism that we heard that he was in the region, and his disciples were baptising on his behalf. My followers wanted to put a stop to it. That was not the way it was going to be. Apparently, I said something like. He must increase. I must decrease. That was not easy for my followers to hear, but it was also not easy for me to say. I was the older. I was the one whose lineage was without question, and yet I have never been more comfortable than when I fully embrace my own role as the voice, the one who calls, who yearns for people to see who he really is.

The thing is he exceeds our expectations and at the same time does not quite fit them. You must be in his presence for it to begin to make sense. My job was to invite people to follow him, and to those wondering, he asks them to come and see. I only ever invited people to prepare to follow him, even though I might have wanted people to take preparing seriously.

I am now in chains in Herod’s dungeon. Whatever else happens. The truth is simple. He must always increase, and I must learn to step aside to allow him the freedom to call people in his way. I still leap enthusiastically at some of the things he has done.

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Worship

Posted on May 30, 2026 by 1urcher

I just thought I would share this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOMSFSmESBk

I hope you like it.

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Nationalisms

Posted on May 20, 2026 by 1urcher

Wes Streeting MP, recently resigned from the UK Cabinet and possible candidate for the leadership of the Labour Party, should there be a vacancy, lamented that nationalism is on the rise and indeed that the devolved administrations all now were controlled by nationalists. This was an existential threat to the the fabric of the United Kingdom.

Let me be clear, nationalism can, for me, be a form of idolatry. I say that writing on the eightieth anniversary of the execution of one of my heroes, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Welsh, Scottish, and Irish nationalisms are though not that. The three Celtic nations express their nationalism in different ways. All are borne out of sense of injustice. This can be hard for those of us who are English to hear. I wrestled with it in my recent PhD, which I am still hopeful that I can combat my own laziness and find a publisher for. Nevertheless, we cannot talk of the history of the British isles without talking to some extent about colonialism. I hear the pop of another can of words opening in such a short number of words.

Nationalism is also on the rise in England, embodied partly in the progress of Reform UK. That is too rooted for many of its voters in injustice (I cannot deny that) and should be the topic of another blog post, but it does not have the inclusion of Welsh and Scottish nationalism. I have not experienced within Wales any hostility towards my Englishness. It might help that I have learnt and am learning Cymraeg and have embraced the culture. There has sometimes been some lively banter around rugby, but that has disappeared of late. Let the Reader understand.

What was Streeting getting at about an existential threat to the UK? I think he misunderstands the nationalisms of Plaid Cymru and the SNP. Both do advocate independence from the UK, but they do so on the basis that the current arrangements flow out of injustice and both parties want the nations of the British Isles to flourish and relate well together.

I suppose the words of the prophet spring to mind: let justice flow like rivers and righteousness like a never failing stream.

The reason for their arguments deserve more than a blog post and more than the campaigning rhetoric of a would be leader of the Labour Party.

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Sermon | Bregeth for Ascension Day | Dydd Iau’r Dyrchafael

Posted on May 20, 2026 by 1urcher

It is good to meet here and hold a Welsh service. Conwy is not now known for its use of the Welsh language, although around 20% of the local area are Welsh speakers. Our church schools take Welsh seriously, one is Welsh-medium and the other working towards that. This holy place is the burial place of Welsh princes, even though it is surrounded by a castle built by an English king. I walk through the doors of the tower of that is older than the castle and town walls with a sense of awe. This has been a place of prayer for generation upon generation. You are most welcome here.

Mae’n braf cyfarfod yma a chynnal gwasanaeth Cymraeg. Nid ydy Conwy bellach yn adnabyddus am ei defnydd o’r iaith Gymraeg, er bod tua 20% o’r ardal leol yn siaradwyr Cymraeg. Mae ein hysgolion eglwysig yn cymryd y Gymraeg o ddifrif, mae un yn gyfrwng y Gymraeg a’r llall yn gweithio tuag at hynny. Y lle sanctaidd hwn yw man claddu tywysogion Cymru, er ei fod wedi’i amgylchynu gan gastell a adeiladwyd gan frenin o Loegr. Rwy’n cerdded trwy ddrysau tŵr sy’n hŷn na’r castell a muriau’r dref gyda theimlad o ryfeddod. Mae hwn wedi bod yn lle gweddi ers cenhedlaeth ar ôl cenhedlaeth. Croeso cynnes i chi yma.

What was the first ever Welsh word you learnt to say. For many it is ‘how are you?’ or for those who have followed the Wlpan course, as I did, it is ‘I am a parrot. The first word I learnt was ‘hollaluog. When I arrived in Holyhead, I had not a word of Welsh, but lots of curiosity. That is how learn, isn’t it?

Beth oedd y gair Cymraeg cyntaf erioed i chi ddysgu ei ddweud? I rhai, ‘sut wyt ti?’ neu i’r rhai sydd wedi dilyn y cwrs Wlpan, fel fi, ‘parot dw i.’ Y gair cyntaf i mi ei ddysgu oedd ‘hollaluog’. Pan dw i wedi cyraedd i Gaergybi, heb gair o Gymraeg, ond llawer o chwilfrydedd. Dyna sut i ddysgu?

As we know the word disciple means learner. The disciples of Jesus were always learning. In our passage from Acts, they ask Jesus a question. The answer given shows that they need to go on learning. Don’t we all? I needed to learn word other than ‘Hollaluog’ in order to communicate. Believe me, it is not the most useful word outside of church.

Fel y gwyddom, mae’r gair disgybl yn golygu dysgwr. Roedd disgyblion Iesu bob amser yn dysgu. Yn ein darn o Actau, maen nhw’n gofyn cwestiwn i Iesu. Mae’r ateb a roddir yn dangos bod angen iddyn nhw barhau i ddysgu. Onid ydym ni i gyd? Roedd angen i mi ddysgu gair heblaw ‘Hollaluog’ er mwyn cyfathrebu. Credwch fi, nid dyma’r gair mwyaf defnyddiol y tu allan i’r eglwys.

They want to know how long things will take. When will everything be finished? Learners of everything know that that is a question. When will I speak Welsh fluently? When will I write using mutations without panicking? When? When? When?

Maen nhw eisiau gwybod pa mor hir fydd pethau’n ei gymryd. Pryd fydd popeth wedi’i orffen? Mae dysgwyr popeth yn gwybod bod hwnnw’n gwestiwn. Pryd fydda i’n siarad Cymraeg yn rhugl? Pryd fydda i’n ysgrifennu gan ddefnyddio treigladau heb banicio? Pryd? Pryd? Pryd?

Jesus told his disciples they had to wait and be patient. Waiting is something I find difficult. They were to wait for the promised Holy Spirit. That is a story for another day, except to say one thing. The disciples would go places and do things that were beyond their imagination.

I might say that learning the language of heaven, which for now we will say is Welsh, has taken me to new places and made me do things that I might never have imagined. I have laughed at my mistakes. A particular delight was the time I spoke to the children of Ysgol Thomas Ellis in Holyhead and attempted to lead the service in Welsh without a script and say that Jesus flew into Jerusalem on the donkey. The children laughed, so did the staff.

Dywedodd Iesu wrth ei ddisgyblion fod yn rhaid iddyn nhw aros a bod yn amyneddgar. Mae aros yn rhywbeth sy’n anodd i mi. Roedden nhw i aros am yr Ysbryd Glân addawedig. Dyna stori ar gyfer diwrnod arall, ac eithrio dweud un peth. Byddai’r disgyblion yn mynd i leoedd ac yn gwneud pethau oedd y tu hwnt i’w dychymyg.

Efallai y byddwn i’n dweud bod dysgu iaith y nefoedd, sef y Gymraeg am y tro, wedi fy nghymryd i leoedd newydd ac wedi gwneud i mi wneud pethau na fyddwn i efallai byth wedi’u dychmygu. Rwyf wedi chwerthin am fy nghamgymeriadau. Pleser arbennig oedd yr amser y siaradais â phlant Ysgol Thomas Ellis yng Nghaergybi a cheisio arwain y gwasanaeth yn y Gymraeg heb sgript a dweud bod Iesu wedi hedfan i Jerwsalem ar yr asyn. Chwarddodd y plant, felly hefyd y staff.

I am sure the disciples also made mistakes. As a disciple of Jesus, I make mistakes today.

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Wales has spoken

Posted on May 8, 2026 by 1urcher

So Wales has spoken. Decisively. But not with agreement.

PR would always in all likelihood mean no overall majority. Coalition agreements are quite common place in other countries and do not lead to instability.

It would seem clear that Rhun ap Iorwerth will be First Minister, and Plaid Cymru lead the government. Reform do not have the numbers, even if Welsh Conservatives joined them. Plaid and Welsh Labour could form a coalition, although I think that is unlikely. Labour probably needs a period out of government. The Greens and Liberal Democrat still leave Plaid three votes short of a senedd majority. It may be therefore that Plaid lead a minority government, with perhaps Labour, Greens and Lib Democrat abstaining on the First Minister vote.

It will be interesting to see it unfold. It is likely therefore the FMs of all devolved administrations will be led by nationalist parties. I think that some reflection needs to be done about what the word nationalist means. Reform UK are a British nationalist party for example. It does mean, I think, the fabric of what binds the UK will have to be looked at. Then again, I am an Englishman in Wales; what do I know.

Over to you….

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What is Wales?

Posted on May 7, 2026 by 1urcher

I imagine that at some on Friday 8th May we will learn what the composition of the new Senedd will be. I imagine that it will be different to what has gone before. It will tell a story of a variegated Wales.

It is a story with many different threads. Sometimes it is dominated by its neighbour. Sometimes it is lost in nostalgia, and at others celebrated in language and cultural distinctiveness.

How people define their Welsh identity differs. That is a given.

Some identify as Welsh rather than British, and others the other way around. Then there are some of us who live in Wales who are English and have embraced both culture and language.

I am aware that I shape how I understand Wales.

The photo is of a well-known slogan. This one is on the high street in Llangefni. You can see reflected in the photo some of the shops and also if you look carefully at me.

As we digest the formation of the next Welsh government, we need to be careful lest we expect it to be shaped just like us.

Mind how you go.

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See, Judge, Act: Walking to Emmaus

Posted on April 18, 2026 by 1urcher

Clopas and his companion were on their way out of Jerusalem. They were going away from where the action had been, and yet there is no need to condemn them. I find that the See, Judge, Act cycle helpful in interpreting this passage.

What I will actually say… will be published after it has been preached.

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Emmaus

Posted on April 18, 2026 by 1urcher

Mary

I am not that Mary or indeed Mary of Magdala. I am married to Clopas. He is the brother of Joseph the carpenter. He was a brave and honourable man. Joseph too. But I am talking about Clopas who stood by his brother when most of the family wanted nothing more to do with him. It seemed right that we decided to stand by his son, and Mary of course, when even Joseph’s other sons wanted nothing to with their brother. I went with Mary and the others to the place of execution. How had it come to this, I had wondered at the time.  I watched him as he died. He died as he lived in control, and with compassion. He proclaimed forgiveness and took time; despite the never-ending agony he must have been going through to make sure his mother would be cared for. I was grateful when the end came that the Arimathean came and offered his tomb for him. It was unexpected. Executed people were usually thrown on the rubbish heap, and Nicodemus came with enough balm to anoint several kings.

Apart from returning in two days to properly embalm him that was that. Hopes and dreams that began long before his birth had come crashing down. All was lost. We went to the tomb early on what we now call the first day of the week. The tomb was empty. It did not bring any joy rather further despair. Who would have taken his body? I was never sure what I saw at the tomb. I had never been given a message from what looked like an angel before. The message seemed to be that Jesus was alive. Some of us, including Clopas and myself decided we need to get out of Jerusalem. We were heading for Emmaus. We have family there and would be made welcome.

Jesus joined us at about the halfway point. There was no reason why we should not have recognised him, except we were not looking for him. He opened the scriptures in the easy way that he always did, inviting us to see new things and delighting when we did see. We invited him to stay with us. Jesus had taught us about hospitality. It was when he prayed that we saw him. The he was gone. I did not know I could run so far and so fast. We were back in Jerusalem in about half the time it took us to get to Emmaus. We paused outside the house otherwise it would have been impossible to speak. The two of us bounded up the stairs, tapped on the door like we had been taught. The door opened. He is alive! We know they said, he has appeared to Peter. Mary beamed at us, he has also appeared to James. I would love to know how that went. Mary and I went into a corner of the room, and embraced, laughed and cried.

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