Cross Hands Centre Of Mission
Cross Hands, Camarthenshire – part of IMPACT 242
A few years ago, a former curate had a vision of hope for the people of Cross Hands, a small town in south-west Wales. This vision included a community café, a soft play area and a safe space for people who would not normally step into a church building to come and worship. From this vision came the Cross Hands Centre of Mission.
Situated near the Black Mountains, there is no denying the surrounding natural beauty of Cross Hands. Cross Hands is the fourth most populated area in Carmarthenshire with a high proportion of residents under 45 and a substantial number of people without qualifications. The impact of COVID-19 has – as with most areas – hit most people here. There is a sense of an even greater calling now for this centre of mission to respond to the desperate needs of the community.
Esther Lockley Writes…
“It was during the pandemic when we first came to Wales, so things were tough. We were a family with young children coming to a new area, a new country with no friends, no family network, and a new role of Lead evangelist to continue with the vision for Cross Hands centre of mission.
Our Centre of Mission is behind the cinema in Cross Hands, and in our centre, we have lots of different groups that reflect our community. For some people, these activities are the only thing they’re coming out to in the week.
OUR SPACE IS VERY ACTIVE, OFTEN CHAOTIC, AND WELCOMING, AND WE WILL LOVE YOU.
We’ve experienced loss here. When I first came, I met a lovely lady my age with kids, and we connected straight away and became close friends. God called me to her.
But she died at Christmas, leaving her family behind. I officiated her funeral, and I thought if it’s just for her that we’re here or for her family, that is enough.
I serve our community with Michelle Lloyd (pioneer evangelist), and we both feel it is a privilege to be here and to walk with people through the different seasons of life. Whether this is through their joys or sadness, we are with them, loving each one of them deeply.
The community see something in us. Through Jesus, they see and know they can come to us because they feel loved.
People seeing your heart and feeling loved when they’re feeling at their worst and there’s nothing left is humbling. And in those moments, they say, ‘we know we can go to Impact 242’.”
Esther Lockley, Cross Hands Centre of Mission
Cross Hands is one of three Centres of mission in Impact 242 in partnership between the Church Army and the Diocese of St David’s, Church in Wales.
Type of Work
Church Planting /
Fresh Expressions
Family work
Schools work
Food donations
Building Community
Food distribution
Youth/Kids
Mental health
Recreation activities
Evangelists & Leaders
Esther Lockley, Lead Evangelist
Michelle Lloyd, Pioneer Evangelist
Partnerships
Diocese of St David’s
The Diocese of St Davids is named after Wales’ patron saint whose cathedral in Pembrokeshire is one of the jewels of the nation. The diocese also covers the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire including the western industrial valleys and the town of Llanelli.
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