People – Pobl

Everyone in our congregation plays their own special part, giving what time and energy they have to help make our community and our world a better place.

Our Minister

Mae pawb yn chwarae rhan ym mywyd ein capel, ac yn rhoi pa bynnag amser ac egni sydd ganddynt i wneud ein cymuned a’n byd yn lle gwell.

Ein Gweinidog

Robert is our Treasurer. He says: “I started attending West Grove Unitarian Chapel, Cardiff in 1971 and Gellionnen Chapel in 1974, becoming a member of Gellionnen & Graig chapels in 1977. I have been a committee member since around 1982, managing many of the building projects / maintenance and becoming Treasurer in 2014.

Most of my working life was in the Audio Visual trade, retiring in 2015 with the last 15 years as a self employed Aerial and Satellite engineer. I was also a volunteer for 5 years with a Suicide prevention charity and a further 10 years with a suicide bereavement support charity up until 2010.

I feel that Gellionnen deserves our careful planning for the next few years for it to carry on being a special place where people can carry on enriching their spiritual needs and faith, sharing a new vision of a fairer world and just as important sharing old friendships and making new friends.”

Robert yw ein Trysorydd. Mae e’n dweud: “Dechreuais fynychu Capel Undodaidd West Grove, Caerdydd yn 1971 a Chapel Gellionnen yn 1974. Des i’n aelod o gapeli Gellionnen a’r Graig yn 1977. Dwi wedi bod yn aelod o’r pwyllgor ers tua 1982, gyda chyfrifoldeb dros nifer o’r prosiectau adeiladu / cynnal a chadw. Des i’n Drysorydd y capel yn 2014.

Gweithiais yn y cyfryngau clyweledol am y mwyafrif o’m mywyd gweithio. Gwnes i ymddeol yn 2015 ar ôl gweithio am y 15 mlynedd diwethaf fel Peiriannydd Erial a Dysglau Lloeren. Bues i hefyd yn gwirfoddoli gydag elusen atal hunan-laddiad am 5 mlynedd ac hefyd gyda grŵp cefnogi profedigaeth hunan-laddiad am 10 mlynedd hyd at 2010.

Dwi’n teimlo bod dyled arnom i gynllunio’n ofalus yn y capel dros y blynyddoedd nesaf er mwyn sicrhau bod modd i’r capel barhau i fod yn fan arbennig sy’n cyfoethogi anghenion ysbrydol pobl, sy’n rhannu gweledigaeth o fyd mwy teg, yn ogystal a mwynhau gyda hen ffrindiau a gwneud ffrindiau newydd.”

Sandra is our chapel’s Secretary. She says: “I had the privilege of being born Welsh and have lived in Wales all my life. My working life of 37 years saw me working for the NHS. I am now retired, having finished my career as a District Nurse.

I have been attending services at Gellionnen for over 21 years, 16 of those years as a member of the chapel. I am currently Chapel Secretary and Appointed Registrar for Rights of Passage.

In my spare time I love walking my dog Tilly, Nordic walking, travelling, reading, baking and most of all life with my Gellionnen friends.”

Sandra yw Ysgrifenyddes y capel. Mae hi’n dweud: “Cefais y fraint o gael fy ngeni yn Gymraes a dwi wedi byw yng Nghymru drwy gydol fy mywyd. Gweithiais fel nyrs i’r GIG am 37 mlynedd. Erbyn hyn dwi wedi ymddeol, yn dilyn gorffen fy ngyrfa fel Nyrs Ardal.

Dwi wedi bod yn mynychu gwasanaethau yn Gellionnen ers dros 21 o flynyddoedd ac wedi bod yn aelod am 16 o’r blynyddoedd hynny. Ar hyn o bryd, fi yw Ysgrifenyddes y Capel a’r Cofrestrydd Dynodedig ar gyfer Defodau Camau Bywyd.

Yn fy amser hamdden dwi’n hoffi mynd am dro gyda’r ci, Tilly, teithio, darllen, pobi ac yn bennaf oll gwario amser gyda fy ffrindiau yn y capel.”

Sarah-Marie is our Minutes & Membership Secretary. She says: “I’ve been attending Gellionnen for number of years, and finally became a member in 2022. I joined the committee in 2023 and am very proud to be part of the committee and contribute to the ongoing success of Gellionnen and Graig. “

“My mum and I attended the chapel initially out of curiosity about the white chapel on the mountain, and quickly fell in love with the historic building and the congregation members after being welcomed with open arms. I am truly blessed to be part of the Gellionnen family, where we share a passion to be the good in the world and give back to the community.”

“During the week, I am a full time Customer Success Executive at a e-learning software company based in Swansea, and outside of work I love to read anything from the Bible to fantasy novels and everything in between.” 

“Fun Fact: As a child/teenager, my dance school operated out of the Swansea Unitarian church, and often times I would be curious about the services and the people that attended – little did I know that adult me, would become a member of a Unitarian chapel. “

Jane is our Safeguarding Officer. Now 72 and retired, her background is education. After 10 years teaching English in secondary schools, Jane trained as a counsellor and gained her first full-time post in a College of Further & Higher Education. Subsequently she ran the student and staff counselling services at Swansea University and the University of the Arts, London. The last 20 years of her working life were spent working for herself as a counsellor/psychotherapist, here in Swansea.

Jane was brought up in England; married at 21 and divorced 12 years later, remain on good terms with her ex-husband. Jane has no children, but endeavours to be a spectacular Great Aunt and family matriarch. She has an equiring mind and enjoy meaningful conversation – current affairs, literature, music, good food, society etc. And as everyone knows, Jane likes dogs and walking. She lives alone with Tops, her whippet, in her village home and endeavours to be part of her community.

Marian is our Deputy Treasurer. She says “We came to the valley in 1974 when my husband took up an appointment in Swansea with the Health Authority.

Gellionnen Chapel made us very welcome and we were soon involved in the life of this ancient, historic building and its “family”. I am very much aware of our diversity as individuals and our oneness as a group of people. Together we have shared both our joys and sorrows. It ‘s a good place to belong.

We have a long, historic past and hopefully, a bright future involved with the care and life of this very precious community.”

Mae Marian yn aelod o’n pwyllgor. Mae hi’n dweud: “Symudais i’r cwm yn 1974 pan gafodd fy ngŵr swydd gyda’r Awdurdod Iechyd yn Abertawe.

Teimlon ni yn gartrefol iawn yn Gellionnen ac yn fuan roedd y ddau ohonon ni yn ran ganolog o fywyd yr adeilad hanesyddol hwn a’i ‘deulu’. Dwi’n ymwybodol iawn o’r amrywiaeth eang o bobl sydd yn perthyn i’r capel a’r ymdeimlad o gymuned sydd yma. Gyda’n gilydd rydym wedi rhannu amserau da a drwg. Mae’n le da i berthyn iddi.

Mae gennym ni hanes hir a chyfoethog a dwi’n gobeithio bod gennym ni ddyfodol lewyrchus yn y gymuned arbennig hon.”

Megan has been our Social & Events Officer since 2019. She says: “I have been attending the chapel since I was a small child. I sit on the Social and Events Committee which is responsible for organising events like trips, quizzes, BBQ’s, open days, litter picks, our famous pub club, concerts and charitable events for the chapel and the wider community.

I work part time as a teaching assistant in a special school, and in my free time I enjoy walking, reading and I am a member of Pontardawe film club. I value the sense of community, support and belonging that the chapel gives me.”

Mae Megan wedi bod yn Swyddog Digwyddiadau a Chymdeithasu ers 2019. Dywed Megan: “Dwi wedi bod yn mynychu’r capel ers pan oeddwn i yn blentyn ifanc. Fi yw Swyddog Digwyddiadau a Chymdeithasu’r capel. Mae’r Pwyllgor Digwyddiadau a Chymdeithasu yn gyfrifol am drefnu teithiau, cwis, BBQs, diwrnodau agored, digwyddiadau casglu ‘sbwriel, ein clwb tafarn, a digwyddiadau elusennaol a chyngherddau ar gyfer y capel a’r gymuned ehangach.

Dwi’n gweithio’n rhan-amser fel cynorthwy-ydd addysgu mewn ysgol anghenion arbennig ac yn fy amser hamdden dwi’n mwynhau cerdded, darllen a dwi hefyd yn aelod o glwb ffilmiau Pontardawe. Dwi’n gwerthfawrofi’r ymdeimlad o gymuned, cefnogaeth ac o berthyn mae’r capel yn rhoi i mi.”