Welcome to Brecon Cathedral

The Cathedral was, until the establishment of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon in 1923, first the Benedictine Priory of St John the Evangelist, founded by the Normans in 1093, then the Parish Church of St John from 1538 at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries. It is highly likely that the Norman Priory was built on the site of a much older, possibly Celtic, church. 

The Cathedral is at the geographical centre of a Diocese which is some 120 miles in length, stretching from Beguildy in the North to the Gower Peninsula in the South. The northern part of the Diocese is predominantly rural with a number of attractive market towns, Brecon itself among them. It includes most of the Brecon Beacons National Park and a rich variety of stunning landscapes. The southern part is a greater mix of urban and rural and includes the City and County of Swansea, including the Gower Peninsula, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Diocese and seeks to offer a ministry of worship and welcome for all who visit. Although it is a building of relatively modest proportions, the Cathedral is set in a walled Close, unique in Wales, and is regarded as one of its finest buildings. The buildings in the Cathedral Close are the remains of the former monastic buildings and today provide the administrative centre for the Diocese as well as housing for the Cathedral clergy and a Heritage Centre and Restaurant. They are a remarkable collection of buildings said to be the finest collection of its kind in Wales.

Sunday 12th May is the Sunday beginning Christian Aid Week

8.00     Holy Eucharist

11.00   UNITED EUCHARIST: “bite back at hunger” – welcome to Brecon’s Christian Aid Week service, sung by the Lay Clerks.  Please use the C.A.W. envelopes and cards.  If you are used to receiving Holy Communion in your own church you are welcome to receive here.

3.30     Choral Evensong, sung by the Trebles 

What did the Dean really say about CHILDREN ARE UNBEATABLE? Not what you might have read in the Mail or even the Church Times.  Click on WORSHIP & SERVICES above and then SERMONS.

Sunday 19th May is the Feast of Pentecost

8.00 Holy Eucharist      11.00 Festal Eucharist      3.30 Festal Evensong

Sunday 26th May is Trinity Sunday

Our services will be sung by the Palestrina Singers of Cardiff University

SOME DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Wednesday 29^th May at 7 pm: The Day of the Dead Moon: a lecture about Rorkes Drift by Andrew Rattray from South Africa.

Friday 31^st May to Sunday 2^nd June: Choral Singing Weekend 

Saturday 15^th June from 12 to 4: The Choir’s Summer Fete 

Sunday 16^th June: Friends Festival: 11 am Orchestral Eucharist, 2 pm AGM and an archaeological lecture by the Dean, 3.30 Evensong and 4.30 tea. 

Saturday 22^nd June: at 12 noon we shall be hosting an important service for the Royal British Legion – the dedication of their new Standard.

Saturday 22^nd June at 6.30 for 7 pm: a Concert for Palestine, with Richard Worthing-Davies (baritone) and Frances Couldridge (piano) with Ann Farr talking about her life as a human rights observer in Israel/Palestine. 

Friday 5^th July at 7 pm: The Saline Fiddlers in Concert 

Friday 9^th to Sunday 11^th August:Brecon Jazz – lots of concerts here 

Thursday 5^th September: Coach trip to the National Memorial Arboretum and Lichfield Cathedral.  Meals included.  Details from Karen in the Office. 

Usual Cathedral Opening Hours:

8.30 am - 6.30 pm (often longer)

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