Faith Space
This page shares news and reflections from our Faith Space. It is a place where we highlight contributions from our community, including poems, prayers, and messages of encouragement. These pieces aim to offer inspiration, support, and a sense of belonging for both pupils and staff.
Wed 14th January 2026
A New Opportunity for Reflection and Support: Chaplaincy Partnership with the Prayer House at Bethania
Our school is delighted to highlight a meaningful new provision developed by our chaplaincy team in partnership with the Prayer House at Bethania, a long established centre of prayer and community support in Cardiff.
The Prayer House at Bethania, founded in 2014 by Dave and Gail Clague, was created with a simple but powerful vision: to bring people together in prayer, to support churches and communities across the city, and to nurture spaces where reflection, hope, and spiritual growth can flourish. Their work is rooted in the belief that prayer and positive action go hand in hand — that strengthening the inner life of individuals helps strengthen the wider community.
What the Prayer House Offers
The Prayer House runs a weekly rhythm of prayer sessions, regular worship events, and dedicated prayer support for churches and organisations across Cardiff and Wales. Their work is not limited to church buildings; they actively build relationships with the local community, including schools, through chaplaincy and pastoral support.
This makes the partnership with our school a natural and exciting fit.
How This Benefits Our Students
Through this new provision, our chaplains are working closely with the Prayer House team to create opportunities for students to:
-
Spend time in quiet reflection
-
Explore spirituality in a supportive, non‑pressuring environment
-
Receive pastoral support from trained chaplains
-
Engage in small-group sessions focused on wellbeing, resilience, and personal growth
-
Take part in optional prayer or worship gatherings for those who wish to participate.
The Prayer House itself is located in a historic Welsh Methodist Chapel dating back to the 1820s — a peaceful, welcoming space that many students may have the chance to visit as part of this partnership.
A Space for Everyone
This provision is not about promoting a particular belief or tradition. Instead, it offers students a safe, calm environment where they can pause, reflect, and feel supported. In a busy school life filled with academic pressures and social challenges, having access to such a space can make a real difference.
Our chaplaincy team is committed to ensuring that every student — regardless of background or belief — feels welcome and valued.
Looking Ahead
We are excited to see how this partnership grows and how it enriches the wellbeing of our school community. The Prayer House at Bethania has a long history of serving the people of Cardiff with compassion and dedication, and we are proud to connect our students with such a thoughtful and supportive resource.
Wed 1st October 2025
This week we’d like to share a short story that reminds us how much every single person matters.
The Lost Sheep
Jesus told this story when the religious leaders were complaining that he was spending too much time with the worst people in society.
“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!”
Some thoughts about Change from the Chaplains
Change is all around us
We live with change all around us. Some changes we take for granted, like night into day and one season to the next. However, for some of you, this new season marks a big change from Primary School to High School. For others, this is your final year in this school before another big change takes place. Change is a part of your life as a young person growing up, and this can affect the way you feel from day to day.
This music video shows us that sometimes when something goes wrong with our day, we can decide that it isn’t going to get us down and we can choose to change our mood, like putting a different hat on!
Sometimes we need help to change
Some changes are very difficult to cope with, such as the loss of a loved one or the breakup of a relationship. At these times, we may need help to manage the change.
Even when change is for the better, we can become so used to things the way they are that we resist it. We may even feel that we’re not capable , or not good enough to change.
The video clip of Jacob shows us that, by getting help, we can begin to see things differently and change the way we think about ourselves and our future.
My Nan helped me
I was greatly influenced by my Nan. As a child, I spent a lot of time with her as she often looked after me. She used to sing to me and showed great love to a very shy and introverted little boy. Later, I learned how she changed her life to make my family’s life better.
Originally from Ireland, she came to Liverpool with her family to escape famine. They were a very big family and so poor that she had to work in a pub at just thirteen. In those days, pubs were full of hard-drinking men, not a place for a young girl.
As she grew older, she lived through two world wars, losing brothers to the fighting. However, she was determined that, despite everything, life for her family would be different from hers. She saved so carefully that she was able to buy a house for my parents, where I spent the first eleven years of my life. Her decision to change her life still influences me today.
When we need rescuing
There are times, though, when there is no one to help us through change. For me, this is where my Christian faith comes in. Jesus was often accused of spending too much time with people others thought were hopeless cases. To answer this, he told the Bible story of the Lost Sheep. He recognised that there are moments when, like a lost sheep, we need to be picked up and carried to safety.
The name Jesus literally means “rescuer.”
Another way of looking at it is like an air-sea rescue. If you were drowning at sea and a rescue helicopter arrived, you would have a choice: you could sink beneath the water or grab hold of the rope. The Bible calls the decision to grab the rope and trust God repentance, deciding to change and putting your trust in someone who can help you. That choice can make a big difference in your life. It might be a teacher, a Nan, or even God himself.
Fri 5th September 2025
This week we’d like to share something a little different. One of our community has written a poem for us, capturing a message of light, hope, and encouragement. It’s a reminder of how quickly things can change, and how love and faith can bring new life and strength.
You’ll also find a short prayer at the end, written to support both our young people and staff as we go into the week ahead.
Raindrops from heaven: Nick Harvey
The darkness was pierced with a sharp knife,
As light from heaven brought forth life.
Gray skies split open and the sun blazed through,
The landscape changed as the sky turned blue.
Everything changed within an instant.
The gray clouds and heaviness seemed distant.
Hopelessness and depression disappeared,
A shot of hope began to appear.
Then coloured raindrops fell from above,
Magically full of redeeming love.
As raindrops touched people's skin,
Something supernatural started to begin.
The grayness of life was blown away.
Isolation and insecurity were cast away.
God's great love began to flow,
Life's colours began to grow.
And now...
All around there are people receiving,
Open to the good news and believing.
Lives are changing and being transformed,
Their true identity is being formed.
A Prayer
Thank you for meeting our needs this week.
If we are anxious, may we find your rest.
We pray that the young people and staff will know your peace.
We pray that you will renew our strength,
And that you will guide us along right paths.
Draw close to us to protect and comfort us.
May we know your goodness and blessing on our lives.