Croeso Cynnes i Esgob Manon – A Warm Welcome to Bishop Manon
Symbolau Gweinidogaeth Esgob
Wrth i’r Gwir Barchedig Ddr Manon Ceridwen James ddechrau ei gweinidogaeth fel 82ain Esgob Bangor — a’r fenyw gyntaf i ddal y swydd — bydd llawer ohonom wedi sylwi ar rai o’r eitemau nodedig y mae esgob yn eu gwisgo neu’n eu cario. Maent yn llawer mwy nag addurniadau seremonïol. Mae gan bob un ohonynt ystyr sydd â’i wreiddiau yn y traddodiad Cristnogol, ac mae modrwy newydd a chroes frest yr Esgob Manon wedi’u cynllunio i adlewyrchu rhywbeth o’i stori ei hun, ei ffydd a’i chysylltiad dwfn â’r rhan hon o Gymru.
Modrwy â’i Gwreiddiau yn Nefyn Yn draddodiadol, mae esgob yn gwisgo modrwy esgobol fel arwydd o ymrwymiad i Dduw, i’r Eglwys ac i’r bobl y mae wedi’i galw i’w gwasanaethu. I’r Esgob Manon, sy’n hanu’n wreiddiol o Nefyn ar Ben Llŷn, mae gan y cynllun gysylltiad personol iawn. Ymgorfforodd y gemyddes Gymreig Rhiannon Evans ynddo gynllun croes garreg hynafol a ddarganfuwyd rhwng Nefyn a Pistyll. Credir bod y groes yn dyddio o rywle rhwng y seithfed a’r nawfed ganrif — gan fynd â ni’n ôl at gymunedau Cristnogol cynnar Cymru ac oes y seintiau Celtaidd. Mae ei chynllun i’w weld ar fodrwy’r Esgob Manon ac mae hefyd yn cael ei adleisio ar gefn ei chroes frest. 
Y Groes Frest Gelwir y groes fawr a wisgir gan esgob o amgylch y gwddf yn groes frest.
Mae croes yr Esgob Manon yn dilyn y ffurf Geltaidd draddodiadol a geir mewn rhai o’r safleoedd Cristnogol cynharaf ar hyd arfordir gorllewinol Prydain. Mae ei gwaith cwlwm cywrain wedi’i ysbrydoli gan gynlluniau a geir ar groesau ar Ynys Enlli. Dewisodd yr Esgob Manon y patrwm yn rhannol am fod ei ffurf gydblethiedig yn cynrychioli’r Drindod Sanctaidd. Mae ystyr hardd arall i’r llinellau di-dor: maent yn ein hatgoffa bod creadigaeth Duw i gyd yn gydgysylltiedig a bod pob un ohonom yn rhan o rywbeth llawer mwy na ni ein hunain. Yng nghanol y groes mae carreg lapis lazuli gron. Ers amser maith, mae’r garreg las ddofn wedi’i chysylltu â phresenoldeb Duw. Dewisodd yr Esgob Manon ei ffurf gylchol i gynrychioli rhywbeth sy’n arbennig o bwysig iddi — cydraddoldeb, a’r ffordd yr ydym i gyd yn cael ein galw i wasanaethu a gweinidogaethu i’n gilydd. Mae’r cynllun hefyd yn adlewyrchu’r môr a thraddodiad pysgota Llŷn. O’i fewn mae delwedd o bysgodyn, un o’r symbolau cynharaf a ddefnyddiwyd gan Gristnogion i gynrychioli Crist.
Y Ffon Fugeiliol Efallai mai’r symbol mwyaf adnabyddus o esgob yw’r ffon fugeiliol. Mae ei siâp, sy’n debyg i fagl bugail, yn ein hatgoffa o Grist y Bugail Da ac o gyfrifoldeb esgob i ofalu am, arwain ac annog y bobl sydd wedi’u hymddiried i’w gofal. Mae gan ffon yr Esgob Manon arwyddocâd personol iawn hefyd. Fe’i rhoddwyd iddi gan yr Esgob Barry Morgan, cyn-Archesgob Cymru, a’i hordeiniodd yn ddiacon ac, yn ddiweddarach, yn offeiriad. Gyda’i gilydd, mae’r gwrthrychau hyn yn adrodd stori ryfeddol. Maent yn cysylltu gweinidogaeth newydd yr Esgob Manon â threftadaeth Gristnogol hynafol Gogledd Cymru, â chymunedau a thirwedd Llŷn ac Ynys Enlli, ac â’i thaith ei hun mewn ffydd a gweinidogaeth. Yn bwysicaf oll, fodd bynnag, maent yn ein hatgoffa mai gwasanaeth sydd wrth wraidd swydd esgob yn y pen draw — gwasanaethu Duw, gwasanaethu’r Eglwys a gwasanaethu’r cymunedau yr ydym yn byw ynddynt.
Wrth i’r Esgob Manon ddechrau’r bennod newydd hon ym mywyd Esgobaeth Bangor, mae’r symbolau hyn yn cysylltu ein gorffennol Cristnogol â’r weinidogaeth a’r genhadaeth yr ydym oll yn cael ein galw iddynt heddiw.
The Symbols of a Bishop’s Ministry
With the Rt Revd Dr Manon Ceridwen James beginning her ministry as the 82nd Bishop of Bangor — and the first woman to hold the office — many of us will have noticed some of the distinctive items worn or carried by a bishop.
They are much more than ceremonial decoration. Each has a meaning rooted in Christian tradition, and Bishop Manon’s new ring and pectoral cross have been designed to tell something of her own story, her faith and her deep connection with this part of Wales.
A Ring Rooted in Nefyn An episcopal ring is traditionally worn by a bishop as a sign of commitment to God, the Church and the people they are called to serve. For Bishop Manon, who comes originally from Nefyn on the Llŷn Peninsula, the design has a very personal connection. Welsh jeweller Rhiannon Evans incorporated into it the design of an ancient stone cross found between Nefyn and Pistyll. The cross is believed to date from somewhere between the seventh and ninth centuries — taking us back to the early Christian communities of Wales and the age of the Celtic saints. Its design appears on Bishop Manon’s ring and is also echoed on the reverse of her pectoral cross.
The Pectoral Cross The large cross worn by a bishop around the neck is known as a pectoral cross.
Bishop Manon’s follows the traditional Celtic form found in some of the earliest Christian sites along the western coast of Britain. Its intricate knotwork is inspired by designs found on crosses on Ynys Enlli — Bardsey Island. Bishop Manon chose the pattern partly because its interwoven form represents the Holy Trinity. There is another beautiful meaning within the continuous lines: they remind us that God’s creation is interconnected and that each of us forms part of something far greater than ourselves. At the centre of the cross is a round lapis lazuli stone. The deep blue stone has long been associated with the presence of God. Bishop Manon chose its circular shape to represent something particularly important to her — equality, and the way in which we are all called to serve and minister to one another. The design also reflects the sea and the fishing tradition of Llŷn. Within it is the image of a fish, one of the earliest symbols used by Christians to represent Christ.
The Pastoral Staff Perhaps the most recognisable symbol of a bishop is the pastoral staff, or crozier. Its shepherd’s-crook shape reminds us of Christ the Good Shepherd and of a bishop’s responsibility to care for, guide and encourage the people entrusted to them.
Bishop Manon’s staff has another particularly personal significance. It was given to her by Bishop Barry Morgan, the former Archbishop of Wales who ordained her both as a deacon and later as a priest. Together, these objects tell an extraordinary story. They connect Bishop Manon’s new ministry with the ancient Christian heritage of North Wales, with the communities and landscape of Llŷn and Ynys Enlli, and with her own journey of faith and ministry. Most importantly, however, they remind us that the office of bishop is ultimately about service — serving God, serving the Church and serving the communities in which we live.
As Bishop Manon begins this new chapter in the life of the Diocese of Bangor, these symbols link our Christian past with the ministry and mission to which we are all called today.
Eco Church: Gofalu am y Greadigaeth a’n Cymuned
Mae Eco Church yn gynllun gwobrwyo sy’n cael ei redeg gan A Rocha UK, elusen Gristnogol sy’n ymroddedig i ddiogelu ac adfer y byd naturiol. Mae’r rhaglen yn helpu eglwysi, capeli ac eglwysi cadeiriol i roi gofal am greadigaeth Duw wrth galon eu haddoliad, eu gweithgareddau a’u penderfyniadau bob dydd.
Mae eglwysi’n cwblhau arolwg ar-lein sy’n cwmpasu pum maes pwysig o fywyd yr eglwys: addoli ac addysgu; adeiladau ac ynni; tir a natur; ymgysylltu â’r gymuned a’r byd; a ffordd o fyw. Yn dibynnu ar eu cynnydd yn y meysydd hyn, gall eglwysi ennill Gwobr Eco Church Efydd, Arian neu Aur.
Mae gan Fro Gwydyr lawer i’w ddathlu eisoes. Mae un o’n heglwysi wedi ennill Gwobr Eco Church Arian, tra bod pob un o’n heglwysi eraill wedi ennill Gwobrau Efydd. Mae hyn yn dangos ymrwymiad ar y cyd ar draws yr Ardal Weinidogaeth i ofalu am yr amgylchedd ac i ddefnyddio ein hadeiladau a’n tir mewn ffordd gyfrifol.
Gallwn fod yn arbennig o falch o Eglwys Sant Gwyddelan yn Nolwyddelan, sef yr eglwys gyntaf yng Nghymru i dderbyn achrediad Eco Church. Roedd y cyflawniad arwyddocaol hwn yn gosod Eglwys Sant Gwyddelan a Bro Gwydyr ar flaen y gad yn y mudiad Eco Church yng Nghymru.
Nid oes rhaid i fod yn Eco Church olygu prosiectau drud na newidiadau dramatig. Mae’n ymwneud â chydnabod yr hyn rydym eisoes yn ei wneud yn dda ac â nodi camau nesaf realistig a hylaw. Yn ein heglwysi a’n neuaddau, gallai hyn gynnwys monitro’r defnydd o ynni, lleihau gwresogi a goleuo diangen, cyfyngu ar blastig untro, a dewis cynhyrchion glanhau ac arlwyo sy’n fwy cyfrifol yn amgylcheddol.
Mae ein mynwentydd eglwysig hefyd yn fannau gwerthfawr i natur. Yn ogystal â bod yn fannau heddychlon a pharchus i ymwelwyr, gallant ddarparu cynefinoedd i flodau gwyllt, pryfed, adar a bywyd gwyllt arall. Gall ardaloedd o laswellt hirach, plannu rhywogaethau brodorol, blychau adar ac ystlumod, gwestai pryfed ac arolygon bywyd gwyllt oll helpu i gefnogi bioamrywiaeth leol.
Mae Eco Church hefyd yn ymestyn y tu hwnt i adeiladau’r eglwys. Gall sesiynau casglu sbwriel yn y gymuned, sgyrsiau amgylcheddol, prosiectau garddio a phartneriaethau gydag ysgolion a grwpiau lleol ddod â phobl at ei gilydd. Mae’r gweithgareddau hyn yn annog gwirfoddoli, yn helpu i leihau unigrwydd ac yn rhoi ymdeimlad o bwrpas cyffredin i bobl o bob oed.
Os yw sefydliadau lleol eraill, busnesau a grwpiau cymunedol yn gweithio i leihau eu heffaith amgylcheddol, byddem yn hapus i rannu syniadau, gwybodaeth, adnoddau a chymorth ymarferol, gan y gallwn gyflawni llawer mwy drwy gydweithio a helpu i ofalu am y dirwedd a’r cymunedau arbennig yr ydym oll yn eu gwerthfawrogi.
Mae croeso cynnes i unrhyw sefydliad neu fusnes lleol sydd â diddordeb mewn dysgu mwy am ein gweithgareddau Eco Church gysylltu â Lloyd, Gweinyddwr Ardal Weinidogaeth Bro Gwydyr: lloyd@brogwydyr.cymru
Nid yw Eco Church yn ymwneud â chyflawni perffeithrwydd ar unwaith. Mae’n daith barhaus o fyfyrio a gwella. Drwy barhau â’r gwaith hwn gyda’n gilydd, gallwn roi enghraifft weladwy o stiwardiaeth Gristnogol: addoli Duw, caru ein cymdogion a gwarchod ein cymunedau a’n tirweddau prydferth ar gyfer cenedlaethau’r dyfodol.
Cyfarfod Corff Llywodraethol yr Eglwys yng Nghymru, 9 Medi 2026
O Un Galon ac Un Enaid
Mae Archesgob Cymru, y Parchedicaf Cherry Vann, wedi galw ar yr Eglwys yng Nghymru i adnewyddu ei hymrwymiad i undod, haelioni, disgyblaeth a chenhadaeth.
Gan dynnu ar y disgrifiad o’r cymunedau Cristnogol cynharaf yn Actau’r Apostolion, myfyriodd yr Archesgob ar Eglwys yr oedd ei haelodau “o un galon ac un enaid”. Roeddent yn gweddïo, yn addoli ac yn bwyta gyda’i gilydd, gan rannu’r hyn oedd ganddynt fel na fyddai neb yn cael ei adael mewn angen.
Er bod yr Eglwys heddiw yn gweithredu mewn byd gwahanol iawn a llawer mwy cymhleth, pwysleisiodd yr Archesgob fod yr egwyddorion hyn yn parhau’n ganolog i fywyd Cristnogol. Gelwir Ardaloedd Gweinidogaeth i rannu nid yn unig addoliad, gweinidogaeth a chyfrifoldebau, ond hefyd eu hamser, eu doniau a’u hadnoddau ariannol er budd pawb.
Atgoffodd yr Eglwys, er bod prosiectau cymunedol a gweithredoedd ymarferol o wasanaeth yn fynegiadau pwysig o gariad Duw, mai ei phrif alwad yw rhannu newyddion da Iesu Grist. Rhaid i Gristnogion ddangos y neges honno drwy fywydau sy’n cael eu nodweddu gan gariad, haelioni, urddas a chefnogaeth i’w gilydd.
Anogodd yr Archesgob eglwysi i fod yn “halen, goleuni a surdoes” yn eu cymunedau — gan ddod â thrawsnewidiad drwy wasanaeth, croeso a thystiolaeth ffyddlon.
Daeth ei hanerchiad i ben gyda gweddi y byddai Duw yn ennyn ynom yr awydd i fyw fel un, er lles yr Eglwys a’r byd yr ydym wedi’n galw i’w wasanaethu.
Eco Church: Caring for Creation and Our Community
Eco Church is an award scheme run by A Rocha UK, a Christian charity committed to protecting and restoring the natural world. The programme helps churches, chapels and cathedrals place care for God’s creation at the heart of their worship, activities and everyday decisions.
Churches complete an online survey covering five important areas of church life: worship and teaching; buildings and energy; land and nature; community and global engagement; and lifestyle. Depending on their progress across these areas, churches can receive a Bronze, Silver or Gold Eco Church Award.
Bro Gwydyr already has much to celebrate. One of our churches has achieved a Silver Eco Church Award, while all our other churches hold Bronze Awards. This demonstrates a shared commitment across the Ministry Area to caring for the environment and using our buildings and land responsibly.
We can be especially proud of St Gwyddelan’s Church in Dolwyddelan, which was the first church in Wales to receive an Eco Church accreditation. This significant achievement placed both St Gwyddelan’s and Bro Gwydyr at the forefront of the Eco Church movement in Wales.
Being an Eco Church does not necessarily require expensive projects or dramatic changes. It involves recognising what we already do well and identifying manageable next steps. Within our churches and halls, this might include monitoring energy use, reducing unnecessary heating and lighting, limiting single-use plastics and choosing environmentally responsible cleaning and catering products.
Our churchyards are also valuable places for nature. Alongside being peaceful and respectful spaces for visitors, they can provide habitats for wildflowers, insects, birds and other wildlife. Areas of longer grass, native planting, bird and bat boxes, bug hotels and wildlife surveys can all support local biodiversity.
Eco Church also reaches beyond our church buildings. Community litter picks, environmental talks, gardening projects and partnerships with schools and local groups can bring people together. These activities encourage volunteering, reduce isolation and give people of all ages a shared sense of purpose.
If other local organisations, businesses and community groups are working on their ecological impact, we would be happy to share ideas, knowledge, resources and practical support, as we can achieve much more together and help care for the remarkable landscape and communities we all value.
Any local organisation or business interested in learning more about our Eco Church activities is warmly invited to contact Lloyd, the Bro Gwydyr Ministry Area Administrator: lloyd@brogwydyr.cymru
Eco Church is not about achieving perfection immediately. It is an ongoing journey of reflection and improvement. By continuing this work together, we can provide a visible example of Christian stewardship: worshipping God, loving our neighbours and preserving our beautiful communities and landscapes for future generations.
Church in Wales Governing Body Meeting, 9th September, 2026.
Of One Heart and Soul
The Archbishop of Wales, the Most Reverend Cherry Vann, has called on the Church in Wales to renew its commitment to unity, generosity, discipleship and mission.
Drawing upon the description of the earliest Christian communities in the Acts of the Apostles, the Archbishop reflected on a Church whose members were “of one heart and soul”. They prayed, worshipped and ate together, sharing what they had so that nobody was left in need.
Although today’s Church operates in a very different and more complex world, the Archbishop stressed that these principles remain central to Christian life. Ministry Areas are called to share not only worship, ministry and responsibilities, but also their time, talents and financial resources for the benefit of all.
She reminded the Church that, while community projects and practical acts of service are important expressions of God’s love, its primary calling is to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Christians must demonstrate that message through lives marked by love, generosity, dignity and mutual support.
The Archbishop encouraged churches to be “salt, light and leaven” within their communities—bringing transformation through service, welcome and faithful witness.
Her address concluded with a prayer that God would kindle within us the desire to live as one, for the sake of the Church and the world we are called to serve.