THE MINISTRY Area Leader for West Cardiff, Rev Andrew Sully, has been announced as the new Chairperson of Christian Aid Wales’ National Advisory Committee.
Christian Aid is the international development and humanitarian agency of the British and Irish churches, and the National Advisory Committee in Wales serves as an advisory body to its Board of Directors, as well as engaging with churches, supporters and other organisations in Wales, supporting the charity’s work in vulnerable communities around the world.
Andrew, who recently served as the organisation’s Interim Head of Wales, is chairman of the Christian Aid Group at Llandaff Cathedral and will also join Christian Aid’s board of trustees.
Andrew trained at Queen’s College, Birmingham, along with his wife Mary, who is the Bishop of Llandaff – and both have been passionate Christian Aid supporters for many years.
Before settling in Llandaff, Andrew was a parish priest, working in five of Wales’ six dioceses, during which time he was often given the role of ecumenical officer, promoting relations between churches of different denominations. He was seconded for a time to Cytûn/Churches Together in Wales as a field officer in North Wales.
Andrew has been a self-proclaimed ‘Christian Aid activist’ for the past 30 years, taking part in key campaigns and fundraising activities. These include cycling from London to Copenhagen for the COP talks in 2009, London to Paris and Wales’ Lon Las, and more recently walking Wales’ castles in North Wales, and the upcoming Llandaff to Penrhys pilgrimage route for Christian Aid Week 2024.
Andrew, who is taking over the role of Chairperson from Revd Nan Powell Davies, said, “I hope to bring my knowledge and experience of Wales and its communities to this position, and look forward to supporting Mari and the Christian Aid Wales team, as well as the wider Christian Aid board and staff.
“The task of eradicating poverty is as real as ever in this time of climate crisis, and Christian Aid is crucial in being a bridge between communities in poverty globally and churches in Wales and the rest of the UK.”
Head of Wales Mari McNeill said, “Andrew brings extensive knowledge of Wales and its communities to this role.
“We are delighted to continue working with him to engage with supporters, churches and other organisations in order to fundraise and campaign in our efforts to tackle poverty and injustice globally.”
The announcement comes days before the start of Christian Aid Week, 12-18 May, where hundreds of volunteers and communities across Wales are gearing up to take action in the form of community and challenge events which will transform lives out of poverty.
