A new chaplaincy team is to be launched in the Senedd to provide support for Members of the Welsh Parliament, their staff and parliamentary employees.

Following the retirement of the Senedd’s first Members Chaplain, Major David Emery MBE, a new Senedd Chaplaincy Team of three has been established by the Senedd’s Cross Party Group on Faith to provide pastoral care services to complement the counselling and other support services provided by the Welsh Parliament.

The new Chaplaincy team arrangements are the first of their kind in a national parliament. They are more progressive, gender inclusive and representative of the faiths and beliefs of people working at the Senedd, including a non-religious Chaplain as well as Chaplains with faith backgrounds. All of the Chaplains are available to provide pastoral care to people regardless of their faith or belief.

The official launch of the new service will take place in the Senedd at 12.15pm on Wednesday, 4th October 2023.

Chair of the Senedd’s Cross Party Group on Faith, Darren Millar MS, said:

“The Senedd’s new chaplaincy arrangements are pioneering and I very much hope that other parliaments will follow our lead.

“It is important to respect the range of faith and non-religious beliefs in our workplaces and the new chaplaincy team reflects our commitment to that.

“Providing access to pastoral care is an excellent way to show people in the workplace that they are valued and supported.”

He added:

“The Cross-Party Group is grateful to the Llywydd and the Senedd Commission for facilitating our provision of Chaplaincy Services in the Senedd.”