Our History

Since 1 June 2017, Dream Centre Wales has made steady progress with its objective to advance Christianity in the Rhondda, albeit with Covid having a hugely negative affect on momentum during 2020, 2021, and the early part of 2022. In the 2001 National Census, Rhondda was recorded as having less than 0.9% of its circa 70,000 population regularly attending church. This was over 15 times less than the UK average at the time, and the trustees know that although more recent censuses don’t record the same data, these statistics have not improved in the years since. As such, the work of the local church is very much needed in the region. Rhondda’s heritage and history is steeped in Christianity, evidenced through the many churches that have existed in the region, and those that currently continue to serve their local community. Rhondda actually has one of the highest densities of church “buildings” per square mile - most of which are now empty or converted - in the whole of Europe.

DCW’s Mission statement is “Taking Jesus to today’s generation”. While the church aims to be welcoming to all, it specifically aims to change the way young people see church in the belief that change has to start with the younger generation before negative attitudes become entrenched, and before they make mistakes that could negatively affect the rest of their lives. DCW aims to show the benefits of a positive Christian lifestyle and to create a social community around church with people supporting and encouraging one another.

From Sunday 21 January 2018 - Sunday 15 March 2020, DCW’s Sunday services were based at Coleg y Cymoedd in Llwynypia, whilst retaining a small daily office and meeting space in Gelli for activities throughout the week. However, in September 2021, after it appeared the worst of Covid was over, the leadership approached the college about restarting (for the 2nd time during the pandemic), but it was clear they wouldn’t facilitate the return of DCW in the short-term, and actually, the Omicron concerns at the time only strengthened their stance. Then, in February/March 2022 after the Omicron scare had come and gone, the leadership approached the college for a 3rd time, but they stated that they would not be hiring out the venue in the near future. Covid was the initial reason, but they also said they had a “long-term refurb” planned with “new learning arrangements” in place. And, having already explored a number of other potential venues/dead-ends since September, it was uncertain where to go next for a solution. As such, the leadership did the only thing they could do when you’ve run out of ideas... pray! And, Lucy also felt strongly about fasting too, so they did!!

The efforts and prayers weren’t in vain, and to cut a long story short, in May 2022, DCW became the holder of a 25-year sub-lease on a “nearly-centre-of-Rhondda-venue” that has an indoor capacity for up to 125+ people! After a long two years of waiting, DCW was able to hold its first Sunday service in the new building at the end of 2022. After a successful relaunch at the end of 2022, the leadership oversaw the return of weekly services at the new facility. During the year under review, DCW also continued to make monthly donations to; the Rhondda Foodbank run by Acts Community Church in Tylorstown, and mission work in East Africa through Heart For Africa.