The Team

Here is some history about my spiritual background.

From a very early age I was aware of something much bigger in the World than just Janet. I have always carried an ‘inner peace’ of what my grandmother would describe as ‘the inner self’ or the ‘I am’ of self awareness. My grandmother was a teacher of spiritual techniques to help towards self-discovery in the modern world. She worked for Dr Paul Brunton an author of books on comparative religions, mysticism and philosophy. One of my favourites published many years ago is called ‘The Secret Path’.

I had a career in computer sales and marketing in and around London until I was 30. Not happy with that high flying money seeking way of life I moved to Mid-Wales, with my husband David, to run a small village Inn. During the time at of owning and running the Inn I had a strong awareness of God working in and through me. My back bar, usually full on local people, felt like a church and social services all mixed into one. The time running the Inn was a way of life constantly full of real situations that confronted everyday people with everyday situations. We left what had become a restaurant with rooms after 16 years.

We settled in Builth Wells where I still live. The new time away from the 100 hours a week demanded by pub life left me with time and mental space to recharge and reflect. This opened an opportunity to study theology in Cardiff which lead to my licensing as a Lay Reader in the Church in Wales. I became one of the chaplains to the Royal Welsh showground and more recently a Street Pastor during the July show. I currently volunteer with a large domestic abuse charity as their vice-chair.

After being a Lay Reader for a while my Christian journey was still pushing me further. That ‘still small voice’ which can often surface when you least expect it nudged me to enquire about becoming a vicar. This lead to full ordination in the Church in Wales back in 2020. Since that time I have lead worship in mid-wales, conducted weddings, funerals and baptisms.

Finally, a massive change in focusing my faith journey started in 2017 when I attended an ‘enquiring day’ at the Hermitage on the Mountain. I became a ‘practitioner’ of ‘The Way’. The hermit in the capacity of a Roshi taught a form of Zen Buddhism together with Christian doctrine. This discovery, of the disciplines, brought together all that my grandmother had being trying to convey to me together with what the Church was trying to do. Such joy evolved in me. Archbishop Rowan Williams sponsored Sr Ruth in her work at the hermitage. She was a wonderful spiritual director. I found a ‘spiritual home’ At last a place 1,000 feet up a mountain that offered an ecumenical setting between Buddhism and Christianity. Hurray.