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Welcome to the Llandudno branch of the Guild of St Raphael, which is based at Holy Trinity Church.  The Guild is a healing organisation within the Anglican Church with many branches nationwide and overseas; and information about its origins, ministry and resources may be found on the Guild website .


We pray for healing, as a group, and privately as individuals with a common purpose.  Healing is understood as wholeness, in its true and widest sense.  The Guild Rule asks us to “ Pray daily for those suffering in mind, body, and spirit”.

This surely includes all of us at one time or another, but our list includes those who have asked for this support for themselves or loved ones, and is regularly reviewed.

Guild members also give Lay support, leading weekly Guild prayers on alternate Thursdays, and assisting monthly at the Holy Eucharist with ministry of healing.

We have also held open services of prayer, music and meditation at our local hospice and hospital, and remembered the Guild on St Raphael’s Day at Holy Eucharist, and at the nearest Sunday morning service.

We also enjoy one or two outings, for example to Chester Cathedral and to the national Guild festival at Haydock.


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In 2009, we decided to support and work for two healing projects developed and run by the USPG in Africa.

One is the House of Resurrection Haven in Port Elizabeth, a hostel which cares for those living with HIV. It is a place of love and security where some regain their lost strength. Others are able to end their days among compassionate friends. Children are given a loving home where they can play, sing and learn. The staff offers effective support and share a message of hope.

The other is the St. Francis Hospital in Katete, Eastern Zambia, a very busy 350 bed hospital serving a population of 157,000, mostly subsistence farming communities. As well as medical treatment, teaching is given to reduce thespread of disease, and to challenge the stigma which prevents people from seeking help. .

For further details, please contact the secretary (see Parish Magazine in the church) or the Rector .

A Day in Chester: our outing in 2008

Early on a calm sunny September morning, our small group set off by train from Llandudno station, bound for Chester. We enjoyed a peaceful and sociable journey, exchanging news and views, and watching the countryside roll by.  An hour later, the rail link bus whisked us swiftly to join the colourful and busy crowds in the city centre.

A morning to ourselves! Serious shopping, window shopping, exploring small streets or the Dutch market outside the Town Hall, just walking and sitting by the river? We enjoyed making the choice and spending time together. 

Soon after mid-day, we assembled by the Cathedral, and made our way to St Erasmus’ chapel, where we found a Holy Trinity link, when Angela’s seat was seen to bear a dedication to Eleanor Rimmer,  placed in her memory by our organist, Norman, and his brother.  We attended the 12.30 Eucharist there, and the beauty of the ancient building,  the sense of being in a sacred hallowed place, made this a special time.

After a leisurely lunch in the airy and spacious Refectory, we returned to the chapel for a Guild service of prayer and meditation prepared and led by the Rector on the theme “The Cloud of Witnesses and the three lives of Chester cathedral.”   We thought about St Werburgh, patron of the early Minster, and the healing of the natural world depicted in her legend, her symbol being a goose.  The Benedictine Abbey of medieval times was a school for the service of the Lord, healing through serving the community, and in the present day, the Cathedral is a Christian community gathered around its Bishop, a place of healing encounter with Christ for pilgrims and visitors.

As we travelled home, arriving in Llandudno in time for tea, we reflected on our day, and all that we had learned to increase our understanding of the Guild’s healing ministry.

Early on a grey Tuesday morning in May 2007, nine members of the Guild set off in three cars, with their intrepid drivers Revd. John, Revd. Jane, and Mrs Barbara Yates, to find their way to Llangynog, in the beautiful Tanat valley,  to visit the Shrine Church of St. Melangell.

From Llandudno we made our way via Cerrigydrudion and Bala on to narrow roads and finally a single track lane to arrive at what is rightly described as “one of the loveliest small churches in Britain, and one of the most remote.”  We were greeted at  the modern and comfortable St Melangell Centre by Judith and Jackie, two members of the  church, who provided us with very welcome hot drinks and biscuits, while Judith explained to us how the centre itself had been established, as a contemporary place of counselling and prayer for healing. She told us that visitors make their way there throughout the year, and from all parts of the world.

We walked then the short path to the church, and were at once aware of the wonderful peace and spiritual atmosphere of the ancient shrine and church yard.  Here Judith explained to us something of the history of the building, and the legend of St Melangell.  We felt privileged to attend the morning office before returning to the centre for a lunch, and some quiet time to take in that beautiful tranquil place.

We returned to the church shrine for a celebration of Eucharist, led by the Rector, and joined by Judith and Jackie.  And so home, with much to think about and remember, after a group photo, and a final cup of afternoon tea and home-made cake.

Members of the Guild on the outing to the Shrine Church of St. Melangell.

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