Q&A: Sharon Cooper,
Gweinidog Lleyg Trwyddedig | Lay Reader
Os ydych wedi dechrau meddwl a allai Duw eich galw i rywbeth mwy, nid ydych ar eich pen eich hun. Ledled yr esgobaeth, mae eraill yn gofyn yr un cwestiwn ac yn cymryd camau i’w archwilio.
Yma, mae Sharon Cooper, Gweinidog Lleyg Trwyddedig newydd ym Mro Ardudwy, yn rhannu ei thaith - o ddechrau synhwyro galwad i’r hyn mae ymateb yn ei olygu.
Allwch chi ddweud ychydig wrthym amdanoch chi eich hun — o ble rydych chi’n dod a’ch cefndir?
Symudais i Abermaw ym mis Ebrill 2022 o Esgobaeth St Albans, lle cefais fy nhrwyddedu fel Darllenydd yn Abaty St Albans ym mis Medi 2007. Cefais fy magu yn Nyfnaint a Gwlad yr Haf, treuliais 10 mlynedd ym Mryste, ac yna 30 mlynedd yn Swydd Hertford. Rwy’n briod, gyda merch wedi tyfu i fyny sy’n byw ac yn gweithio yn Llundain. Fy ngwaith o ddydd i ddydd yw Rheolwr Cydymffurfiaeth, ac rwy’n gweithio o bell.
Sut y daethoch chi i gysylltiad â Bro Ardudwy gyntaf?
Pan symudais i Gymru, roedd rhaid i mi aros chwe mis cyn ail-ymgeisio am drwydded, ond penderfynais gymryd fy amser ac ymweld â gwahanol eglwysi yn y Fro. Dewisais Llanaber yn fuan fel fy eglwys blwyf, tra hefyd yn dod i adnabod y dref a’i chymunedau. Wrth i’r alwad i gael fy ail-drwyddedu ddod yn gliriach, dechreuais y broses o fewn yr Eglwys yng Nghymru. Cymerodd tua 20 mis o wneud y penderfyniad i gael fy nhrwyddedu ym mis Mawrth 2026.
Beth ydych chi’n ei werthfawrogi’n arbennig am yr eglwysi a’r cymunedau yma?
Mae pawb yn fy eglwys yn gyfeillgar ac yn groesawgar, ac mae’n teimlo fel teulu. Mae’r Fro yn eithaf eang ac yn wasgaredig, felly nid wyf yn gweld pobl o gynulleidfaoedd eraill yn aml, ond mae’r gefnogaeth leol yn gryf. Rwy’n gwybod pe bawn i angen unrhyw beth, byddai’r gymuned eglwysig yno.
Pryd y dechreuoch chi synhwyro galwad i weinidogaeth leyg?
Ar ôl adnewyddu fy ffydd drwy gwrs Alpha yn 2001, teimlais alwad i rywbeth mwy. Mynychais gwrs ‘Seeking the Way’ ac ar y dechrau roeddwn yn meddwl am ordeinio, ond nid oedd hynny’n iawn ar y pryd. Yn ddiweddarach, awgrymodd offeiriad plwyf newydd y dylwn archwilio gweinidogaeth Darllenydd, ac fe deimlodd yn iawn yn fuan.
Sut oedd eich taith hyfforddi?
Roedd fy hyfforddiant yn weddol syml. Roeddwn mewn esgobaeth gyda rhaglen gref o astudiaethau diwinyddol i leygwyr, yr oeddwn eisoes wedi bod yn rhan ohoni ers blynyddoedd. Roedd hynny’n golygu fy mod yn gallu symud drwy hyfforddiant Darllenydd yn gymharol gyflym.
Beth oedd fwyaf calonogol neu heriol i chi?
Y rhan fwyaf gwerth chweil oedd gweinidogaeth angladdau a phrofedigaeth, ynghyd ag ymweld a rhoi cymun yn y cartref. Roeddwn yn ffodus o gael cyflogwr a oedd yn hyblyg i gefnogi hyn. Yr her fwyaf oedd y ddibyniaeth a roddwyd arnaf yn fy mhlwyf blaenorol, a olygai fod llawer o’m hamser rhydd a phenwythnosau’n cael eu llenwi â gwaith eglwysig. Mae hynny wedi fy ngwneud yn fwy gofalus rhag gormod ymrwymo.
Beth mae gwasanaethu fel Gweinidog Lleyg yn ei olygu i chi’n bersonol?
Mae’n caniatáu i mi wasanaethu Duw yn y ffordd rwy’n credu ei fod yn fy ngalw i. Drwy roi ychydig o’m hamser, rwy’n gobeithio helpu eraill i ddod i adnabod Iesu fel ffrind a Gwaredwr.
Pa gyngor fyddech chi’n ei roi i rywun sy’n dechrau archwilio’r alwad hon?
Cymerwch y cyfleoedd sy’n dod i’ch rhan ac archwiliwch yr hyn sy’n teimlo’n iawn. Cymerwch amser i wrando’n ofalus ar yr hyn y gallai Duw fod yn eich galw i’w wneud. Nid yw galwad bob amser yn dod mewn ffordd ddramatig — weithiau mae’n ymdeimlad tawel o gyfeiriad. Os yw’n iawn, bydd pethau’n dechrau dod at ei gilydd. Os nad yw, efallai bod llwybr arall i’w ystyried. Weithiau, efallai eich bod eisoes lle’r ydych i fod.
I ddysgu mwy am archwilio galwad i weinidogaeth leyg, siaradwch â’ch offeiriad lleol neu dewch i un o’n digwyddiadau galwedigaeth.
If you’ve begun to wonder whether God is calling you to something more, you’re not alone. Across the diocese, others are asking the same question and taking steps to explore it.
Here, Sharon Cooper, a newly licensed Lay Minister in Bro Ardudwy, shares her journey - from first sensing a call to what it means to respond.
Could you tell us a little about yourself – where you’re from and your background?
I moved to Barmouth in April 2022 from the Diocese of St Albans, where I was licensed as a Reader at St Albans Abbey in September 2007. I grew up in Devon and Somerset, lived in Bristol for 10 years, and then spent the last 30 years in Hertfordshire. I am married, with a grown-up daughter who lives and works in London. My day job is as a Compliance Manager, which I do remotely.
How did you first become connected with Bro Ardudwy?
When I moved to Wales, I had to wait six months before reapplying to be licensed, but I chose to take my time and visit different churches in the Bro. I soon settled at Llanaber as my parish church, while also getting to know the town and its communities. As it became clear that I was being called to be re-licensed, I began the process within the Church in Wales. It took around 20 months from that decision to being licensed in March 2026.
I hope to help others come to know Jesus as a friend and Saviour.
What do you particularly value about the churches and communities here?
Everyone in my church is friendly and welcoming, and it feels like a family. The Bro is quite large and spread out, so I do not often see people from other congregations, but the sense of support locally is strong. I know that if I needed anything, the church community would be there.
When did you first begin to sense a call to lay ministry?
After renewing my faith through an Alpha course in 2001, I felt a call to something more. I attended a ‘Seeking the Way’ course and initially thought I might be called to ordination, but my family were not keen, so that was put on hold. Later, a new parish priest encouraged me to explore Reader ministry, and it quickly felt right.
What has your training journey been like?
My training was relatively straightforward. I was in a diocese with a strong programme for lay theological study, which I had already been attending for several years. This meant I was able to fast-track through Reader training.
What have you found most encouraging or challenging?
The most rewarding aspect has been funeral and bereavement ministry, along with visiting and taking home communion. I was fortunate to have an employer who allowed flexibility to support this work. The most challenging aspect was the level of reliance placed on me in my previous parish, which meant much of my free time and weekends were taken up with church responsibilities. That experience has made me more cautious about overcommitting.
What does serving as a Lay Minister mean to you personally?
It allows me to serve God in the way I believe he is calling me. By offering some of my time, I hope to help others come to know Jesus as a friend and Saviour.
What advice would you give to someone exploring this vocation?
Take the opportunities that come your way and explore what feels right. Take time to listen carefully to what God may be calling you to do. That calling does not always come dramatically — sometimes it is a quiet sense of direction. If it is right, things will begin to fall into place. If not, there may be another path to consider. Sometimes you may already be where you are meant to be.
To find out more about exploring a call to lay ministry, speak to your local priest or join us at one of our Vocations events.