‘It’s a small world…but I wouldn’t want to paint it!’.
Steven Wright American comedian.
This month the world comes to Swansea Minster, right in in the heart of Swansea city centre. Throughout October St Mary’s is hosting a seven metre ‘Earth’ created by the artist Luke Jerram. This is not Luke’s first creation to be hosted by the Minster. Last year a six metre ‘sun’ hung from the rafters and drew huge crowds to the church.
So many people went and told how it had affected them in a deeper sense than they weren’t really expecting. It was more than just a work of art I kept telling myself I had to go to see it but what with one thing and another by the time I found the time I had the sun had set on Swansea Minster. I was determined that I wasn’t going to make the same mistake with the earth!!!
St Mary’s or Swansea Minster as we probably need to call her has been at the heart of Swansea. The official history credits the Normans with building the first ‘church’ there may be as early as sometime in the 1100’s. Over the years the church has seen redevelopments and reconstruction.
As Swansea grew into a booming industrial city St Mary’s soon ran out of seats for its growing congregation. Extension followed extension until a full reconstruction of St Mary’s finally coming to fruition in the 1890’s. Of course that all changed during the blitz of 1941…
Cards on the table, I come from a non-conformist background. I grew up attending small tin shacks or mission halls which mostly dated back to the 1904 Welsh Religious Revival. It has only been in recent years I have come to know the world of old churches in Wales and its been a real joy to understand their significance in our history.
I loved the acapella sound of my old Gospel Hall Sunday morning services and I still treasure those musical memories. I have now also grown to love to sound created by a wonderful choir organ and choir in a building that has heard the songs and prayers of thousands of people over hundreds of years.
It was only back in February of 2025 that St Mary’s was given the title of Swansea Minster. St Mary’s is part of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon and the mother church is Brecon Cathedral. As Swansea has grown and developed St Mary’s has become the church used for so many civic events. By designating St Mary’s as a Minster it was given official recognition of its place in the city and region.
I was there at the Minster service in 2025 and it was a memorable service which included newly commissioned music by Sir Karl Jenkins and a sermon from the former Archbishop of Canterbury, ex Dynevor boy, Dr Rowan Williams but there was more to it than that. As well as being given a new title St Mary’s was also given nearly £ 3 million pounds by the Church In Wales from its growth fund.
As I walked into the Minster this week I noticed a number of things. Firstly, obviously a blooming great big sculpture of the earth slowly rotating as it appeared to float above us. What I also noted was the new glass fronted offices that line the side of the church. On the other side was a queue of people ordering teas, coffees and cakes as others who had already received their orders chatted at tables. There wasn’t any raucous laugher or shouting but there was a real ‘buzz’ around the building.
The minster has an ideal setting to host all sorts of events in the city centre and as well as the money going to change the interior of the building it has also allowed the church to bring in more staff to work in the community.
At the heart of the Minster is Rev’d Canon Justin Davies the Rector. You can often see him riding his bike to work along Swansea Bay. I had first met Justin when I had helped with the opening ceremony for the minster back in 2025. I liked him from our first meeting because he made me laugh as well as think. As I said his office at the Minster is glass fronted ands when he saw me he came to say hello.
Entry to the Minister to see the ‘world’ is free but there is a suggested photography fee if you’d like to do a selfie. Well you know me…I had paid my fee and was about to do the deed when Justin said he had a much better idea and dragged me to what he felt was the best position for my picture. I should say the suggested £2 donation is reduced to only £12 if you tag the Minster. Fair play this church knows the value of social media to spread good news. Justin also handed me a programme of current events.
The Luke Jerram ‘Gaia’ earth sculpture is part of a wider celebration. As a non-conformist I’m learning more about how the Church in Wales marks the changing of the seasons. They have just celebrated Creationtide is the period in the annual church calendar dedicated to God as Creator and Sustainer of all life. Also working at the Minster Is Hope Pugh, the church’s Director of Musical Engagement. She has been working hard to bring together all sorts of artistic events to St Mary’s. Some of the concerts are ticketed but many are free including performances form local schools.
Swansea city centre is going through lots of changes. Swansea Minster, or St Mary’s has always had a role to play never more so than now.
Luke Gaia’s Gaia will be on display at Swansea Minster from now until 31st October. For more details on this months’ programme of events please visit https://swanseaminster.org.uk/gaia