Datganiad gan Gabidwl Cadeirlan Bangor
Mae’r wythnos ddiwethaf wedi bod yn un anodd i bawb ohonom sy’n rhan o genhadaeth a gweinidogaeth ein Cadeirlan yma ym Mangor.
Cyfarfu Cabidwl y Gadeirlan ddydd Llun diwethaf. Ymhlith pynciau eraill, buom yn myfyrio ar ddigwyddiadau yn ystod yr addoliad sanctaidd am 11yb ar ddydd Sul 31 Awst. Roedd hyn yn cynnwys y côr yn canu darn newydd wedi’i gyfansoddi – a oedd yn hollol anaddas – o’r enw ‘Cân y Dig’ tra oedd aelodau o’r gynulleidfa’n derbyn Cymun Bendigaid, ac ymadawiad y côr yn syth wedyn tra oedd y parti’r allor yn cwblhau’r ymolchiadau. Penderfynodd y Cabidwl ohirio pob gweithgaredd côr am gyfnod cychwynnol o fis, yn weithredol ar unwaith, er mwyn adolygu’r hyn a ddigwyddodd ac ystyried y camau nesaf.
Bydd hyn hefyd yn gyfle i gynnal deialog rhwng y Cabidwl a'r Côr. Yn y cyfamser, nodwch fod Joe Cooper, Cyfarwyddwr Cerddoriaeth, ar hyn o bryd i ffwrdd o’i ddyletswyddau.
Mae sefyllfa ariannol y Cabidwl yn heriol iawn ar hyn o bryd. Mae Cadeirlan Bangor yn profi diffyg sylweddol rhwng gwariant ac incwm. Mae hyn ymhell dros unrhyw gynnydd mewn incwm, gan arwain at ddiffyg ariannol a allai, os na chaiff ei fynd i’r afael ag ef, roi pwysau sylweddol ar ein cronfeydd wrth gefn.
Ers dechrau’r flwyddyn, mae’r Cabidwl wedi bod yn gweithio’n ddiwyd i gael darlun clir a chynhwysfawr o sefyllfa ariannol y Gadeirlan. Mae cael gwell dealltwriaeth o’n cyllid hefyd yn un o’r argymhellion yn yr Ymweliad ac Adolygiad Diogelu a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Mai. Rydym wedi ymgynghori â chymdeithasau partner ac wedi comisiynu asesiad annibynnol. Er bod y sefyllfa’n heriol, mae’n bosibl ei hadfer – ond dim ond drwy weithredu ar frys.
Rhagwelir bydd ein diffyg gweithredol ar ddiwedd 2025 yn £300K. Mae hyn yn rhoi straen anghynaladwy ar gronfeydd wrth gefn, a fyddai'n arwain at fethdaliad erbyn diwedd 2026. Rhwng 2021 a 2024 bu llawer o fuddsoddiad yn staff cyflogedig y Gadeirlan. Rhoddwyd rolau a gyflawnwyd gan wirfoddolwyr yn flaenorol i staff cyflogedig. Cyflawnwyd llawer a dysgwyd llawer.
Er gwaethaf gwelliannau, mae staff cyflogedig yn golygu cost. Bydd cyflogau staff gyda chostau ychwanegol (193K) a chostau cysylltiedig (CGyrE £72K, Tŷ Deiniol £45K) yn cyfrif am 66% o gyllideb y Gadeirlan, ac mae realiti cyllid y Gadeirlan yn gwneud lefel o ymrwymiad i'r dyfodol yn anymarferol. Eleni bydd Cadeirlan Bangor yn derbyn Cyllid Partneriaeth Cadeirlan Corff y Cynrychiolwyr i dalu costau staff nad ydynt yn glerigion. Fodd bynnag, ein gwariant gwirioneddol ar staff nad ydynt yn glerigion fydd £204K. Mae'r Cabidwl yn hepgor y grant blynyddol gan Fwrdd Cyllid Esgobaeth Bangor (£61K) er mwyn ad-dalu ein dyled iddynt. Hyd yn oed pe bai'r Cabidwl wedi derbyn y grant hwn a'i roi i gyd tuag at gostau staffio nad ydynt yn glerigion, byddai wedi gadael y Cabidwl hefo £58K i'w ariannu.
Ym mis Gorffennaf, penderfynodd y Cabidwl gymryd camau ar unwaith i leihau unrhyw ddiffyg pellach eleni, yn ogystal â gosod cyllideb gytbwys ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf. Gall hyn olygu newidiadau i’n strwythur staffio. Rydym eisoes wedi dechrau ar broses ymgynghori ar ddiswyddiadau posibl. Rydym yn benderfynol y bydd unrhyw ymgynghoriad ag aelodau staff yn deg, yn urddasol, yn gyfrinachol ac yn unol â’r arferion gorau o fewn Adnoddau Dynol.
Mae gan Gabidwl Cadeirlan Bangor ymrwymiad diysgog i genhadaeth Gristnogol a’r cymunedau a wasanaethwn, i ragoriaeth mewn addoliad ac i’r flaenoriaeth i weinidogaeth Gymraeg.
Mae aelodau’r Cabidwl yn ymwybodol iawn fod hwn yn gyfnod ansicr. Rhaid inni sicrhau dyfodol ariannol cadarn, gydag incwm a gwariant sy’n briodol ar gyfer cenhadaeth a gweinidogaeth ein Cadeirlan a phobl Bangor yr ydym yn eu gwasanaethu.
Rydym yn deall y teimladau cryf a’r pryder a fynegwyd yn ddiweddar mewn adroddiadau’r wasg a sylwadau ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Ein gobaith yw cydweithio â phawb sy’n poeni’n fawr am Gadeirlan Bangor a’i bywyd, gan ailadeiladu ymddiriedaeth a sicrhau dyfodol cynaliadwy. Bydd hyn yn galw ar bawb i dynnu at ei gilydd, er mwyn yr Efengyl a lles bywyd ac iechyd ein Cadeirlan.
Mae ein Deon newydd, Dr Manon Ceridwen James, wedi ymrwymo i wrando’n amyneddgar a chymod. Bydd Manon yn dechrau ei gweinidogaeth newydd ar ddiwedd wythnos nesaf i baratoi ar gyfer ei sefydlu ym mis Hydref.
Diolch am fod yn rhan o’n teulu Cadeirlan. Mae eich ffyddlondeb i’n Harglwydd a’ch ymrwymiad parhaus i addoli mor bwysig, yn enwedig mewn cyfnod mor heriol.
Cofiwch Manon a’i theulu yn eich gweddïau, ynghyd â theulu cyfan y Gadeirlan ar yr adeg anodd hon.
Pob bendith,
Cabidwl Cadeirlan Bangor
Statement from the Chapter of Bangor Cathedral
This past week has been difficult for all of us who are part of the mission and ministry of our Cathedral Church here in Bangor.
The Chapter of our Cathedral met last Monday. Amongst other items, we reflected on the events during the 11am sacred act of Cathedral worship on Sunday 31 August. This included the choir singing a specially composed and entirely inappropriate piece - entitled ‘Canticle of Indignation’ - whilst members of the congregation were receiving Holy Communion, and the walking out of the choir immediately afterwards whilst the altar party were doing the ablutions. Chapter took the decision to pause all choir activity for an initial period of one month, with immediate effect whilst we review what happened and consider appropriate next steps.
This pause will also provide an opportunity for dialogue between the Chapter and Choir. In the meantime, please note that Joe Cooper, Director of Music, is currently away from his duties.
Finance is challenging for the Chapter at present. Bangor Cathedral is experiencing a significant shortfall between expenditure and income. This has far outstripped any increased income, resulting in a financial deficit that, if unaddressed, will place pressure on our reserves.
Chapter has been working diligently to gain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the Cathedral’s financial position since the start of this year, and a clearer understanding of our finances is a recommendation in the Visitation and Safeguarding review which was published in May. We have consulted partner charities and commissioned an independent assessment. Whilst the financial situation is very challenging, it is also redeemable. But only with urgent action.
Our projected operational deficit at the end of 2025 is £300K. This puts an unsustainable stress on reserves, which would lead to bankruptcy by the end of 2026. Between 2021 and 2024 there was much investment in the Cathedral's salaried staffing. Roles which had been carried out by volunteers previously were given to paid staff. Much was achieved and much has been learned.
Despite improvements, salaried staff come with a price. Staffing costs (£204K) and associated costs (BMF £72K, Tŷ Deiniol £45K) will account for 66% of the Cathedral's budget, and the reality of the Cathedral's finances make such a level of commitment into the future unfeasible. This year Bangor Cathedral will receive £84K from the RB’s Cathedral Partnership Funding to cover nonclergy staff costs. However, our actual spending on non-clergy staff will be £204K. The Chapter are foregoing the annual grant from Bangor DBF (£61K) in order to repay our debt to them. Even if the Chapter had accepted this grant and put it all towards non-clergy staffing costs, it still would have left Chapter with £58K to fund.
In July, Chapter resolved to take immediate steps to minimise any further deficit in the current year, as well as setting a balanced budget for next year. This may have implications for our staffing structure. We have begun a process of consultation for potential redundancies. We are determined to keep the details of this consultation with employees fair, dignified, confidential and according to HR best practice.
The Chapter of Bangor Cathedral has an unshakeable commitment to Christian mission and the communities we serve, excellence in worship and the centrality of Welsh-language ministry.
Chapter members are deeply aware that this is an unsettling time. The Chapter has to ensure a secure financial future, with income and expenditure that is appropriate for the mission and ministry of our Cathedral Church and the people of Bangor whom we serve.
We do understand the strong feelings and anxiety which have been expressed in recent press reports and social media posts. Our hope is to work with all who care deeply for Bangor Cathedral and its life, rebuilding trust and a sustainable future. It will require us all to pull together, for the sake of the gospel and the future life and health of our Cathedral.
Our new Dean, Dr Manon Ceridwen James, is committed to patient listening and reconciliation. Manon begins to take up her duties at the end of next week in preparation for her installation in October. Please do welcome her warmly into our midst.
Thank you for being part of our Cathedral family. Your faithfulness to our Lord and your ongoing commitment to worship is so important, especially in these challenging circumstances.
Please keep Manon and her family in your prayers, as well as our whole Cathedral family at this difficult time.
Every blessing,
The Chapter of Bangor Cathedral