Garth Ministry Area Supports Candle Appeal for Ukraine

The congregations of St David’s, St Elteyrn’s, St Michael and All Angels, St John’s, and Christ Church, in Garth Ministry Area have generously donated their old candles to support communities in Ukraine facing ongoing hardship.

The candles have been collected by the Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership (S.H.A.P.), a charity coordinating nationwide efforts to repurpose used candles into vital sources of heat and light for those living without electricity.

From here, the candles will be transported to Port Talbot, where prisoners on remand, alongside local volunteers, will melt them down and transform them into heaters, cookers, and emergency lighting. These simple yet life‑sustaining items are then dispatched to charities in Ukraine, travelling alongside other essential supplies to reach families enduring freezing temperatures and frequent power outages.

This collaborative effort reflects the compassion and practical solidarity of our churches, joining a wider movement across the UK to bring warmth, hope, and dignity to those affected by war.

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16

The Diocese is deeply grateful to all who contributed to this act of Christian witness. By offering something as simple as old candles, our churches are helping to shine light—literally and spiritually—into places of great darkness.

More information about the project is available HERE