Apprenticeship in Christian Ministry

The apprentice programme brings together all the elements for you to have a life-and faith-changing experience for a year. It is designed for those who want to explore a sense of vocation to Christian Ministry within any Christian denomination in Wales. It is primarily aimed at young adults aged 18-30, but applicants over 30 can also be considered.

At the end of the year, you will have gained experience and a qualification in ministry

• a foundation for employment in a Church or Christian organisation
• a stepping stone to formal discernment processes for ordained/accredited ministry in your denomination
• great transferable skills for where God leads you next.

• A church or Christian organisation employs you as an apprentice. They pay you at the official ‘apprenticeship rate’, manage and direct your work, and provide the on-the-job guidance, support and training. You are part of their ministry team.
• You enrol on the Apprenticeship in Christian Ministry offered by Coleg Sir Gâr, St Padarn’s apprenticeship partner, which hold the contract from the Welsh Government. Coleg Sir Gâr ensures you are being treated well, and provides you with essential skills training such as communication and, where appropriate, Maths and English.
• You complete the Level 4 HE Certificate in Christian Ministry with the St Padarn’s Institute. This is the equivalent of the first year of a degree. This is roughly speaking a day a week of education in areas such as the bible, Christian doctrine, mission and practical theology.

And the cost to you is …. £0. Well, prayer, hard-work, and moving out of your comfort zone, but all of the education and training is paid for from a grant the Welsh Government gives to Coleg Sir Gâr.

That’s right. The first-year of a degree, priceless work experience and personal development, at zero cost to you, while you are being paid.

Designed to be 12 months long. It can be extended to 14 months, if you haven’t yet completed all the requirements. The programme starts on 1 Sep 2026. You will be paid at the government set apprenticeship rate, currently £8/hour. Your contract with your employer needs to be for between 16 and 30 hours a week. Some employers may offer accommodation and a lower rate of pay.

Monday is the education day.

• Generally this is online in the morning with St Padarn’s studying for the Certificate in Christian Ministry, and some afternoons with Coleg Sir Gar for essential skills.
• There are two required 3-4 day residentials in the year run by St Padarn’s, bringing together the apprentices from across Wales. The costs of these are all covered.

The HE Certificate in Christian Ministry has six modules:

• Practical Theology
• New Testament
• Old Testament
• Christian Doctrine
• Christian Mission
• Reflective Practice

How are these taught?

• Two of these are taught at the residential's face-to-face.
• Three online on Mondays, one per term.
• The Reflective Practice module runs across the whole year as you engage in your work placement.
• Each module has an assignment, helping you think clearly and relate theological learning to the realities of Christian ministry.

St Padarn’s has lots of experience supporting people who don’t think they are ‘academics’ to succeed in their studies. Emma, our disability advisory tutor, supports those with additional needs, neurodiversity or disabilities. We will provide Level 2 teaching in Numeracy, Literacy and IT for those who need it. There is a £2,000 bursary available from Welsh Government for Apprentices with disabilities.

St Padarn’s can’t provide the employer (Church or Christian Organisation).
Formally, an employer finds someone they want to offer an apprenticeship to, and then you apply for the apprenticeship programme. Often this means a Church will have decided it wants one or more apprentices, advertises, recruits and then those individuals are enrolled.
But St Padarn’s is here to help bring things together. Contact us if you want to know more or explore the possibilities.
apprenticeships@stpadarns.ac.uk

The apprenticeship with its Level 4 qualification attached will open up several career routes:

• Some who take this apprenticeship explore ordination or accreditation within their particular denomination during the year
• Some go on to further employment in ministry, as pastoral assistants, youth/children’s workers, or a wide range of other ministry or community roles.
• Some go onto secular roles, but better equipped to be a disciple of Christ within that environment.
• An apprentice will qualify with a first-year degree qualification. They will be able to enter University and do Level 5 and Level 6 to complete a degree. St Padarn’s itself offers a part-time online BTh degree Theology for Discipleship, Ministry and Mission.

We can guide you through the process all the way. We know that having an apprentice can be a ‘first’ for many churches. We can help you get this right, so it is blessing to you, the apprentice and their time with you is fruitful.
We will pay you £1000 across the year in recognition of the mentoring and support you give the apprentice in their studies and learning.
Contact us and we will arrange to talk you through it all.
apprenticeships@stpadarns.ac.uk
For more information about apprenticeship salaries please visit https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates.