History of Sports Chaplaincy Wales

To meet the team of Sports Chaplaincy Wales, click here.

Sports Chaplaincy Wales started when a player at Swansea Rugby Football Club asked Pete Orphan to consider being the club’s chaplain. Pete, an assistant Pastor, reached out for advice to John Boyers (founder of SCORE) former chaplain of Man United FC and became club chaplain in 2003. Pete often participated in training, taking many knocks! In 2005 Pete felt the need to develop things further and found other independent sports chaplains, bringing them together. 

In 2008 Pete handed on the role of National Director to Steve Jones. Steve widened connections across churches and sport and was instrumental in bringing the vision for all-ability needs to Sports Chaplaincy and developed connections with Disability Sport Wales. He also helped set up Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby team where he is still a Trustee and Chaplain. Whilst Steve was in his role, he asked Martin Lewis if he would help and grow chaplaincy within Wales, which Martin gladly took on the role of Assistant National Director.

In 2015 there were changes afoot within Sports Chaplaincy UK and Ireland, Warren Evans became CEO.  Steve was struggling to juggle being a local pastor and National Director, so in he passed on the baton to Martin Lewis, Cardiff Rugby Club chaplain. Martin had recently taken early retirement from Lloyds Bank and completed his Sports Chaplaincy Master’s degree. 

Given his many years of playing top class rugby and his desire to see God at work in the sports world, Martin was delighted to accept and continues to lead Wales. Wales has been immensely blessed by God to see Sports Chaplaincy go from strength to strength, supporting a wide range of sport from international to local club level, male/female and all-ability, and also supporting major sports events in Wales and across the world. 

Our Welsh Ambassadors and Endorsees for SCUKI are Nick Williams and Byron Haywood who play a significant role and recognise the importance of this work.