Cardiff and Vale Chaplaincy Team

Rev Jason Tugwell - Chaplaincy Manager

Jason is the Chaplaincy Services Manager for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. Jason is an ordained minister with the Elim Pentecostal movement. He has over 28 years of pastoral and local church leadership experience. He has pastored Churches in Cardiff, Caerphilly and Merthyr Tydfil.

In early 2015 he became the Deputy Lead Chaplain for the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board based in Morriston Hospital, Swansea. In September 2018, Jason became the Chaplaincy Services Manager here in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. He also pastors alongside his wife at Elim Church in Cardiff North.

Rev Caroline John

I joined the Chaplaincy Team in 2018 after working in Bangor Cathedral as a Minor Canon, which sounds grand but isn't at all! During this time I ran the Foodbank and was Chaplain to the choir as well as being involved in the usual round of parish ministries. Born in England, I was ordained into the Church in Wales in 1990 and spent the next 19 years in Ceredigion.

I was curate in both Cardigan and Aberystwyth , and when the first of our four children were born, I stepped back from ordained ministry for a while. Married to an Anglican Priest,

I continued to be very involved in parish and Church life, and at the end of the 1990's I worked in Bronglais hospital for a couple of years as Chaplain on the children's ward. After a variety of jobs, I worked for Age Concern for 9 years and managed the Information and Advice Department.

I love spending time with my now grown up children and my dogs who, sadly for me, have remained in Bangor I was a keen long distance runner and triathlete until an accident a few years ago stopped me in my tracks. I now enjoy short distance jogs, the gym, swimming and yoga. And for less energetic times I do cross stitch and watch Doc Martin or Gavin and Stacey.

Fr Peter Davies

Fr Peter Davies is a Roman Catholic priest and originally from West Wales.In the past he worked as a psychiatric nurse and spent five years on a Mental Health Project in Central Asia and two years in the Indian subcontinent.

He was formerly an Anglican priest and is married with children.

Rev Andy Gibbs

Andy joined the Chaplaincy team in April 2021 as a Baptist minister following a 27 year career in the environmental sector.  During this time he held a wide variety of roles from sweeping streets and administrative work through to running multi-disciplinary teams of environmental and technical specialists.  In 2016 he left to study full time at Cardiff University and complete his ministerial formation through South Wales Baptist College, which he completed in 2019.

For much of his career Andy was also involved in church leadership, starting in Youth work and eventually being appointed as an Elder of his local Church in Cardiff.  He also served as a pastor to a church in Barry during his training and now works with churches across South Wales, particularly in Cardiff and the Vale.

Imam Farid Ahmed Khan

Farid Ahmed Khan is a Muslim faith chaplain and he graduated from Islamic university of Jamia Madania in Sylhet Bangladesh and was lecturer in same university from 1988 to 1991.

He has long experience as an Imam of Masjid in Newport and Neath, serving the community, providing Friday sermon, leading prayer, teaching Islamic literature to adults and elders. He has been appointed first Muslim chaplain in Wales at Aneurin Bevan health board, on 2003 at Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, South Wales.

Mr Khan also has heavy involvement in Al-Falah centre, Cardiff, Iqra Community centre, Newport, Neath Masjid, West Glamorgan and Bilal Masjid, Bridgend.

He is a Multi lingual person and can communicate and speak in English, Bengali, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi and Sylheti languages. 

Imam Farid khan was appointed as a Chaplain at UHW on July 2018 to provide religious, spiritual and pastoral help and support to Muslim patients include providing Islamic rules, principle, and ethics to the hospital professionals. He also leading Friday prayer and sermon services for the staff, patients and visitors.

Sister Amina Shabaan

Joining the renowned Cardiff and vale UHB chaplaincy 2016, Amina became the first female Muslim chaplain in NHS Wales. Amina also plays an active role within local communities and has done so for many years now. She states “being a chaplain gives me the perfect grounding to help and support all through spiritual nourishment. Being part of the chaplaincy department gives me the opportunity to interact with people from other faiths and backgrounds. Providing spiritual care, support, and lending a listening ear during those crucial moments.” Amina is a qualified Quraan examiner.

She also states; “my caring attitudes is reflected in all facets of my life. Joining Cardiff University in 2013, I become the first female Muslim chaplain in that institute too. Not only do I provide chaplaincy support at the University, but I also teach Arabic.”

Rev Sangkhuma Hmar

Sangkhuma hails from Mizoram, India where British missionaries - which consisted of church ministers, doctors and nurses, spread Christianity and education and established hospitals in North East India from 1890s.

He is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian church of Mizoram. He served in various capacities as Pastor, Mission Field Secretary, Administrative Secretary, General Assembly of the Presbyterian church of India until 1998. He then served as Partner in Mission being sponsored by the Council for World Mission (CWM) working alongside the Union of Welsh Independents and the Presbyterian church of Wales till 2019. His passion is on Equipping local congregations in mission.

Until joining the chaplaincy team in July 2021, he volunteered to serve the Black Asian Minority Ethnic groups in South Wales which helped him to appreciate the challenges of crossing the divide and embracing diversity.

Regardless of different religious, spiritual and ethical traditions, he believes in the importance of human relationships - we need to inspire non-religious and religious people to reach out to one another because we need each other.

Ps Benjamin Tugwell

Ben joined the Chaplaincy Team in 2022 as an Elim Pentecostal minister. Prior to this he worked in a local primary school and children’s nursery. He was born in UHW and has lived in Cardiff for his whole life so it was natural that after studying his degree in Applied Theology at Regents Theological College, located in the Malvern Hills, he would return to the city he loves. Ben has been on team in numerous youth groups and clubs during his life and is a part of the leadership team in a local church here in Cardiff.

Ben is passionate about Manchester United, Herbal Tea and playing musical instruments. However, most importantly Ben is passionate about building relationship with people. Whether you ascribe to the same faith or don’t, Ben just loves getting to know people and hearing their stories.

Lisa Rees - Chaplaincy Secretary

Lisa has worked part-time as the Secretary to the Chaplaincy Department for almost 16 years. She has three grown up children.