Annwyl Gyfeillion,

I’m conscious that there will probably be a whole range of attitudes among us towards the coronation next weekend. Some of us will be glued to the television set for the whole day, with our selection of coronation biscuits to sustain us, while others will probably go to great lengths to avoid it altogether.

Whether we support the monarchy or not, however, this ceremony does represent the inauguration of a new Head of State for the United Kingdom, a present reality even if again there are those who’d prefer a free Welsh Republic. And what is extraordinary is that although we live in a largely secularized family of four nations, this sacred event will be put at the centre of the country’s life. For me, the presentation of the orb to the King will convey a central message, as the archbishop intones: “Receive this orb set under the cross, and remember that the whole world is subject to the Power and Empire of Christ our Redeemer.”

I wonder whether the ceremony would be allowed at all if people realized the extraordinary nature of the statements made in the service. First, this is a Christian event. There have been rumours of tensions between the palaces (Buckingham and Lambeth) about the role of inter-faith representatives in the service, but the symbolism is entirely Christian. It asserts that for all the splendour of the robes, the King and the nation are subject to the supreme authority of Jesus, and all must stand in humility before God’s throne. Then, the crown jewels, for all their glitter and history, are symbolic as lessons about the importance of the values of mercy, responsibility, and service, and all made possible in the human world by the power of Christ as redeemer, the one who offered up his life as a sacrifice for our sins, and who offers us grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4.16)

There is a sense in which the ceremonies of the coronation sought to control, restrict, and direct the power of the mediaeval kings into good channels rather than tyranny. Power may have almost entirely been stripped away from the British monarchy in our modern democracy, but the ceremony remains at its heart as a reminder that everyone needs God’s help, and that Jesus is the true King and source of all that is good. Such a purpose should be supported in our prayers for our country’s life.

Liturgical Resources to mark the Coronation of HM King Charles III

The coronation of HM King Charles III will be therefore a joyful and historic national occasion. The Bench of Bishops of the Church in Wales wants to encourage our churches to pray for the King, our nations, and the Commonwealth at this time and commends a range of liturgical resources produced by the Standing Liturgical Advisory Commission.

The bishops have approved prayers that can be used for any of us who wish to mark the coronation of King Charles in their worship. These prayers were attached to the last ad clerum and can still be accessed here. 

The bishops have also authorised a list of amendments to royal prayers within Church in Wales liturgies necessary following the accession of King Charles. This is updated guidance on the use of references to the King and to members of the Royal Family in our liturgies. These can be found here.

Coronation Evensong in the Cathedral

A Civic Service of Choral Evensong to mark the Coronation will be held in the Cathedral on Sunday, 07 May at 1530hr. This service will be attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Clwyd, the High Sheriff and other civic dignitaries. Do please encourage your congregations to attend, and come yourself. It is a moment when we can pray for our country and nations, and for good governance.

Diary and Events

This diary below includes dates for events that all clergy are encouraged to attend, or required to attend as part of their professional commitment. Please ensure that these dates are in your diary, even where the exact format may be open to change.

Especially clergy in Montgomery Archdeaconry should note that there has had to be a change in the date of the Montgomery synod. Details below.

Events like the Chrism Eucharist and Ordinations are not listed as professional requirements, because I don’t believe in making any worship compulsory. However, I hope that our natural loyalty to support one another and our common life make these services a major priority in our diaries.

May
07 May Choral Evensong to mark the Coronation of HM King Charles III, Cathedral, 1530hr

28 May Pentecost Confirmation Service, Cathedral, 1530hr

Later in 2023
8 June Recommitment of the Bryn a Môr Mission Area, including the licensing of Adrian Johnson as Assistant Curate, Llanasa Church, 1900hr.

20 June The Hellins Lecture, Cathedral, 1930hr.

24 June Ordination of Deacons, Cathedral, 1000hrs.

28, 30 June & 1 July Petertide Ember Days

1 July Ordination of Priests, Cathedral, 1000hrs

15 July Licensing of Lay Ministers, Cathedral, 1000hrs

16 July Evensong with the Installation of Canons, 1530hr

20 & 21 Septr Archdeaconry Clergy Synods (as set out below)

27 & 30 Septr Michaelmas Ember Days

12 October Diocesan Conference business meeting on Zoom 1900-2100hrs

14 October Diocesan Conference worship & addresses, Cathedral, 1400-1600hr

21 Novr MAL training day (Please note this date is currently provisional)

6 December St Nicholastide Confirmation, Cathedral, 1900hr

13, 15 & 16 Dec Advent Ember Days

Dates for 2024

28 March Chrism Eucharist, Cathedral, 11.00hr

29 June Ordination of Deacons and Priests, Cathedral, 10.00hr

12 October Diocesan Conference

The Hellins Lecture

I am pleased to announce that a Hellins Lecture has been arranged for Tuesday, June 20 at the Cathedral at 1930hr. The Hellins Lecture is an occasional theological lecture in memory of the late Canon E J W Hellins, D.D., featuring a distinguished keynote speaker. This year we are delighted to welcome the Revd Dr. Katherine Grieb to give the Lecture entitled: “The New Testament: What’s in it for today’s Anglicans?”

Kathy Grieb is a member of the teaching staff at Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, where she has held the Professorship in Biblical Interpretation and New Testament, and where she is currently is Director of the Centre for Anglican Communion Studies. Kathy has been involved in training and formation for many years (including some of our own clergy), and she brings a lively wit and profound knowledge of the Scriptures in her communication of the New Testament message.
Please make every effort to come and support the Lecture on June 20th.

The Autumn Clergy Synods: 20th and 21st September

The Autumn Clergy Synods will be held by archdeaconry and on Zoom this year. Please put these dates firmly in your diaries, and further information will be forthcoming. Note the change of date for the Montgomery Synod.

• Wednesday, 20th September, Montgomery Clergy Synod, 1000hr-1230hr, by Zoom
• Wednesday, 20th September, St Asaph Clergy Synod, 1400hr-1630hr, by Zoom
• Thursday, 21st September, Wrexham Clergy Synod, 1000hr-1230hr, by Zoom

Thy Kingdom Come Novena – 18 -28 May

Participation is encouraged in the Thy Kingdom Come initiative which has grown into an inter-denominational wave of prayer across the world with Christians in 183 countries taking part last year.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, who first issued this invitation in 2016 to join him in praying “Come Holy Spirit” for at least five people who do not yet know the Lord Jesus, remains convinced of the importance of this prayer movement. At the 2023 launch in February Archbishop Justin said: “We live in times of such uncertainty and change. There are challenges on every side but we know the good news of Jesus gives us all we need and more. We can be certain of this love, this grace, this gospel which is the power of God”.

The Archbishop reminded us that in praying for evangelism, praying as Thy Kingdom Come puts it, for friends, families, communities, and countries to know the saving love of God in Jesus Christ, we are following the example of the Apostles. Thy Kingdom Come is a period for your churches to pray and prepare to share the Easter Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. There are resources to help engage adults, young people, and children at www.thykingdomcome.global. Copies of the Novena are attached in English and Welsh and are commended for use throughout the diocese.

Hwyl a Helo

I am delighted to welcome Olwen Lintern-Smyth as our new Diocesan Secretary.

Olwen was born and brought up in Mid-Wales and is a fluent Welsh speaker. She left Wales to study at Oxford and has remained living in Oxfordshire ever since. She spent much of her career in publishing, before becoming Programme Director of the government-funded Global Learning Programme in England until 2018. Working on this programme inspired her to seek an ongoing career in the charity sector, which led to her working as a freelance consultant for a range of charities, alongside ongoing educational and publishing projects. Most recently, following on from setting up a digital inclusion initiative in Oxfordshire, she has been Chief Executive of a small e-learning charity. Olwen loves singing and also enjoys playing the violin in an amateur symphony orchestra in Oxford, where she met her husband Vere, a trumpet-playing New Zealander. Olwen is currently Chair of Trustees for two charities and is Church Warden of her local village church.

Olwen will be joining us at the beginning of July, and I hope that we will all give her a warm welcome. She brings a great expertise to her new role, and an understanding of this part of the world and the importance of the Christian message.

I am pleased to announce that Alan Pierce-Jones has accepted my invitation to take up an honorary canonry in the Cathedral. Alan has assumed a senior national role as Chaplaincy HQ Advisor for Wales with His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service, and it is right that we acknowledge this important sector ministry in this way. Please support Alan, and all the other new canons recently announced, for the Installation Service in the Cathedral on July 16th.

There is good news that Christine Browne will remain at Pennant Melangell as House-for-Duty Shrine Guardian. She was due to retire at the end of June in accordance with the requirements of the Church in Wales’ Constitution. However, it will be good that her ‘retirement’ does not mean we will lose Christine’s valuable ministry at this significant spiritual resource for the diocese and beyond.

I am also pleased that Neil Kelly has accepted my invitation to assist Jason Bray with the work of the Diocesan Deliverance Group as Deputy Convenor.

Notes and Queries

Pentecost Confirmation at the Cathedral

May 28th A diocesan confirmation service is planned for the afternoon of Pentecost, Sunday May 28th, at 1530hr. It will be helpful if clergy planning to present candidates at this service can contact my office as soon as possible if they have not done so already.

COVID-19 Research Project

Ellen Falkingham, an anthropologist at Keble College, Oxford, invites clergy and other ministers who have been involved in funeral and bereavement ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic to participate in her research project which focuses on what she terms ‘pandemic fatigue’. Further details and links are provided in this document.

Diocesan Conference, 12th and 14th October

A fresh approach is being developed for the 2023 Diocesan Conference in October. The business elements of the conference will be split from the inspirational/keynote speaker. Please save the following two dates and more information will follow:

• Thursday 12 October: 7pm – 9pm: This will be an online meeting (via Zoom) to conduct the business of the diocesan conference. It will include items such as the budget, accounts and any amendments to the diocesan constitution.
• Saturday 14 October: 2pm – 4pm at the Cathedral. This will include worship, keynote addresses and speakers and will conclude with refreshments. Among the speakers this year will be the Archbishop of Wales, the Most Revd Andrew John, who will be speaking about the commitment of the Church in Wales to support evangelism.

The conference pages of the website at https://dioceseofstasaph.org.uk/diocesan-conference/ will be updated with further information in due course.

James Pantyfedwen Foundation

Please find here an information leaflet from the James Pantyfedwen Foundation about the grant aid available from the Foundation for churches and chapels in Wales, for renovation work on church buildings or to buy new resources and equipment.

Genuine thanks for all that you are doing. May the King of the ages, Christ Our Lord, give you blessing and strength, joy and peace to do his will,