Annwyl Gyfeillion

I think that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took us all by surprise when he stood in the pouring rain to announce a general election.  All of a sudden the news priorities altered, and the United Kingdom is gearing up to vote on our future.  In the United States, history has been fashioned as a prospective presidential candidate has been indicted as a convicted felon, and we might all be wondering where politics is going.

Today is the feast day of a modern Anglican martyr, Archbishop Janani Luwum, brutally dispatched because he spoke the truth to power in the Ugandan regime of Idi Amin, an intolerant dictator.  The story of Uganda is a story which reminds us how fragile democracy is, and just in case we thought that that was just a warning for the third world, and that democracies like ours were too stable to be shaken, we have the example of the United States before us.  I am perhaps not alone in saying that I have also feared at times in the last decade for the health of our own democracy.

The primary task of the Church is always to point to Jesus Christ, God Incarnate and Saviour of the World, but since human beings are made in the image of God, and we are called to serve all human beings, we must also work for the well-being of society, and justice among all people.  What this means is that I hope you will encourage your congregations to take their civic duties seriously, and to exercise their vote.  I hope as well that the churches may be at the forefront of organizing hustings or other ways of engaging with our parliamentary candidates, and finally, that there will be prayers for the well-being of our civic society, for the future of the United Kingdom as a democracy, and a commitment to working towards a just and fair society.

The Anglican Church has always lived in these nations in a distinctive relationship to the State – we must support it at its best, but always retain the right to criticize it when it fails to respect the values of God’s Kingdom, in which is our ultimate hope.

Archdeacon of Montgomery

I am pleased to announce that we have a successor to Barry as the Archdeacon of Montgomery in the Revd Gerwyn Capon, currently Rector of Thaxsted in the Diocese of Chelmsford.  Gerwyn is a Welshman, whose parents still live on Anglesey, and comes to us with experience of ministry in Wales and England.  He was Dean of Llandaff between 2014 and 2022.

Gerwyn will move to the diocese during August, and his installation will be held in St Asaph Cathedral at 1530hr on Sunday 1 September, in the context of Evensong.  I hope that many of us, especially from the Archdeaconry of Montgomery will be there to support him, although there will be a further service of welcome in the south of the diocese, details of which will be forthcoming. You can read more at https://dioceseofstasaph.org.uk/new-archdeacon-of-montgomery-announced/

Hwyl a Helo

The Revd Kate Johnson has indicated to me that she will retire at the end of September this year.  Kate has served with distinction in the diocese since joining Quentin Bellamy as his wife, and receiving Anglican Orders in 2003.  Originally ordained a Lutheran minister, Kate has enthusiastic adopted the Church in Wales, while bringing the treasures of her Lutheran tradition to enhance her ministry in Wrexham, Prestatyn and in Abergele.

As a mark of acknowledgement of Kate’s outstanding contribution to our common life, I have decided to confer an Honorary Canonry upon her for the remaining months of her ministry.  Kate will be installed at Evensong in the Cathedral on Sunday, 9 June, at 1530hr, and I very much hope that all those who can will join us to share in this celebration of her ministry.

I am delighted to welcome the Revd Petra Goodband from the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon to our diocese.  Petra has been appointed to support the development of St Giles’ Church in Wrexham as a Hub Church in the diocese, as it joins Holywell, Mold, Penrhyn Bay, and Welshpool as part of this scheme of renewal and church growth.

A number of our clergy are developing or changing their ministries in the life of our diocese.  Helen Dawson is moving from Welshpool to the Caereinion Mission Area as a full-time Pioneer Missioner, rooted in the communities around Llanfair Caereinion.  Helen will be joining Stephen Hayes who is taking on additional responsibility as the Mission Area Leader of Caereinion, and Jo MacKriell who is moving to full-time ministry and taking on responsibility for the communities of Meifod, Pontrobert & Dolanog alongside her existing responsibilities in Tanat Vyrnwy.  There will be a service of welcome and licensing for all three on Tuesday 9 July, at St Erfyl’s Church, Llanerfyl, at 1900hr.

Sarah Hildreth-Osborn is changing responsibilities within the Aberconwy Mission Area, relinquishing her work in Llanrwst, and taking responsibility for Llandudno Junction, Deganwy, & Llanrhos

We are very sorry to say goodbye to Alexier Mayes, who leaves us to become Director of Ministry in the Diocese of Bangor.  Alexier has brought a very special blend of enthusiasm for the Gospel and her own bubbly personality to ministry in this diocese since her ordination in 2011.   This brings about further changes in the Ministry Officers Team, and I’m delighted that Jayne Coxall has accepted my invitation to take on the role of Vocations Officer and Luke Bristowe as Officer for Commissioned Ministries.

Kate Tiltman has accepted my invitation to succeed John Thelwell at the end of the year when John concludes eight dedicated years as Diocesan Chaplain for the Mothers’ Union.

The 2024 Hellins Lecture : Anglicans in Rome, the Work of the Anglican Centre

We are delighted to welcome Archbishop Ian Ernest, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Personal Representative to the Holy See and Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome as our Hellins Lecturer for 2024.  Archbishop Ian welcomes pilgrims and Anglicans from all over the world to Rome, and the Centre runs many courses, and other opportunities to become acquainted with the Eternal City.  The archbishop will lecture on the work of the Centre, and his work as Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See, and we will be using the opportunity to launch a Welsh branch of the Friends of the Anglican Centre.

The 2024 Hellins Lecture will take place on Tuesday 25 June in the Cathedral at 1915hr.   Before the Lecture there will be a celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the Cathedral at 1800hr for those who would like to attend, and the Lecture itself will be preceded by light refreshments served in the South Transept from 18.45hr.  Please make every effort to join us by securing the date in your diaries now.  The evening will also be an opportunity for the Church in Wales to affirm formally its support for the work of the Anglican Centre in Rome, and it would be excellent to see a good crowd.

 Petertide Ordination

I am sure that you will have the ordination in your diary.  We will have seven candidates this year (six priests and one deacon) on Saturday 29 June  at 10.00hr.  The ordination preacher and retreat leader this year is Archbishop Ian Ernest from the Anglican Centre in Rome, whom I hope many of you will have met already at the Hellins Lecture on the Tuesday before the ordination.

Please remember daily in your prayers:

• Emma Dale, serving in the Alyn Mission Area,
• Ana Evans, serving in Alyn Mission Area,
• Wendy Gardner, serving in Cedewain Mission Area,
• Kathryn Hall, serving in Estuary & Mountain Mission Area,
• Hugh Richardson, serving in Hope Street, Wrexham,
• Cass Meurig Thomas, serving in Valle Crucis Mission Area.

whom, God willing, I intend to ordain to the presbyterate.

Remember also:

• Beci Kelly, who will serve in Denbigh Mission Area,

whom, God willing, I intend to ordain to the permanent diaconate.

Support for our new brothers and sisters in Holy Orders is so very important.  I therefore ask all clergy and licensed lay ministers to make every effort to be present to share in the joy of welcoming our newly ordained deacon and priests into the Teulu Asaph.

As usual, car parking will be available at Ysgol Glan Clwyd on Upper Denbigh Road to supplement parking at the Cathedral’s car park off Upper Denbigh Road.  A limited amount of disabled parking places will be available near the cathedral on the north side, accessed off the High Street.  It is advisable to make a reservation request to the cathedral office: hello@stasaphcathedral.wales / 01745 582245.

If clergy will please robe in alb/surplice with white stole, and robed priests are invited to extend their hands from their places during the laying on of hands for our new presbyters.  Readers may robe in full choir dress, and other licensed lay ministers are invited to sit with them.

Diary and Events                                    

The diary below includes all those fixed dates for events that clergy are required to attend as part of their professional commitment, together with those opportunities to build up our common life by supporting significant moments for our colleagues.  Please ensure that these dates are in your diary, even where the exact format may be open to change.  Where a clash comes to your attention, please raise it with Esgobty at the earliest opportunity.

Please also note the dates of Confirmations in the diary.  All candidates are welcome at any of the Confirmations, and this sacramental rite is an important occasion to welcome those who are becoming active in their discipleship.  In many ways I believe that the number coming to Confirmation are the real and best indicator of growing the life of the Church.

June

09 June             The Installation of Kate Johnson as an Honorary Canon during Choral Evensong,               Cathedral, 1530hr.

25 June               The Hellins Lecture, Cathedral, 19.15hr (see above)

29 June             The Petertide Ordination (Deacons and Priests), Cathedral, 1000hr

In future

01 September    The Installation of Gerwyn Capon as Archdeacon of Montgomery during Choral         Evensong, Cathedral, 1530hr.

19 September   Clergy Synod for all serving clergy, in person, location probably in Wrexham

22 September    Wrexham MA Confirmation Service, St Giles’, 1500hrs

17 October         Diocesan Conference online evening session, time to be decided

19 October       Diocesan Conference, in person, all day meeting at Llanfyllin High School

13 November    Mission Area Leader Training

Notes and Queries

Churchyard maintenance

As part of our stewardship in caring for God’s creation, churches are responsible for managing their own churchyards.  Trees are an important part of our eco-system and are often found in abundance in our churchyards.  They give home to wildlife; clean the air so that we can breathe easier and can also boost our mental health.  It’s really important therefore that we follow the Church In Wales faculty rules regarding trees as well as the county council planning rules.  Each county may differ slightly.  Some have tree policies, such as replacement schemes.  All counties across our diocese have conservation areas.  It is the responsibility of the clergy and wardens to find out if the churchyard is in a conservation area or if there are any Tree Preservation Orders on any of the trees.  If so, the Tree Officer of the council will need to be consulted. Failure to acquire all the relevant permissions could result in legal action from the county.

Before doing any work on trees in your churchyard, it is necessary to get the Archdeacon’s permission in writing for the work to be done AND to log the work on the Online Faculty System (OFS).  Most tree work, including planting, trimming, lopping and felling come under  ‘Type A’ on the OFS.  That means all that needs to be provided is a summary of the work to be carried out.  Please contact Ceri Jones, Conservation and Development Officer, cerijones@cinw.org.uk for further information, advice and assistance.

Clergy Ministerial Development Review

The diocese has reviewed its Clergy Ministerial Development Review (MDR) process and is re-launching a new system later this year. As part of the process, Clergy Reviewers are now being recruited and if you are interested in being considered for this work, please complete the application form here. The process works on a three-year cycle, with a third of the clergy being reviewed by a clerical colleague, a second by their Archdeacon, and a third by a lay reviewer each year. Applications are being invited from clergy who can bring experience from previous comparable work, to become MDR reviewers. MDR reviewers are good listeners, with gifts of wisdom, insight, and the ability to ask the right questions. They are not mentors, but coaches, guiding conversation in such a way as to help all those serving God, to listen for God’s guiding Spirit. You can find out more at https://dioceseofstasaph.org.uk/vocations-and-ministry/lay-reviewers/

Permission to Officiate

It is crucial that retired clerics recognize the fact that when they withdraw from public ministry, and surrender Permission to Officiate, this means that they are not eligible for “one-off” Permissions to Officiate on an occasional basis.  Clergy without PTO are still welcome to assist another licensed cleric at occasional offices and elsewhere but otherwise require a permanent triennial Permission to Officiate, with the attending DBS checks and Safeguarding Training.   Where PTO is not held, permission cannot be given to requests to preside or officiate at single services, no matter how close the connection, as the necessary safeguarding checks will have lapsed.

May God bless our national life in Wales and in the United Kingdom, and give his needful gifts of grace to all who are standing for Parliament in the forthcoming election.