Annwyl Gyfeillion

In my childhood, my grandmother had a way of saying “Be an angel and bring such and such from the sideboard” or whatever domestic task it was that needed completion.  “Be an angel” in her mind was clearly about someone who performed a kindness, and did that task with a grace and a spirit of co-operation that earned brownie points.

It reminds us that etymologically in both Hebrew and Greek the word “angel” originally meant “someone with a message or task and only became applied to the supernatural messengers of the heavenly court by extension.  There are angels of different sorts in the Old Testament, some are quite unusual in their appearance – the Seraphim of Isaiah 6, the “burning ones” with six wings, or the Cherubim of the Book of Ezekiel, with animal faces and eyes within and without.  Others can easily be mistaken for human beings – perhaps they even were human beings – who arrive bearing news from God.  Certainly, the androgenous gracious human figures with a sweeping pair of wings with which we’re so familiar are adapted from classical tradition and Roman and Greek depictions of the “genii” or spirits of a town or abstract quality like Victory.  All those pictures of the annunciation, and really we have no idea of what Gabriel looked like.

All in all, the hosts of heaven in all their various manifestations are much on my mind following the feast day of Michael and All Angels earlier this week.  And in the end, I’ll go with my grandmother’s definition.  We can all be angels, bearing messages of hope, love and support for one another.  It’s a good pastoral discipline to ask “what is the good news that I bring to this particular visit or conversation?”  Perhaps that’s a message for Michaelmastide – find out how you can bear a little piece of good news to your neighbour today.

The Residential Clergy School – 15 – 18 September 2025

An enormous thank you to all the team who worked so hard to accomplish a highly successful Clergy School.  Everyone reports on how good it was – from Canon Gemma Simmonds’s daily reflections to the contributions of visiting speakers and preachers, and time spent building our fellowship together.  Do return your feedback form, if you haven’t already, and Karen Maurice, our Comms Officer, tells me that all the addresses are available on the diocesan website.

Hwyl a Helo

 Jonathan Smith has indicated to me that he will take retirement at the end of November.  Jonathan has been a faithful and positive friend and priest to many of us in the diocese, and we offer profound thanks for his ministry, and wish him well for the future.  Helen Gheorghiu-Gould will also complete her time in Rhyl at the end of the year, and is looking forward to a new chapter in her ministry in the new year.  We thank Helen for the distinctive transition ministry that she has offered.

 I am sorry to report the recent death of Alan Backhouse who faithfully contributed to ministry in the Welshpool area for many years.  Our condolences go to Christine and the family.

Diary and Events                                    

Please read the diary carefully.  The diary is updated every month to include 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.

I am also including the dates we have for 2026.  It is very important that each of you makes a note of these dates.  Please ensure that the dates which are a professional requirement are in your diary, even where the exact format may be open to change.  Where a clash with your own plans comes to your attention, please raise it with Esgobty at the earliest opportunity.  I am still occasionally getting excuses late in the day from clergy who don’t seem to have planned ahead, or even to have read this monthly diary, and I am much more amenable when approached early to discuss any potential clashes.

Dates for October

5 Oct                 Homelessness Sunday

16 Oct               Diocesan Conference (business), online

18 Oct               Diocesan Conference, Coleg Cambria, Wrexham

Dates for later in the year

23 Nov              The Licensing of Kathryn Hall as Priest-in-Charge in Dyffryn Clwyd MA, at St. Cynhafal, Llangynhafal, at 1530hr.

4 Decr               MAL Training Day (a change from the previously arranged date of 20 November)

7 Decr               The Licensing of Nicholas Bee as Priest-in-Charge in Caereinion MA, at St Mary,                                       Llanfair Caereinion, at 1530hr.

10 Decr             Advent Confirmation, Cathedral, 1900hr

 Dates in 2026

12 Feb               IME Book Day for those in their first three years of ordained ministry (details to follow)

26 Feb               Spring Clergy Synod (details to follow)

2 April             Chrism Eucharist, Cathedral

16 May             LLM Day, Cathedral

27 June             Ordination of Priests, 1000hr in the Cathedral

28 June             Ordination of Deacons, pm in the Cathedral

17 Sept             Autumn Clergy Synod (details to follow)

8 Oct                 Diocesan Conference (online business meeting)

10 Oct               Diocesan Conference, in person

Diocesan Conference 2025

The theme of the Diocesan Conference this year is “Bringing Hope”.  The conference will be split by its now familiar form of the necessary business happening online on the Thursday evening (16 October, 1900hr-2030hr), and the live Conference being in Coleg Cambria’s Wrexham campus (Grove Park Road, Wrexham, LL12 7AB) on Saturday, 18 October, 1100hr to 1530hr.  Our keynote speaker on Saturday will be Canon Tim Rowlands of Festival Church, Chester.  Clergy are reminded that attendance at the Conference is a professional commitment, and all should attend unless permission has been sought from me in writing.

Ordinations in 2026

God willing, we will have eleven candidates for ordination next Petertide: six candidates for the diaconate and five candidates for the priesthood.  This means that we will have to revert to the practice of earlier years of holding two ordinations.  The Ordination of Priests will take place at the familiar time of 1000hr on Saturday, 27^th June, and the Ordination of Deacons will take place in the afternoon of Sunday, 28^th June, with the exact time to be confirmed.

Notes and Queries

Concise Almanac 2025-26 Year A

We are grateful as ever to Canon Martin Snellgrove for his work each year in providing us with a user-friendly Concise Almanac.  Those who appreciate this simplified form of the lectionary will find the edition for the next liturgical year here.

Grow Alpha: Thursday 6 November: 7 – 9pm at Hope Street Church

For those interested in running Alpha within their churches, there is an opportunity to join the Alpha UK team to unpack the most common mistakes of Alpha and explore how to move the culture within your church to adopt Alpha fully as a key part of your ministry, enabling it to flourish and maximise its potential.  Whether you’re looking to grow guest numbers, boost retention, or inspire your wider church to engage more deeply, this session will equip you to see your Alpha thrive.  You’ll hear about some Alpha Youth updates too!

Please register yourself and your teams below.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/grow-alpha-wrexham-tickets-1687005451719?aff=oddtdtcreator

Students of Clergy Families

Please let my office know if you have a son or daughter starting tertiary education this year. I like to be able to send a small gift to assist them and wish to do that once again this year. Names, ages, courses of study, and the right address to which to send my greetings would be appreciated.

To the Angel of the Church of St Asaph write:  I know your hard work for the Kingdom, and no effort you make is ever lost in God’s economy.  Be bold and be courageous, for the Spirit moves among you to guide and to inspire. Bring hope to the lost and to the discouraged, and ever seek within yourselves the wells of living water which the Lord provides for you in your hearts and in your churches.

Your servant in Christ,