Annwyl Gyfeillion

The month of May begins with a bang – the feast day of not one but two apostles (associated because it was believed that their relics were preserved in the same Roman Church), and then with our own patronal saint’s feast day and a special Eucharist in the Cathedral. All these saints’ days are a reminder to us that our faith is not just in a God who saves us outside of time and location for an eternity in heaven – but that it is about the transformation of lives in the here and now. Jesus died to save us, yes, but his resurrection life is meant to seep through into our everyday realities, as lived in north Wales for the last millennium and a half, and as lived today in Llandderfel, Pool Quay, Rhosllanerchrugog and Colwyn Bay. The Anglican and Catholic traditions make a great play on observing saints’ days precisely because we believe that the evidence that Jesus Christ sanctifies people, and makes them holier, is all around us – lived out in real people over two millennia.

Easter – the fifty days between Easter Sunday and Pentecost – is a time when we celebrate the victory of Jesus over the forces of death and sin – not in a notional way, but in a way which should release the power for change in our own lives – away from darkness into light, away from brokenness into healing, away from sin into holiness. Unless this is seen as a living reality in the here and now of the Teulu Asaph, then the claim that we have a faith which makes a saving difference is always going to ring a bit hollow.

I remember once seeing an Orthodox Christian’s home in which the icons on the shelf were stacked alongside the family photos – and that was a very powerful picture of the way in which the holiness of the saints which we celebrate is about a family in which we are called to take our place. May the Risen Lord work radical change in you this Eastertide – and make you perhaps even a tiny bit holier.  It is the journey of a lifetime:  it is the journey into eternal life.

Patronal Festival of St Asaph

I hope that some of you will have made plans to join the celebration of the Holy Eucharist to celebrate our diocesan patron Asaph this Saturday 3 May, in the Cathedral at 11.00hr when the Archdeacon of Montgomery will be our preacher. Clergy and Readers are invited to robe, but it would be useful for you to notify the cathedral staff so that seating may be planned.  I encourage the Teulu Asaph to come together for this service of thanksgiving for the inheritance of faith we have received and to pray for our ongoing service and mission in Christ’s name, and as the family of Asaph.

During the service I am pleased to say that we will be admitting Trevor Trevor and Susan Varah to the Order of St Asaph. Trevor is being recognized for his distinguished service to the diocese especially on the Diocesan Board of Finance, and Susan, in acknowledgement of her sterling work at diocesan level on behalf of the Mothers’ Union.

Consultations on Provision for Same Sex Unions

The consultations around the diocese continue in May as we are invited to reflect on the provision of Blessings for Same-Sex Unions, and what changes we would wish to see following the five-year experimental period which expires in September 2026. Anyone who wishes to contribute to this process is invited to attend the one consultation most convenient for them. Clergy may attend any, but it is my particular wish to see all of you attend the final consultation, which is for the clergy (Thursday, 22^nd May at Southsea) so that we can take counsel together.

The important thing to note is that these occasions are not debates, and there is no vote.  Rather, it is for those who wish to express what they believe that God has laid on their heart on these matters, and for those in attendance to listen respectfully, even where views may differ considerably.  Contributions will be listened to respectfully, and quietly, and we will all listen for the voice of God’s Spirit to inform and guide us.  A record is being made of all consultations (and I am grateful to John and Jennie Liston for the work that they are doing to enable this), and will be given to me so that I can reflect on all I have heard and share it with the Bench, as we seek to discern where God leads us on this issue.

The reading list produced by Canon Dr Ainsley Griffiths, provides an extensive resource surveying some of the literature that is available to inform us of the various contributions to the debate.

The dates of the remaining four consultations in our diocese are:

Thursday 8 May: St David’s Hall, adjacent to the Church, at Penrhyn Bay, at 1900hr

Monday 12 May: Llangollen Pavilion, at 1900hr

Monday 19 May: St Mark’s Church Hall, Connah’s Quay, at 1900hr

The final consultation for all clergy holding the Bishop’s Licence or Permission to Officiate will be held on Thursday 22^nd May, at All Saints Church Hall, Southsea, at 1400hr

Hwyl a Helo

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Darren Quinlan as new priest for Connah’s Quay who will be joining us from the Diocese of Manchester where he is currently an Assistant Curate in Oldham.

I am pleased to announce moves for both Emma Dale and Ana Evans from Alyn Mission Area. Emma will be moving to the Mold Mission Hub as its new Hub Curate and Ana will be taking up a similar role in Prestatyn at the new Mission Hub there is launched formally in the summer.

At the end of June, we will be wishing Juliet Fraser well as she retires from stipendiary ministry and the Penrhyn Bay Mission Hub. I am delighted however that we will not be losing Juliet from licensed ministry as she will be moving to join Denbigh Mission Area as a non-stipendiary priest, living in Llandyrnog Vicarage.

Chancellor Pam Powell has served in several roles in this diocese with dedication and success. Most recently she has served as Director of Ordinands and Mission Area Leader in Offa Mission Area. Pam will be taking retirement later this year, and finishing her duties at the end of June. We owe her a great debt of gratitude for all she has contributed to our common life, but we will not be losing her as she will exercise a PTO ministry from her home in Llangollen.

Diary and Events                                    

Please read this diary carefully. The diary below 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.

Please ensure that those 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 diary, and I am much more amenable when approached early to discuss any potential clashes.

Dates for May

4 May                  Confirmation service, Wrexham at 1030hrs

8 May                  Same-Sex Blessings Consultation in St David’s, Penrhyn Bay, at 1900hr

12 May                Same-Sex Blessings Consultation in Llangollen Pavilion at 1900hr

19 May                Same-Sex Blessings Consultation in St Mark’s Church Hall, Connah’s Quay, at 1900hr

21 May                Licensing of James Tout as Vicar of St Giles’, Wrexham, St Giles’ Church, 1900hr

22 May                Same-Sex Blessings Consultation for Diocesan Clergy, All Saints’ Church Hall, Southsea, at 1400hr

25 May                Deeside MA Confirmation Service, St Deiniol’s Hawarden at 1530hrs

31 May                LLM Annual Meeting and Service, Cathedral, at 10.30am – 4pm and Evening Prayer and Licensing of Lay Ministers 4pm

Dates later in 2025

 8 June                  Pentecost Confirmation Service, Cathedral, at 1530hrs

19 June Licensing of Jenny Clarke as Priest-in-Charge in Rhos a Mynydd MA, St Matthew’s Buckley, 1900hr.

22 June               Licensing of Lorraine & Christopher Turner to ministry in the Cedewain Mission Area at St Michael’s, Kerry, at 1530hr.

28 June               Ordinations, Cathedral, 1000hr

15-18 Septr        Residential Clergy School, York

5^th Oct                 Homelessness Sunday

16^th Oct               Diocesan Conference (business), online

18^th Oct               Diocesan Conference, Coleg Cambria Wrexham

Notes and Queries

Homelessness Sunday

This year, Homelessness Sunday will take place on Sunday 5 October. Please save the date if your Church would like to run its own Homelessness Sunday Service or if you would like to mark the day in some other way within your local community. Housing Justice Cymru will be providing resources including suggested readings, prayers and junior church activities, as well as information about homelessness and how your Church or community group can get involved. More details nearer the time

The call to holiness is for everyone. I pray that in this Easter season, the Lord will teach you new lessons about how you may grow in faith, hope and love, and that, as the Teulu Asaph, we may witness boldly to the redeeming and transforming love we find in Jesus, the Risen Lord.

In Christ,