Annwyl Gyfeillion

Increasingly, the Church is recognizing September as the “Creation Season”, a period to set alongside the redemption cycle of the liturgical year, which is intended to focus our attention on the urgent need for humanity to take more seriously its stewardship of creation. The Liturgical Commission has added its own work in this respect, which is available on the Church in Wales website. September is traditionally the month in which God created the universe, and in Judaism, Rosh Hashanah – New Year – falls at roughly at this time in the Hebrew calendar. It is also the prelude to the Christian celebration of Harvest Home.

With the recent news that our oceanic currents are under threat of collapse and the persistent climate crisis, which is not lessening, we are beginning to realise that the world in which our children and grandchildren live may be a very different and more challenging experience. In Genesis Chapter 1, God sets humanity over creation in his image and likeness. In other words, as God tends creation and shepherds humanity in love, so also we are called to assist in the work of husbanding creation to flourish under our care.

The stewardship of creation is therefore part of the Gospel imperative, because creation belongs to God, not to us. Since creation is part of God’s provision, in the Christian understanding it becomes part of the extension of God’s Kingdom when we care for it and sustain it.

I hope that you will take the opportunity to address this subject with your congregations in coming weeks, or in your harvest celebrations, and that we can call the Church to powerful intercession and bold witness in a context where humanity makes an increasing impact on the fragile sphere we call home.

The Residential Clergy School – 15^th-18^th September 2025 in York

I am looking forward to joining you in a few weeks at the Clergy school.  Mike Haslam and the team at the diocesan office have done sterling work in bringing together an enriching and stimulating programme for us, and we owe a debt of gratitude to them.  Attendance at the Clergy School is a professional requirement for all stipendiary clergy, unless written permission has been received from me.  This is especially important at this stage, as we will be charged for any changes to the booking.  Detailed information will be received from the diocesan team shortly.

It is with some frustration that I discover that I am going to have to leave the Clergy School early. The Standing Committee of the Governing Body shifted the dates of the September GB very late on, which creates a clash with the final days of the conference. I was intending to prioritise the Clergy School, as I hope all clergy on the GB will have done, and as I have enjoined all of us. However, we now have the accession of the new Archbishop at GB, and it is impossible for me to be absent, so that I will have to make an early exit. I offer you all my profound apologies, but I know that everyone will have an excellent time – perhaps better, once the bishop is out of your hair.

Hwyl a Helo

It is good news to announce the appointment of Rex Matthias who will be leaving the Cathedral and Elwy Mission Area in early 2026 in preparation for his new role as Mission Area Leader of Offa. Rex has a distinguished record in pastoral ministry, and he will provide excellent leadership to the Mission Area as it faces the challenges of the future.

I am also delighted to announce that Kathryn Hall will be moving from her curacy in Flint to join Dyffryn Clwyd Mission Area as priest-in-charge with responsibility for the Llanbedr Group of churches. We are also pleased to welcome Nicholas Bee who will be joining the Shared Ministry Team in Caereinion Mission Area, based in Llanfair Caereinion. Nicholas is currently a priest-in-charge in the Lampeter Local Ministry Area in the Diocese of St David’s.

We were sorry to learn of the death in August of a former priest of the diocese, John Morgan-Guy. John served in the diocese between 1993 & 1997 at Betws Cedewain, Tregynon, and Llanwyddelan. I am also sorry to record the death of Jenny Potter, wife of the former Dean and Archdeacon, at the beginning of the Summer. Jenny was a hugely lovely Christian and supporter of diocesan life, and of her husband’s ministry. We commend the departed to God’s care, and those who live with bereavement.

I have been enormously touched by all of you who went to the effort of sending me personal condolences and the promise of prayer in the period after my father’s death. At times like this, the solidarity and support of the Teulu Asaph comes into focus and provided me with much sustenance. Thank you.

A Call to Prayer and Public Witness for Peace in the Holy Land

Christian agencies from across the UK and beyond are calling on churches across Britain to pray for peace on Sunday 21 September, coinciding with the UN World Peace Day and the global call to prayer from across the World Council of Churches. The Archbishop has invited the bishops to join her in encouraging all members of the Church in Wales to take up this call and pray for peace, both corporately during public acts of worship and personally during your own private prayer times.

Further information and some resources can be found here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X3wnrvF00x5F8c0VlxGygCrn6ajKiv2QZ_n3saPpHgw/edit?usp=sharing

Diary and Events                                    

Please read the diary here 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.

I am also including such dates as we have for 2026. It is very important that each of you makes a note of these dates. 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.

2nd Septr           Licensing of Simon Piercy at St Cynfarch’s, Hope, at 1900hr.

6th Septr            Licensing of Tracey Byrne at All Saints’, Rossett, at 1530hr.

7th Septr            Aled Mission Area Confirmation service at St Catherine and St John, Old Colwyn, at 1530hrs

The Licensing of Noel Mc Garrigle at St Michael, Abergele, at 1800hr

15-18 Septr        Residential Clergy School, York

Dates for later in the year

5^th Oct                 Homelessness Sunday

16^th Oct               Diocesan Conference (business), online

18^th Oct               Diocesan Conference, Coleg Cambria, Wrexham

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

3^rd Dec                Advent Confirmation, Cathedral, 1900hr

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

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

Dates in 2026

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

26^th Feb              Spring Clergy Synod (details to follow)

2^nd April             Chrism Eucharist, Cathedral

16^th May             LLM Day, Cathedral

27^th June            Ordination, Cathedral

17^th Sept             Autumn Clergy Synod (details to follow)

8^th Oct                 Diocesan Conference (online business meeting)

10^th Oct               Diocesan Conference, in person

Notes and Queries

Cytûn and Ecumenism

Some say that we are in “an Ecumenical Winter”. With a new General Secretary at the helm in Cytûn, Canon Christine Owen is working with me to try to assess the levels of ecumenical engagement in the diocese. Christine has prepared the attached questionnaire, and I’d be grateful if at least one form could be submitted for each mission area, but, if more appropriate, from individual churches, to indicate what ecumenical activity is taking place. Christine would like the forms returned by 15^th September.

Ember Day leaflet

Please pray for those who are starting their vocational training this autumn. Their names are listed in the Ember Day leaflet here in Welsh and English. The Ember Days are Wednesday, 24^th, Friday 26^th, and Saturday 27^th September, but please add appropriate intercessions at your Sunday worship as well. It would be good to remember all those in training by name in our prayers.

I give thanks to God for your partnership in the Gospel and for your faithful witness.

With every blessing to you, and gratitude for your partnership in the Gospel,

In Christ,