Two new priests will be welcomed into Denbigh Mission Area at a service led by the Bishop of St Asaph on Sunday (17 November).

The Revd Daniel Morgan and the Revd Samantha Quilty will be licensed at St Mary’s Church in the centre of Denbigh at 3.30pm.

Dan Morgan joins the Denbigh ministry team from Mold where he has been Assistant Curate helping to catalyse fresh outreach and growth in the Mold and Northop churches. As a teenager, Dan spent a lot of his time working on Welsh sheep and dairy farms before training in agriculture. After working in the agricultural industry for some time, Dan qualified as a teacher and then taught Biology in Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ruthin, for many years, as well as in St Brigid’s and Denbigh High for a while. Dan enjoys being in the great outdoors – running on the Clwydian hills, cycling adventures on local country lanes, and mountain scrambling in Snowdonia. He also loves playing his guitars.

Commenting on Dan’s new role, the Rt Revd Gregory Cameron said: “Dan brings huge enthusiasm to ministry and is keen to relate the Gospel message to those outside the Church. He’ll be ideal working with the new plans for outreach in the Denbigh Mission Area.”

Sam Quilty comes to Denbigh having served in the Diocese of Newcastle as a Hospital Chaplain and as Associate Priest on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.  Sam worked on the island for eight years running Marygate Retreat House alongside her husband, Don, welcoming visitors from all over the world. Indeed, it was on the island that Sam first met Don 35 years ago when they were volunteers at the same retreat house.  For the past 18 months Sam has been working as a part-time Hospital Chaplain in two busy specialist hospitals in Newcastle, alongside her ministry on Holy Island. Her husband, Don, is currently a prison chaplain in Newcastle and he will be joining Sam full-time in Henllan in the spring after a hand-over period at work.  Sam enjoys walking and gardening, as well as cooking, pottery and classic cars.

Commenting on Sam’s new role, Bishop Gregory said: “Sam comes to us with expertise in the nursing world, and a deeply pastoral heart. We are delighted to welcome her and her husband to the rural areas around Denbigh, where Sam is sure to develop a significant pastoral ministry.”

At the same service, Bishop Gregory will also license the Revd Mike Haslam as the Diocesan Director of Transforming Ministry. The service starts at 3.30pm and all are welcome.