A new priest for the communities around Llandrillo-yn-Rhos and Rhos-on-Sea in the Aled Mission Area will be licensed by the Bishop of St Asaph later this month.

The Revd Rachel Dale will be responsible for the churches of St George in Rhos-on-Sea, St Trillo in  Llandrillo-yn-Rhos, along with the tiny Chapel of St Trillo on the Rhos-on-Sea promenade.

Rachel comes to north Wales from a ministry as Rector of four rural churches on the Staffordshire/Shropshire border, although the Llandudno area is very familiar since her parents moved to the area 20 years ago. Rachel is married to Crispin, a university academic who is also training to be a Lay Reader in the Church.

Rachel said: “I am excited to be joining everyone in Llandrillo-yn-Rhos and Rhos-on-Sea as we encounter the love of Jesus together in old and new ways.

“Over the years I have often prayed in St Trillo’s Chapel asking God to unfold his purposes for me, so this feels very much like coming home.”

Rachel was born and raised in Cheshire. After university in Cardiff, Rachel worked in the hotel industry in the UK and overseas before moving into tourism and hospitality education, lecturing at undergraduate and postgraduate level. After experiencing a strong but unexpected sense of calling to Christian ministry, Rachel was ordained in 2009.

Rachel has an eclectic taste in music. She plays the guitar and piano, and has been teaching herself the lyre. Being creative plays an important part in Rachel’s ministry, whether writing, crafting, or other ways to help people encounter Jesus and to know how much they are loved by God. In her spare time Rachel enjoys travelling, reading, baking, creating fused glass jewellery, and says she can make a mean balloon animal when necessary!

The Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Revd  Gregory Cameron, who will license Rachel, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Rachel to the Diocese of St Asaph.  She brings a wealth of talents to assist in refreshing ministry to Rhos-on-Sea and the surrounding district.”

The licensing of Rachel will take place on Sunday 25 February at St George’s Church, Rhos-on-Sea, at 3pm.