New Priest for Flint and Flint Mountain

A new priest for communities around Flint and Flint Mountain will be licensed by the Bishop of St Asaph on Sunday (27 February).

The Revd Richard Hainsworth will begin work as part of the Estuary and Mountain Mission Area after his licensing service at the Church of Ss Mary and David in Flint at 3.30pm on Sunday.

The Bishop of St Asaph, The Rt Revd Gregory Cameron said: “I’m delighted to welcome Richard, a familiar friend and colleague, back to parish ministry. Richard will be excellent in Flint, bringing a strong social concern and lively ministry, and we pray for him and his family as they start this new chapter.”

Richard grew up near Hull and then from the age of 12 in Llangynog, near Bala. He studied Natural Sciences and Theology at Cambridge before training for the ministry and completing a PhD in Feminist Theology.

Since ordination Richard has served as a Curate in Newtown, Team Vicar in Wrexham, and more recently in Northop, Northop Hall and Sychdyn, as well as being involved for many years in theological education with St Padarn’s Institute, Cardiff.

Richard will have particular responsibility for the pastoral care of the communities of Flint and Flint Mountain.  He said; “Having been Vicar in Northop for five years, I know the Flint area well. It’s an interesting and diverse place and I am very much looking forward to joining in with the ministry of the churches and the Mission Area and the activities for the local community.”

Richard is married to Laura, a teacher at St David’s High School, Saltney. For the last few years, he has been living in Bagillt as a stay-at-home Dad to their two children, Jacob (7) and Grace (3) as well as working as a census officer and a meter reader in the local area. In his free time Richard enjoys photography and astrophotography.