A new priest for the communities of Hanmer, Overton, Bronington and Penley will be licensed by the Bishop of St Asaph at St Chad’s Church in Hanmer next week (9 February).

Revd Jeremy Dussek has moved from Chester Cathedral to take up the post in the Maelor Mission Area, to the east of the city of Wrexham. He will have particular pastoral responsibility for the communities of Hanmer, Overton, Bronington and Penley, and comes to the area having previously served in Newcastle upon Tyne, Hampshire, and Birmingham.  For the last eight years Jeremy has been at Chester Cathedral where, as Canon Precentor, he has been responsible for organising the cathedral’s services and worshipping life.

Jeremy has a great love of music and art.  For seven years he sang with the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and enjoys playing the cello and piano. In 2021 Jeremy organised the Global Images of Christ exhibition consisting of 74 paintings and sculptures from both public and private collections, including works commissioned to address the absence of how Christ is seen through the stories and accounts of black and ethnic voices.

Bishop Gregory, in welcoming Jeremy Dussek to the Diocese of St Asaph, said: “Jeremy is a person of great creativity and will bring much experience and flair to his new role. I am sure Jeremy’s ministry of sharing the gospel with warm hospitality will endear him to the communities in which he will serve.”

Jeremy, who shares his life with his companion, David, said: “I’m tremendously looking forward to moving to Maelor Mission Area and have already had a wonderful welcome from those I’ve met.  This summer I’ll celebrate the 25^th Anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood and hope we can all share in the gifts which God uniquely gives us. The Church, in its mission of service, still has much to offer people, with ‘faith’, ‘fun’, and ‘family’ central to this.”

All are welcome to the service of welcome on Thursday 9 February at 7pm at St Chad’s Church in Hanmer. Bishop Gregory will be joined by the Archdeacon of Montgomery, Barry Wilson, for the service.