A new priest will be joining Aberconwy Mission Area as the Priest-in-Charge at St Paul’s Church, Craig-y-Don, in Llandudno. The Revd Petra Goodband will be welcomed at a special service in St Paul’s on Sunday (11 October) at 3.30pm led by the Archdeacon of St Asaph, the Venerable Andy Grimwood.

During the service Archdeacon Andy will be launching formally the special St Paul’s Growth Project that Petra has been recruited to lead. With investment from the Church in Wales’ Church Growth Fund, St Paul’s will be focussing its mission on outreach to all ages in the community to make St Paul’s an intergenerational church. To help with this ministry, St Paul’s has recruited Stephanie O’Hanlon as its Youth, Children and Families’ Worker, and she will be commissioned at Sunday’s service. Another important member of the team at St Paul’s will be the Revd Tim Hall who has been playing a pivotal role over the last two years in preparing the church community at St Paul’s for this exciting project and shaping its vision.

Petra Goodband moves to Llandudno from Wrexham where she has been serving as the Associate Priest at St Giles’ Church for the last two years. Previously Petra served in the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon where she was Ministry Area Leader for churches in and around Knighton, as well as Bishop’s Officer for Pilgrimage and Tourism.

Prior to ordination, Petra had several jobs ranging from Town Planning to Bingo Calling, although her main career has been in music, both performance and teaching. Petra sings and plays instruments including the oboe and saxophone and has recently taken up the harp. Over the years Petra has also led choirs of various sizes and has recently qualified as a Vocal Health First Aider.

Petra is married to John, who also enjoys music, and her other hobbies include horse riding, tap dancing, and Taekwondo. Petra said: “We are looking forward to getting to know everyone inside and outside of the church and becoming part of the St Paul’s family”.

Petra and Stephanie’s service of welcome takes place on Sunday 11 October at 3.30pm at St Paul’s Church, Craig y Don. The church is part of the Aberconwy Mission Area, one of the 20 Mission Areas making up the Diocese of St Asaph.