New roles for clergy in Rhyl and Towyn

Two clergy will be licensed to new roles in Rhyl and Towyn by the Bishop of St Asaph.

The Revd Christopher Spencer, currently Associate Priest in Rhyl, and The Revd Janet Crane, currently Assistant Curate in Towyn, will both be licensed as priests-in-charge in a special service at St Mary’s Church in Towyn on Sunday 5 December at 2.30pm.

In 2019, after following God’s prompting, Chris Spencer moved from Bristol to Rhyl with his wife Emily and their two daughters Chloe (10) and Leah (5). Chris said: “‘For us, as for many, the pandemic has proven challenging, but we are excited about this new chapter for the Mission Area as we discern God’s call to what he wants us to do next.  My licensing as a Priest-in-Charge marks the next chapter not only in my own personal ministry, but for the whole Mission Area as we continue to listen to God’s call and serve His people in this place with compassion and joy’”

The Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Revd Gregory Cameron said: “I am pleased to be able to appoint Chris to a more senior role within the Aber Morfa Mission Area.  Chris has worked with dedication and fruitfulness among us now for some time, and deserves the recognition of this new position.”

Janet Crane has been in north Wales since 2016 and was appointed Assistant Curate in Aber-Morfa Mission Area in 2020.  She said: “I have always felt a strong connection with Wales and spent a lot of my childhood in Rhyl.  It was during a holiday at Towyn that I started to feel this is where I was meant to be. I am looking forward to the role as Priest-in-Charge based in St. Mary’s, Towyn, and working with the other churches within the diocese.”  Jan is married to Peter, and they have six daughters and eight grandchildren.

Bishop Gregory said: “I am delighted to be able to affirm all the good work that Janet has been doing with the Towyn congregation by appointing her to an enlarged role in ministry.  Janet has won the respect of everyone by her hard-working and caring approach to social needs.”

Aber-Morfa Mission Area is one of 20 Mission Areas in the Diocese of St Asaph, one of the six dioceses of the Church in Wales.