Two priests have been welcomed into new roles in churches around Denbigh.

The Revd Jane Finn was licensed as a new priest for the Denbigh Mission Area with responsibility for pastoral care. The Revd Martin Pritchard will become a priest with responsibility for mission and community engagement.

Jane Finn joins the Denbigh ministry team from the Diocese of Leeds, where she has recently completed her curacy at Halifax Minister.  Martin Pritchard is already a well-known face in the mission area and has been offering a valuable part-time ministry to the Henllan Group of churches.

Bishop Gregory Cameron said: “I’m delighted to welcome a new priest to the diocese to serve in Denbigh. Jane brings an enthusiasm and passion to her work and ministry, and it is very good to have her working among us.  Martin is already well established in the mission area as a dedicated and creative priest.  It is good to see him now taking on this full-time role.”

After a calling to Christian ministry at the age of eight, Jane finally responded to the call to ordained ministry after years in the corporate world and in teaching. Jane has ministered in a lay capacity over many years, before finally being ordained in 2018. In her spare time, Jane enjoys long-distance walking, adventures and wild swimming, real ale and a good curry.

Martin studied Drama at the University of Aberystwyth before starting teacher training in Chester. He decided not to continue with teaching as a career and instead worked his way up to a senior management position within a national sales firm. Martin, who was an active lay minister in Bangor from 2010 until his ordination in 2016, is married to Vicky from Abercynon in south Wales and together they have been foster carers since 2016.  They are currently making a home for Liam (9) and Ceri-Ann (5) and they are expected to continue to develop as a family unit long term until the children are ready to take their first steps into the world independently. In his spare time Martin is keen on triathlons and fond of the arts, as well as practicing and developing his command of the Welsh language.

Jane and Martin received the Bishop of St Asaph’s licence at a special service on Sunday 3 April, led by the Archdeacon of St Asaph, the Venerable Andy Grimwood.