Welcome to a new priest for Rhyl

A special service of welcome takes place on Sunday (25 August) for the Revd Christopher Spencer who will begin his ministry as a curate in Rhyl.

The service in St Ann’s Church, Rhyl, at 0930, will be led by the Archdeacon of St Asaph, the Ven Andy Grimwood.

Later in the year, on 3 November, the Bishop of St Asaph, The Rt Revd Gregory Cameron, will come to the  Aber-Morfa mission area to commission Chris and the whole Ministry Team, which includes Glen Mansfield as Mission Area Leader and the Revd Jayne Coxall, the newly licensed priest for Rhuddlan and Bodelwyddan.

In the meantime, Bishop Gregory Cameron said: “We are pleased to welcome Chris, his wife Emily and their young family to Rhyl and the Aber-Morfa Mission Area.  Chris has a great enthusiasm for the Gospel, and we look forward to seeing his ministry develop and flourish in Rhyl and the surrounding area.”

Chris became a Christian at the age of eleven and since then has served in many churches, in various roles.  Chris is currently an ordained deacon in the Church of England, working as a Church and Community Worker for the Bristol and South Gloucestershire Methodist Circuit and as Associate Minister of St Anne’s Church, Oldland, in the Diocese of Bristol.

Before ordination in 2012 Chris had a range of jobs, including as a local government worker, landscape gardener, and youth worker with Youth For Christ.

Chris is married to Emily and they have two young daughters: Chloe, aged 8, and Leah, aged 2.  Chris was born in Leicester and as a child visited north Wales many times on holiday, and more recently has been returning with Emily and the girls.

Chris loves being outdoors, visiting historical sites and exploring places of interest. Films, sport, and playing musical instruments also keep Chris busy in his free time.