The Diocese of St Asaph
Bishop's Staff
The Bishop’s Staff is a group of senior clergy and lay people within the diocese who advise the Bishop. The team currently includes:
Nigel Williams: 01745 582245
Dean of St Asaph Cathedral
The Very Revd Nigel Williams was installed as Dean of St Asaph Cathedral on Saturday 17 September 2011. A fluent Welsh speaker, Nigel was born in St Asaph and brought up in Llansannan before training for the priesthood at St Michael’s College, Llandaff and the University of Wales, Cardiff. He was ordained in St Asaph Cathedral in the mid 1990s and prior to his ministry in Colwyn Bay has served in the parishes of Denbigh & Nantglyn, and Llanrwst and Llanddoged. Between 2004 and 2009 he served as Area Dean of Rhos.
Andy Grimwood: 01352 720478
Archdeacon of St Asaph
The Venerable Andy Grimwood was formerly the Vicar of Rhyl. He has two teenaged sons, is a Manchester United supporter and Star Wars lover. He has always worked in Wales, taking up his first job after graduation with British Gas in Cardiff. As a curate in the Diocese of Llandaff, he learnt Welsh. Andy moved to the Diocese of St Asaph in 2001 firstly to Rhyl, then to Newtown before returning to Rhyl in 2013.
Gerwyn Capon: 07496 664253
Archdeacon of Montgomery
The Venerable Gerwyn Capon, who is from Anglesey originally, was ordained in Liverpool Cathedral in 2003, following a career as a chartered surveyor. After his curacy in the Diocese of Liverpool he moved to the Church in Wales to become chaplain to the then Archbishop of Wales, Barry Morgan. He then returned to the Church of England as a parish priest in the Diocese of Blackburn. From 2014 until 2022, Gerwyn was Dean of Llandaff Cathedral.
Emma Whittick: 07483715904
Archdeacon of Wrexham
Emma grew up in Didcot, near Oxford, and went to Aberystwyth University to study mathematics. She came to faith while at university and began her formal ministry as a licensed Lay Evangelist, serving the churches and communities in and around Aberystwyth. She is a fluent Welsh speaker. After ordination, she served her title in Dafen and Felinfoel, in Llanelli, in the Diocese of St Davids. She then joined the University Chaplaincy at the University of Wales Trinity Saint Davids, based on the Lampeter and Carmarthen campuses, before becoming Chaplain to the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon.
Mike Haslam mikehaslam@cinw.org.uk
Director of Transforming Ministry
Mike is the Director of Transforming Ministry. He is leading and overseeing discipleship, vocation and training, as well as new forms of ministry and church growth. He is working with the re-vamped Transforming Ministry Steering Group, previously known as the Developing Steering Group. He will be developing vocations and training, and implementing new models of lay and ordained ministry. Mike has a background in chaplaincy, vocation and training, and supporting lay and ordained ministry.
Michael Balkwill: 01745 583503
Bishop’s Chaplain
Canon Michael Balkwill is Bishop’s Chaplain. Born and raised in Devon, Michael came to Wales to read Theology at the University of Wales in Lampeter and Cardiff. Ordained by Bishop Alwyn in St Asaph, Michael served in his curacy in Llandudno and its hinterland before moving to north Powys as Rector and later Area Dean of Llanfyllin. Alongside his role as Bishop’s Chaplain, Michael is Residentiary Canon in St Asaph Cathedral and assists with worship in Elwy Mission Area. Michael is a member of the Franciscan Third Order (TSSF) and is currently Formation Guardian for Wales.
Olwen Lintern-Smyth
Diocesan Secretary (Chief Executive)
Olwen Lintern-Smyth leads the diocesan staff team to play its part in the formulation, development and delivery of diocesan strategy and policy to support God’s mission and ministry. Olwen is a fluent Welsh speaker, who was born and brought up in mid-Wales, before moving to Oxford for University. She has worked for most of her career in publishing and education, and in a range of roles for charities, including most recently as Chief Executive of an e-learning charity.