The Vicar of St Giles Church in Wrexham is to be the new Dean of Llandaff Cathedral.

Revd Canon Dr Jason Bray has been appointed to the post by the Bishop of Llandaff, the Rt Revd Mary Stallard.

Jason is originally from Merthyr Tydfil, and he has served his entire ordained ministry in the Church in Wales since his ordination by Bishop Rowan Williams in 1997. With a doctorate in Theology and a passionate interest in Biblical scholarship, systematics and mediaeval and reformation history, Jason is a published author and skilled teacher of the faith as well as being a wise and pastoral priest and an experienced church leader. The publication of his book Deliverance: everyday investigations into the supernatural about his life and experiences as an Anglican deliverance minister has meant that he is well-known in circles outside the Church in Wales.

Welcoming his appointment as the new Dean of Llandaff, the Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Revd Gregory Cameron said: “St Asaph will be very sorry to lose Dr Jason Bray who has done phenomenal work with St Giles Church in Wrexham, but our loss will be Llandaff’s gain as they say. Jason will be an excellent dean for an important Cathedral in the life of Wales.”

St Giles’ is part of the Major Churches Network and is Wales’ largest mediaeval church. Jason has strengthened and grown the ministry at St Giles’ developing its civic, media and national links as well as its life of prayer and service whilst working to increase visitor numbers significantly. He is a strong strategic thinker with a future orientation and a pastoral and Eucharistic heart.

As a Benedictine oblate, Jason values the importance of community and hospitality in prayer and church life across the Anglican spectrum. He describes his background and formation as having been in a liberal catholic tradition and says that he is comfortable with a diverse range of Christian prayer and worship.

Jason is passionate about social justice and is a strong advocate of mission and outreach to local communities. He has a proven track record in nurturing and pioneering church growth, in growing teams of volunteers, developing work with children, families and young people, as well as creating and running discipleship and spirituality programmes.

In addition, Jason has trained and supported a wide range of clergy seeking to grow into Christ-centred leadership. He has been a spiritual director, and taught biblical studies for many years at St Michael’s College, and is currently a facilitator for St Padarn’s Theology for Life programme. He is a classical and choral music fan and looks forward to the opportunity of working with the excellent music department at our Cathedral.

Jason is married to Laura, and they have two grown-up sons, Thomas and Benedict, and they come with three cats – one of whom considers himself ideally suited as a candidate for the post of Cathedral Cat. They plan to move into the Deanery in July, and we look forward to welcoming them into the diocese.

Please hold Jason, Laura, and their family in your prayers as they prepare for this new chapter, please also remember the congregation at St Giles’ Wrexham and Llandaff Cathedral at this time of change.