Stories from 2007
Scroll back through the year
Christmas in Wrexham
There has been much activity in and around St Giles, Wrexham, in the approach to Christmas. On Thursday 13 December the church once again hosted a Victorian Christmas Market; building on last year's event, there was an even bigger crowd this time.
Victorian Christmas Market in Wrexham
The following week, the camels returned to Wrexham (in more limited numbers because of the restrictions on moving livestock) and the Revd Gary and Mrs Helen Owen were able to bring a touch of reality to a living crib after the birth of their daughter, Hannah, just a few weeks ago. A female Jesus? You can't have everything!
A 'Living Nativity', courtesy of the Owen family
With thanks to Brian Roberts for photographs.
Foundation stone laid at St Peter's Holywell
A brand new church is being built in Holywell bringing hope and fresh vision to the Christian community. The foundation stone was laid at a ceremony on Tuesday 9 October with prayers of blessing for the building and for all the people who will come to it.
St Peter’s church, which will be opened on Bagillt road, will be a new resource for Holywell. At the stone laying ceremony the Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Revd John Davies said, “It’s amazing what can grow out of a congregation with vision, faith, determination and a willingness to work in partnership.”
The vicar of Holywell, the Revd John Lomas said, “I am excited about this new development and look forward to welcoming local people into St Peter’s in the new year.”
New Website launched
Bishop John launched the new Diocesan website at St Joseph's Catholic and Anglican High School on Monday 8 October 2007. The class of year 7 pupils - and Bishop John - particularly enjoyed the colourful interactive map on the 'Local Church' page. Diocesan Communications Officer, Peter Mackriell, said, "It's exciting to go public with this new site and I look forward to seeing it continuing to develop over the coming weeks. It will be an important resource for our life together as a Diocese."
Bishop John and Year 7 pupils enjoy the new website
Diocesan Offering 2007
On Tuesday 2 October at St Giles, Wrexham, the Bishop led the annual Diocesan Offering service. Gifts were received from across the Diocese to support the establishment of a permanent hostel for homeless people in Wrexham. Representatives from Capel y Groes Chapel, TCC (Together Creating Communities), Clwyd Alun Housing and Wrexham Borough Council were present to tell the story of the Hostel and the hopes for the future. The service was organised by the Revd David Lewis and the Board of Church & Society.
Pupils of St Joseph's High School assist in the collection of the Diocesan Offering
The Diocesan Offering was presented to the Clwyd Alun Housing Association by the Bishop at the January meeting of the Board of Church & Society.
Rt Revd Alwyn RICe Jones
Formerly Bishop of St Asaph and Archbishop of Wales
Archbishop Alwyn cuts the cake at the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the ordination of women as priests in the Church in Wales, in St Asaph Cathedral in January 2007
Former Archbishop of Wales the Rt Revd Alwyn Rice Jones was laid to rest on Saturday 18 August 2007, in the grounds of the Cathedral in St Asaph.
In his address, the present Archbishop of Wales, the Most Revd Dr Barry Morgan, spoke of Archbishop Alwyn’s warmth and pastoral care, his distinctive sense of humour and his courage, especially in bringing forward for a second time the motion for the ordination of women as priests. Remembering him personally, he recalled how his “eyes would sparkle, a half smile appear on the face, a cryptic remark would be uttered and a huge movement of the eyebrows would follow.” He concluded by saying that whilst it is true we take nothing from this world, “it is nevertheless true that we can leave something behind and Alwyn leaves a great deal behind, in terms of what he gave to the Church in Wales and what he gave to individuals within it and indeed outside it.”
Former Dean of St Asaph, the Very Revd Kerry Goulstone, a personal friend of the late Archbishop, said that he was “without doubt a people’s Bishop; the hallmark of his ministry was dedication to service.”
The funeral service was conducted by the Dean, the Very Revd Chris Potter, with a reading from John’s gospel given in Welsh by Mrs Bethan Roberts. The commendation was given by the Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Revd John S. Davies. The prayers were led by the Vicar of St Asaph, the Revd Val Rowlands, and the Cathedral choir was conducted by Mr Alan McGuinness, accompanied on the organ by Mr John Hosking. The hymns were ‘Tydi a wnaeth y wyrth, O Grist, Fab Duw’, ‘Love divine, all loves excelling’ and ‘Glân geriwbiaid a serraffiaid’.
The Archbishop of Canterbury was represented at the service by the Rt Revd John D Davies.
The Rt Revd Alwyn Rice Jones was 73. He is survived by his wife, Meriel, daughter, Nia and two grandchildren.