THE BISHOP of St Asaph has ordained nine new priests in a closed service at St Asaph Cathedral.

The service, on October 3, was live streamed to family, friends and clergy and was conducted wearing face masks and visors.

Strict social distancing was adhered to.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of St Asaph said: "Plans to permit each candidate to bring three supporters to the service had to be abandoned after the Welsh Government announced a local lockdown in four counties across Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham.

"The service included a sermon by Father Richard Peers, Sub-Dean of Christ Church, Oxford who had led the priest candidates in a retreat in the days leading up to their ordination."

Four of the nine new priests will look after Conwy and / or Denbighshire.

These include: Sally Harper, a former senior lecturer in music at Bangor University, who is chaplain at St Asaph Cathedral; Chris Spencer, an assistant curate in the Aber-Morfa Mission Area rooted in St Ann’s Church and St Thomas’ Church, Rhyl; Sue Storey, a former nurse and midwife who is an assistance curate in Aled Mission Area, which includes communities on the Denbighshire/Conwy border, and Carol Thomas, part of the Expressive Arts Service in Conwy, offering African Drumming, Samba and CreativeComposition workshops.

She is serving in Denbigh Mission Area.

In July, Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Revd Gregory Cameron ordained nine new deacons, the first stage to becoming a priest.

The service was live streamed to family and friends as no congregation was permitted.

The nine new priests in full are:

  • Gareth Erlandson, 36, a former music teacher who is based in Hope Church (St Cynfarch’s) in the Borderlands Mission Area
  • Sally Harper, a former senior lecturer in music at Bangor University, who is chaplain at St Asaph Cathedral
  • Andy Kitchen, Senior leader of Hope Street in Wrexham.
  • Rachel Kitchen, Senior leader of Hope Street in Wrexham. Andy and Rachel were deacons at Holy Trinity Church, Brompton Road, London and were due to be ordained as priests in London earlier this year.
  • Simon Piercy, 45, a primary school teacher from Penyffordd and assistant curate in Holy Trinity Church, Gwersyllt in the Alyn Mission Area
  • Chris Spencer is an assistant curate in the Aber-Morfa Mission Area rooted in St Ann’s Church and St Thomas’ Church, Rhyl
  • Sue Storey, a former nurse and midwife who is an assistance curate in Aled Mission Area, which includes communities on the Denbighshire/Conwy border
  • Carol Thomas is part of the Expressive Arts Service in Conwy, offering African Drumming, Samba and Creative Composition workshops. She is serving in Denbigh Mission Area.
  • James Tout, 32, the former head of science at the Marcher School in Oswestry and now associate director of the Llan Project in Bangor Diocese. James is continuing to serve as assistant curate in the Wrexham Mission Area