Five new clergy are on their way to churches across West Wales following a special service that took place in St Davids Cathedral at the weekend.
The ordination service on Saturday, June 24 created one new deacon and four new priests.
Rev’d Martine Johnson - Assistant Curate in the LMA of Narberth & Tenby, became a priest at the service.
“I live in Pembrokeshire with my husband and two teenage children. I love the outdoors. I also enjoy cooking, reading, craft, drinking tea and eating cake.
“I became a Christian as a teenager after God appeared to me in a dream and called me to Discipleship. The following Sunday, I took myself to our village church and joined the choir. Growing up, I had no church experience, and I will never forget how alien it all felt initially.
“At 18, I went to theological college, graduating three years later with a degree. This led to many wonderful years of teaching Religious Education to secondary school children. I also became a lead well-being mentor, helping many teenagers struggling with mental health.
“I was ordained as a Deacon in June 2022. I've had the opportunity to learn new skills and work creatively with God and the Church. My calling is to help God's presence be felt, act as a bridge between God and the community, enable people to feel cherished, soothed, fed, and challenged, and facilitate an environment where everyone can feel equally at home.”
Newly appointed deacon is Sarah Llewellyn - Stipendiary Assistant Curate in the Local Ministry Area of Bro Sancler (St Clears)
“I was brought up in the Anglican faith, After leaving school I trained and worked in local residential and nursing homes until my grandmother’s deteriorating health led me to give up work to become her full time carer. After her death I retrained as a weaver then warper at Melin Tregwynt, a local woollen mill.
“It was on my birthday in 2016, after the morning service, when I was approached by a friend who told me how strongly she felt I was being called to ordained ministry, that began my discernment journey.”
Other new priests are Rev’d Sharon Edge - NSM(L) Assistant Curate in the LMA of East Landsker (Whitland); Rev’d Nicholas Bee - Curate in the LMA of Bro Padarn (Llanbadarn Fawr) and Rev’d Suzanne Player - Assistant Curate in the LMA of Bro Teifi (Cardigan).
Ordination is a two-stage process. Candidates who have successfully completed their training are ordained Deacon (a traditional term for servant) and, provided they successfully complete their first year, are made priests (fully qualified clergy). Curates are junior clergy.