Th Bishop of Bangor has announced a number of significant appointments to provide ‘transformative leadership’ for the Cathedral and ministerial area of Bro Deiniol for the coming years.

 

 

A statement from Rt Revd Andy John on Sunday said: “Saint Deiniol’s Cathedral and the Ministry Area of Bro Deiniol are at the heart of our diocese. The Christian community gathered by St Deiniol gave birth to the city of Bangor, and, as a diocese, we look to the Cathedral and the city for a pattern of vital worship, vibrant ministry and loving service.

“Having thanked Kathy Jones for her ministry to us as Dean over the last five years, we must now purposefully look to the future. The challenges we face, both within the Cathedral and across the city churches, are sharp and clear, but so also are the opportunities for mission and the need for faithful, creative Christian witness.

“I have reviewed the position of the Cathedral and Bro Deiniol with colleagues over recent weeks, and have taken account of the recommendations of a Visitation of the Cathedral led by the Archdeacon of Bangor earlier this year. In light of this discernment, I have decided to delay the appointment of a new Dean for a substantial period of time.

“However, so that we can make significant and rapid progress in Bangor, I am today announcing a number of significant appointments to provide transformative leadership for the Cathedral and Bro Deiniol for the coming years.

“Together, these appointments constitute a significant investment of time, talent and resources at Saint Deiniol’s Cathedral. I am delighted that we have available to us gifted people who will work with us to build up the Cathedral and Ministry Area’s day-to-day ministry to the city and the diocese in faithful and creative ways. I am also delighted that so many colleagues have accepted my invitation to join the Chapter, and so to play their part in shaping the Cathedral’s life into the longer term, guiding the significant changes that need to take place through their wise discernment and oversight.”

The appointments include:

  • a new Sub-Dean to lead the Cathedral’s ministry and mission and to act as the senior priest in the Ministry Area of Bro Deiniol
  • a new Director of Music, who will have a vital role in reenergizing the Cathedral’s worshipping life
  • a new Family Minister to enhance the Cathedral and the Ministry Area’s ministry to children, families and schools
  • new members of the Chapter to oversee the Cathedral’s common life, including new Canons from within and beyond our diocese, and, for the first time, two Lay Canons

The Bishop has appointed the Revd Siôn Rhys Evans as Sub-Dean. Siôn will therefore act in the Dean’s stead within the Cathedral, and will lead the Ministry Area of Bro Deiniol. He will occupy the Chapter stall of Canon Treasurer.

Owain Prichard has been aappointed as Director of Systems & Operations and will take a lead in coordinating and managing Tîm Deiniol’s property, finance and administrative functions. Becks Davie-Tettmar, as Director of Projects & Programmes, will take a lead in coordinating and managing all other aspects of the team’s work, namely the Discipleship & Vocations, Education & Engagement, and Llan portfolios.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new Director of Music joins the Cathedral

Joe Cooper is to be the Cathedral’s next Director of Music. Joe began his musical training as a chorister at St Peter’s Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton where he was also Organ Scholar. He has studied organ with Henry Fairs and Daniel Moult and conducting with Paul Spicer and Jeffery Skidmore. Joe holds a Master’s degree from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and is a recipient of the Wolfenden Award for conducting. Joe, who has already begun to learn Welsh, lives with his partner Simon, who is also a trained musician, and they are both very much looking forward to moving to Bangor and becoming part of the Cathedral family. Joe will work alongside the Cathedral Organist, Martin Brown, and will soon be looking to recruit new Choral Scholars and choristers to refresh and enhance the Cathedral’s choral ministry.

Commenting on his appointment, Joe said: “I am looking forward to joining you at Saint Deiniol’s Cathedral from September. We have all lived through a time of worry and uncertainty, but as we emerge from the shadow of the pandemic I hope we can build with freshness and positivity.”

 

 

 

A new Family Minister appointment

Naomi Wood is mother to five-year-old Ethan and three-year-old Sophia, and is married to Richard. She has been involved in local, diocesan and provincial church-based children’s ministry since graduating as a primary school teacher in 2004. Naomi is a fluent Welsh-speaker, loves being creative and is passionate about telling children and their families about Jesus Christ in creative and accessible ways.

Naomi currently serves as the diocesan Children & Families Ministry Officer, and will be seconded to serve the Cathedral and Ministry Area for two-and-a-half days a week.

Installations and autumn arrangements

The new Sub-Dean, Director of Music and Family Minister will begin their work during the course of September, which will largely be a time of induction, planning and preparation. Our expectation is that, for the duration of September, the Cathedral will continue to be used as a Vaccination Centre, and as the current pattern of Sunday services will be maintained.

Siôn, Joe and Naomi’s new ministries will be publicly marked at Evensong at 5pm on 26 September 2021, during which new Canons will also be installed, alongside the Chapter Clerk and the Diocesan Registrar and Deputy Registrar. The nature of the service, which may need to be by invitation only, will be announced closer to the time, though it is hoped that many of the current restrictions will have been lifted by then.

A new pattern of weekday and Sunday services for the Cathedral and Ministry Area is expected to be in place from the beginning of October, alongside new opening hours for the Cathedral.