The establishment of the brand new rector of the Church of Eire Mallow Union of Parishes, Reverend Meurig Williams lately came about on the Feast of the Epiphany at Cork’s St Fin Barre’s Cathedral.
he service, which was held with no congregation and streamed on-line, was led by the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Dr Paul Colton accompanied by the Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Venerable Adrian Wilkinson and the Dean of Cork, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne.
Addressing the web congregations in the course of the ceremony Dr Colton stated that “one of many elements of the pandemic we have now needed to get used to is issues not going to plan”.
“I needs to be in Saint James’ Church in Mallow. We needs to be there in nice numbers, joined by clergy and lay folks from all around the diocese and area people, to welcome your new Rector, the Reverend Meurig Williams,” stated Dr Colton.
He defined that since Rev Williams arrival in Cork on December 18 he might need had, underneath regular circumstances, been out and about in the neighborhood.
“As an alternative he has been confined to his house: remoted and in quarantine. Within the weeks forward you have to be assembly him on Sundays at church and in your houses as he makes his method across the parish. However you, and he, must be affected person and understanding, as a result of the pandemic permits for none of this. Issues don’t go to plan,” stated Dr Colton.
Meurig Williams was born in Bangor, North Wales in 1961 the place his father was a Baptist minister and grew up in a Welsh-speaking house. Having research trendy languages on the College of Aberystwyth, he taught at a faculty close to Cardiff for 4 12 months earlier than returning to the College of Wales to check theology.
Ordained in 1992, he served a curacy within the Welsh port city of Holyhead, earlier than serving as Incumbent out there city of Pwllheli after which Cardiff.
He return to Bangor as Archdeacon in 2005 and six-years later turned Commissary to the Bishop in Europe – a task he mixed with that of Archdeacon of North-West Europe, serving Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
In 2016 Rev Williams was appointed Archdeacon of France and Monaco, with oversight of 83 parishes throughout the nation, holding the place till his appointed to Mallow final September.
Dr Colton stated Rev Williams has been concerned in fostering robust ecumenical relationships all through his ministry, and is at present concerned in discussions between the Church of England and the French Protestant church buildings.
“He additionally has good working relationships with the Roman Catholic Church in France and as a fluent French-speaking Anglican has contributed to varied ecumenical conferences, together with on the Catholic Institute in Paris,” stated Dr Colton.
Rev Williams stated he was enthusiastic about changing into Rector of the Mallow Union, “significantly in returning to being a pastor and an encourager within the native Church.”
“I’m particularly energised by a transfer to Mallow because the city experiences development and growth, with an more and more numerous inhabitants, in addition to enabling the three church buildings to flourish of their distinctive methods. I get pleasure from artwork, cooking, biking, gardening, music and strolling – and am particularly trying ahead to discovering extra of County Cork and Munster, in addition to dwelling and ministering within the Western-most a part of the European Union,” he stated.
“Above all, I’m eager to get to know the folks of the Union of parishes and the broader communities wherein they’re set as, collectively, we discern the long run path of the Church of Eire group on the Crossroads of Munster.”
Corkman
