As you may know, our Rector, Rev Martin Snellgrove, has relinquished his position as Hawarden Area Dean after 5 years in the job and has taken up the role of Diocesan Ecumenical Officer.
Instead of the usual “Rector Writes” letter we publish this month a letter from our new Area Dean, Rev Martin Bachelor, to all the parishes in the Deanery.
We wish both Martins well in their new role.
The Area Dean Writes
Dear Everyone
Many of you will have heard that the Bishop has appointed me as Area Dean of Hawarden. To fulfill this ministry and serve this deanery in this way I feel is a great privilege, and to do so well, I would appreciate your prayers. As I start this ministry I just wanted to write a short letter to each parish to do primarily two things.
Firstly, to thank Rev Martin Snellgrove for his leadership and pastoral support of this deanery. I know it has been greatly appreciated. Secondly, I will be licensed at Emmanuel, Bistre on Sunday 9th May at 6.30pm. I find it quite amazing that it was May 2000 that Jill and I arrived in the Deanery when I became Vicar of Sandycroft. In that time much has happened in our deanery, and I have also got to know many of you from the other parishes in the deanery. Obviously my licensing will be a deanery service, and therefore I would like to invite you to this service. I hope many of you will be able to come.
This service will be the last visit that Archdeacon Malcolm will make to the deanery before he retires at the end of May. You may have read that his successor has been appointed. Her name is Revd Shirley Griffiths who is currently the Vicar of Abergele and Saint George. We wish Malcolm many thanks for his service as Archdeacon and look forward to welcoming Shirley to our Archdeaconry soon.
I was reminded this week of the passage in John’s gospel chapter 15 where Jesus describes himself as the vine and we as the branches. It is as we develop that close relationship to Jesus and to one another that we can grow in faith and confidence to engage in the mission of the church and further the Kingdom of God.
I look forward to seeing you on the 9th May, and serving you as your Area Dean. The church is opposite the Spa Garage in Mold Road, Buckley.
Yours in Christ
Rev Martin Batchelor