Richard Pain has been consecrated as the 10th Bishop of Monmouth by the Archbishop of Wales, the former Archbishop of Canterbury and ten other serving and retired bishops at a packed service at Llandaff Cathedral.
And it was a double celebration for Richard as it was also his 57th birthday.
The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, now Lord Williams of Oystermouth, gave the address and urged Richard to take risks at the edge of life and to go and learn every day. Bishops, he said, “inhabit a tradition in all its depths, make the heritage of Christianity come alive, while at the same time learn day by day”. They can, he said, learn new treasures and insights about the kingdom of God from everyone around them, even from the most unlikely of people. He warned that the hardest part of being a bishop was being “right in the middle of it and also right at the edge.”
The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said, “This is a truly joyful occasion and I am delighted to welcome Richard to the Bench of Bishops and look forward to serving with him.”
Formerly Archdeacon of Monmouth, Richard was elected Bishop in July. He will be enthroned at Newport Cathedral on October 18.
Richard has served in the diocese for nearly 30 years – as Vicar of Monmouth for 10 years and also Vicar in Risca, Six Bells and Cwmtillery and as a curate in Caldicot.
He graduated from Bristol University and the University of Wales, Cardiff, and trained for ministry at St Michael’s College, Llandaff. He has held a number of diocesan and provincial appointments with a particular interest in ministry. He has been Warden of Ordinands for Monmouth Diocese, Chairman of the Provincial Selection Board and a member of the Church’s Governing Body.
Bishop Richard is married to Julie and they have two grown-up sons.
