Three clerics who were ordained on the same day in the same cathedral three decades ago are now all serving as bishops on the same Bench.
When Wales’ new bishop, Richard Pain, is enthroned as Bishop of Monmouth at Newport Cathedral this Friday (Oct 18), he’ll be thinking of the day nearly 30 years ago when he was first ordained, standing at the same place and alongside two young men who have also gone on to become bishops in the Church in Wales.
Bishop Richard took his first step in ministry when he was ordained as a deacon at Newport on September 29 1984. Next to him on that day, also being ordained as a deacon, was John Davies, now the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon. Meanwhile Gregory Cameron, now Bishop of St Asaph, was ordained as a priest. All three were ordained to serve in the Diocese of Monmouth.
Having trained for ministry together at St Michael’s College, Cardiff, they were ordained by the then Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Monmouth, Derrick Childs, at Newport Cathedral. And they have clear memories of Michaelmas 1984 and the excitement they felt as they began on their journey of ministry – as well as being late for chapel while training!
Bishop Richard, 57, who was consecrated as a bishop in September, remembers, “It was a day filled with conflicting emotions. Excitement, joy and apprehension. I remember thinking that it was strange to enter into the reality of ministry on a day marked for the angels! What did they have to do with the 20th century? But the ambiguity, the mystery of heaven, the kingdom of God, are greater than all of us and ordination was a meeting with the Holy Spirit….so it sort of made sense!
“Practically, I was concerned about the following day to get everything just right at my first public service in the parish of Caldicot.
“I was proud and relieved to be ordained a Deacon – that was enough to be getting on with. I had no more thought for the future than serving God as best as I could in his strength. Quite frankly that feeling hasn’t changed!”
Bishop John, 60, who was consecrated as a bishop in 2008, says, “I recall a sense of both anticipation and anxiety. Anticipation that something much looked forward to was about to become a reality, but anxiety that it would be all too daunting. Having been involved, as a layman, in the administrative life of the church for years, I knew that it could be a much less irenic place than others might expect. I had, however, been on ‘familiar territory’ in my home parish and among the people I knew. Now, I was to be in a parish of the Diocese of Monmouth about which I knew very little, with a training incumbent I did not know and among people I’d never met. This was going to be a steep learning curve for someone who had been in the swim of things in a big way as a layman now being the least of all!
“Still, my sense of being called to this ministry was as strong as ever and, on the day of ordination, surrounded by the love and prayers of many familiar people, I felt strangely at ease with what lay ahead. God’s grace and a desire to serve him took care of things and I was soon to be welcomed into a new community and a new way of life. I’ve never regretted it. I never considered that I might one day be a Bishop, although, with my love of music and liturgy, I did have a sneaky ambition to one day be a Dean. That happened!
“I remember vividly both Richard and Gregory at College. I particularly remember that Richard and I used to be the last ones into Chapel in the morning!”
Bishop Gregory, 54, who was consecrated as a bishop in 2009, says, “On the day, I remember trying to sing the Gospel in the service, having rehearsed silently while on retreat. It is not an easy thing to chant. Apart from that – a crowded cathedral, and some superb hymns, I remember very little, except the fact that it was very humbling and the Bishop seemed a figure of great dignity and stature and far above us Assistant Curates in his station in life.
“My hope – that I could change the Church; my fear, that they might expect it of me! I don’t think we thought of each other as bishops in the making, and I certainly didn’t know where I would end up, so it’s a big surprise that in the fullness of time I joined John on the Bench of Bishops in Wales, and Richard joined us.”
The photo attached shows (l-r) Bishop John, Bishop Richard and Bishop Gregory at Bishop Richard’s consecration at Llandaff Cathedral in September.
For more information about Bishop Richard’s enthronement go to:
http://monmouth.churchinwales.org.uk/news/2013/10/new-bishop-to-take-his-seat-in-newport-cathedral/
