A husband and wife were ordained alongside each other on Saturday, 26 June, in St Asaph Cathedral, along with a young maths teacher.
The Revd Deborah Swann (42) is the new curate in the parish of Gwersyllt; her husband, the Revd Neil Kelly (40), is to serve in the parishes of Llangollen, Trevor and Llantysilio. The Revd Adam Pawley (29) will work in the parishes of Llanllwchaiarn, Newtown and Aberhafesp.
“It is always a pleasure to welcome new people into ordained ministry,” said Bishop Gregory Cameron, Bishop of St Asaph, “Here we have three bright and enthusiastic young people who are keen to bear witness to their faith in Jesus, and I am sure that their commitment will inspire and encourage the life of the diocese.”
Deborah, Neil and Adam have all been training for ministry in the Church in Wales at St Michael’s College, Llandaff. The Revd Deborah Swann has an MSc in medical anthropology and taught occupational therapy at Cardiff University and at Glyndwr University. The Revd Neil Kelly is trained as a horticulturalist and has worked in the rehabilitation of mental health patients through gardening; in a community setting in Oxford, in Broadmoor hospital (where he met Deborah, who was working there as an occupational therapist) and for the charity ‘Thrive’ and the Colwyn Bay project ‘Making Tracks’. The Revd Adam Pawley worked as a maths teacher at Darland School, Wrexham; as part of his degree course he was a statistical researcher for the National Assembly in Cardiff. His wife, Rachel, worked as a Children’s Worker in Wrexham until 2007. They now have two young sons.
