Deon * Dean
Dean of St Asaph Cathedral
The Revd Nigel Williams was installed as Dean of St Asaph Cathedral on Saturday 17 September 2011.
A fluent Welsh speaker, Nigel was born in St Asaph and brought up in Llansannan before training for the priesthood at St Michael’s College, Llandaff and the University of Wales, Cardiff.
He was ordained in St Asaph Cathedral in the mid 1990s and prior to his ministry in Colwyn Bay has served in the parishes of Denbigh & Nantglyn, and Llanrwst and Llanddoged. Between 2004 and 2009 he served as Area Dean of Rhos.
Cyswllt * Contact
Cathedral Office
High Street
St. Asaph
LL17 0RD
Tel: 01745 582245
Administration Team:
Pamela Thompson
Archddiaconiaid * Archdeacons
Archdeacon of Montgomery
The Venerable John Thelwell is a graduate of the University of Wales, Bangor, but trained for ordination at Queens College, Birmingham, before ordination in St Asaph in 1973.
Archdeacon John has served as Youth Chaplain in the Diocese and was Vicar of Gwernaffield and Llanferres for 13 years. Team Rector of Hawarden from 1993, he became Archdeacon of Montgomery in 2002 and also serves as Vicar of Berriew.
Archdeacon John carries the portfolio for the Board of Ministry.
Cyswllt * Contact
The Vicarage
Berriew
Welshpool
SY21 8PL
Tel: 01686 640223
Fax: 01686 640260
Archdeacon of Wrexham
The Venerable Shirley Griffiths was brought up in Llanasa and Trelawnyd, the daughter of a farmer. She has worked in the Diocese of St Asaph for most of her ministry, most recently as Vicar of Abergele and St George, but for seven years worked as R.E. Adviser for the Diocese of Ripon. She became Archdeacon of Wrexham in 2010 and also serves as Rector of Llandegla.
Archdeacon Shirley was ordained deacon in 1982, serving as curate in Dyserth, Trelawnyd and Cwm. She later became Diocesan Education Officer, a post which she then combined with that of Minor Canon of St Asaph Cathedral. After serving in Ripon Diocese, she returned to Wales in 2002. Archdeacon Shirley is a graduate of the Open University and holds a Masters degree from Leeds University.
Before ordination, Archdeacon Shirley taught in Holywell for nine years. She is married with two grown-up children; she lists horse-riding, music, floral art and needlework as her interests.
Archdeacon Shirley chairs the Board of Renewal & Parish Development.
Cyswllt * Contact
The Rectory
Llandegla
Wrexham
LL11 3AW
Tel: 01978 790362
Fax: 01978 790574
Archdeacon of St Asaph
The Venerable Christopher Potter was installed as Archdeacon of St Asaph in September 2011 after ten years as Dean at St Asaph Cathedral. He is also Rector of Caerwys and Bodfari.
A graduate of Leeds University, Chris lived and worked in the Diocese of St Asaph before training for ordination within the Diocese. Ordained in St Asaph Cathedral in 1993, he served as Curate of Flint (1993-96), and Vicar of Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, Derwen, Llanelidan and Efenechtyd (1996 - 2001). He was installed as Dean in the Mother Church of the Diocese in 2001.
Chris is Chair of the Board of Church & Society.
Cyswllt * Contact
The Venerable Christopher Potter
The Rectory,
South Street,
Caerwys,
Mold
CH7 5AF
Tel: 01352 720915
Ysgrifennydd Esgobaethol * Diocesan Secretary
Mrs Diane McCarthy was appointed as Diocesan Secretary in 2009, after a career with Marks and Spencer. She heads up the administration of the Diocese, based at the Diocesan Office in St Asaph.
Diane is an active member of the parish church in Rhydymwyn, near Mold, and has been a church warden, and PCC and Deanery Conference member. Originally from Cheshire, Diane went to Manchester High School before going to the University of Edinburgh to study modern languages and business studies.
After working in London in banking and retail, Diane joined Marks and Spencer, with whom she had a number of roles across the country, including store management, area management and financial control. Diane is married, with three children.
Diane chairs the Board of Communication.
Cyswllt * Contact
Diocesan Office
High Street
St. Asaph
LL17 0RD
Tel: 01745 532591
Fax: 01745 530078