On Saturday 10th December at St. Michael and All Angels Mitchel Troy, the Right Reverend Cherry Vann, Bishop of Monmouth, officially instituted the Monmouth Marches Ministry Area, bringing together 19 churches into one legal grouping, or in church language “benefice”. With help from the diocesan registrar Tim Russen, Bishop Cherry licensed Revd. Tim Dack as the ministry area leader; Archdeacon Ian Rees then “collated” Revd. Tim – in other words, formally handed him the keys of the churches across the area. Of course, all the churches will have their own congregations and management councils which will hold local budgets and decide on forms of worship and outreach suitable for the people of our different communities. However, the overall responsibility for finance and management of the 19 churches rests with the ministry area council or MAC. Eventually, the Monmouth Marches Ministry Area will be registered as a single charity on behalf of the 19 churches and their congregations.

Licensed as vicars, in addition to Revd. Tim, were Revd. Karen Dack, who will take a leadership role across rural churches, Revd. Liz Perry, based in the Llanishen group, and Revd. Catherine Haynes, community priest. Revd. Dan Damon was licensed as assistant curate supporting Revd. Tim. Lyn Harper and Paul Stafford were licensed as readers to preach and support the ministry of ordained clergy. Also shown in the photo are Bishop Dominic Walker (retd), Revd. Margaret Cooling, Revd. Jane Avery, Revd. Owen Williams, Revd. Julie Barrell and Revd. Rose Mary Dagger, all of whom lead services around the ministry area; and Steve Martin, Chris Wray. Liz Williams and Cathy Godfrey, who have taken on responsibility for some of the administration of the ministry area council.