A NEW mission area leader has been appointed for Aberconwy.

The Bishop of St Asaph, The Rt Revd Gregory Cameron, has appointed the Revd Sam Erlandson as priest-in-charge rooted in Craig-y-Don and Llanrhos and Mission Area Leader

In addition, the Revd Ben Lines, who was ordained as a deacon in a closed service at St Asaph Cathedral on Saturday, July 4, will move to Deganwy as Assistant Curate.

Sam, his wife and four children, will move from Wrexham to take up the seaside post over the summer.

A service of welcome will take place on Sunday, September 6.

Sam is an organist and keen musician.

As priest of St Paul’s Church, Craig-y-Don, he will be working in one of the few churches in North Wales with a traditional four-part choir.

Bishop Gregory said: “Sam is one of our younger clerics with a track record of vigorous and engaged ministry.

North Wales Pioneer:

Sam, his wife and his four children will move from Wrexham. Picture: Aberconwy Mission Area newsletter

"I’m sure that this will stand him in good stead for leading the Aberconwy Area in new challenges as they continue to engage in mission.”

Ben Lines, who is married to Catrin and has two young sons, aged two and four, is originally from Birmingham.

He has been living in North Wales for 13 years and for the last four years, has been senior pastor of Kinmel Bay Independent Evangelical Church.

Ben, who wrote and posted a poem on social media every day during lockdown, said: “I’m really exciting to be working in a mission area with such huge potential. I hope to be able to show the people in our congregations and the wider community that God is not finished with His church, that we have a glorious future ahead of us.

"I want to see our churches revitalised and joyful and I also want to see new churches and expressions of church planted and established.”

Sam and Ben will join the existing ministry team in Aberconwy, which links churches along the Conwy Valley and Llandudno Junction: Revd Godfrey Chigumira, Revd Juliet Fraser and Revd Sarah Hildreth-Osborn

The appointments come after Reverend Noel Carter retired earlier this year.

Aberconwy Mission Area is part of the Diocese of St Asaph, one of the six dioceses in the Church in Wales, an independent Province of the Anglican Communion.