A NEW vicar has been appointed to lead a town’s church.

Reverend David Ash, currently associate vicar in Wellington and Eyton St Catherine, was revealed as the new vicar of Prestatyn during a Sunday morning service held at Christ Church.

Mr Ash, who is married to Sarah and has two young sons, will take up his new role in October. The “keen communicator” who has a background in drama and social work has lived in many parts of England but this will be his first time living in Wales, although he has frequently visited the country because of his wife who is Welsh.

Prior to joining the clergy, Mr Ash was a children and families worker in Shrewsbury. He was ordained in 2003. He is a parish development adviser for the Lichfield Diocese.

Previously Mr Ash worked as priest in charge of four rural parishes near Ellesmere, Shropshire.

“I am very much looking forward to joining the Parish of Prestatyn team and I would be delighted to share with anyone - church members or not - the huge difference that I find being a Christian makes in 2015,” he said.

“Sarah’s father, before he died, worked for the Royal Commission and was an expert on Welsh castles, so we shall no doubt be visiting many of the historical sites. Our two children are excited about joining new schools and the prospect of learning Welsh and living by the sea.”

David Morris, church warden at Prestatyn Parish Church, added: “We are very pleased a new vicar has been announced. The church has been in interregnum since the departure of Reverend Canon Quentin Bellamy.”

Mr Bellamy took up a new post in May as the vicar of Colwyn and rector of Llanelian. He had served as vicar of Prestatyn for ten and a half years.

Mr Ash will be inducted as vicar of Prestatyn by the Bishop of St Asaph, the Right Reverend Gregory Cameron, at Christ Church on Sunday, October 4.