A TEACHER, an IT director and a former charity worker are among those who will be ordained as a deacon by the Bishop of St Asaph on Saturday (July 2).

The five ordinands from across North Wales include Grace Lomas, who will serve in the Aberconwy Mission Area, and whose uncle, John Lomas, is the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon and former Archdeacon of Wrexham.

Grace, 27, spent time in Tanzania and Kenya before returning to Wales to work for the International Development Charity, Tearfund.

She said: “I studied English Literature at University and love the idea of how stories shape our world and communications.

“I am most exciting to get to know the people of Aberconwy Mission Area, to hear their stories, to journey with them to and to watch God bring to life all He has instore for this season.

“I am a huge animal lover and grew up in the great outdoors with family dogs. I am hoping to get a puppy once I’ve settled into my new role.

“I’m sure she or he will be a familiar figure in the church family!”

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Bishop John will join the Bishop of St Asaph, Gregory Cameron, to ordain Grace and her fellow candidates during the service at St Asaph Cathedral.

For the first time in many years, one of the candidates, Gareth Williams, is being ordained as a distinctive deacon, meaning at this stage, his vocation is to the diaconate and not the priesthood.

There is only one other permanent deacon in the Diocese of St Asaph.

The Revd Sally Baird was ordained in 2006 and continues to serve as a non-stipendiary Deacon in Borderlands Mission Area.

The full list of candidates is:

• Alyson Goldstein, who will serve in the Denbigh Mission Area

• Dan Morgan, who will serve in the Mold Mission Area

• Grace Lomas, who will serve in the Aberconwy Mission Area

• Marcus Pipe, who will serve in the Wrexham Mission Area

• Gareth Williams, who will serve in the Estuary and Mountain Mission Area

Bishop Gregory said: “In this ordination, we celebrate the range of ages and experience that these candidates bring with a desire to broaden the appeal of the Christian gospel across north Wales society.”

Last week, six new priests were ordained by Bishop Gregory in the first full ordination service for three years.