BRO Teifi's ministry has two new priests in Reverend Elizabeth Rowe and Reverend Margaret Beman.

A total of 16 people were ordained as clergy in the Diocese of St Davids, Church in Wales at ceremonies in St Davids Cathedral. 

Ordinations traditionally take place on the last weekend in June although last year’s had to be postponed because of the pandemic. 

There are two stages to ordination – the first is the ordination of Deacons who, a year later, provided they have completed their training, are ordained Priest. 

Reverend Rowe’s childhood was spent in a Welsh speaking home in Cardigan, where family life involved regular attendance either at chapel with her father, or at St. Mary’s parish church with her mother.

She says her journey to confirmation at 17 and beyond influenced her faith strongly.

“Choosing a future in the South of England rather than university, my career began in nursing,” she said.

“Later, after marriage and raising three daughters, I pursued a change of course by first becoming a registered financial manager and then running a GP practice.

“Here I contributed to NHS Primary Care development during a significant, challenging period.
“Successful though this was, I eventually felt the need to return to front line nursing with Marie Curie and after relocating my family back to Cardigan in 2011, I ended my nursing career here in Palliative Care in the community.

“I became a licensed Lay Reader in St. David’s Diocese in 2019, having been in ministerial training since 2016 with St. Padarns Institute.

"Totally engaged in practical placement since then, I have served within the Bro Teifi LMA at Cardigan and surrounding area, including St. Dogmaels where I live.

“My journey in faith has continued throughout my life, leading to my being ordained Deacon in 2020, and now to being priested in June 2021 by the Bishop of St. Davids.”

Reverend Beman said: “I was ordained a deacon in St David’s Cathedral in September last year, when I became an assistant curate. 

“I was christened at the age of 7 weeks in a rural church in Worcestershire, confirmed at the age of 13 in Warwickshire and since then, I have worshipped in various Anglican churches around England and Wales. 

“I left school at the age of 18 and started my nursing career at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London. I gradually moved west and worked in Cardiff and the South Wales valleys for 20 years, completing a BSc in nursing at what used to be called Glamorgan University. 

"I finished my nursing career in Bristol, where I trained and worked as a nurse colposcopist. Colposcopy is part of the NHS Cervical Cancer Screening Service. 

“When I retired from a 40-year career in nursing in 2014, David my husband, Monty (our rescue dog), Ted (a tabby cat belonging to one of our daughters) and I decided to move to West Wales.

"I planned to spend more time with our children and grandchildren, enjoying the beauty of Cardigan Bay. However, God had other plans. 

“After our move to Ceredigion, we set out to become involved in the community. We joined our local church, St David’s in Blaenporth, where we received a warm welcome, and as the church was in an interregnum, David and I were asked to undertake a worship leaders’ course, which we enjoyed. 

“I felt that I was being called to further my journey with God, and started the Theology for Life course.

"This led onto being accepted for training as a non-stipendiary (self-supporting) minister. I will be completing my Theology Diploma at the end of this academic year.

“I started a Welsh language course when we first moved to Ceredigion, and completed my sixth year in 2020. However, I still find it a very difficult language to learn, but very much enjoy the challenge.

“I am greatly looking forward to serving God and the local communities, and feel truly blessed to have this opportunity.”

Those ordained as Deacon are:

David Bolton, who will serve as an Assistant Curate in the Greater Dewisland Ministry Area;

Frances Croxton-Hall, who will serve as an Assistant Curate in the Bro Padarn Ministry Area;

Seamus Hargrave, who will serve as an Assistant Curate in the Narberth & Tenby Ministry Area;

Hannah Karpaty, who will serve as an Assistant Curate in the Roose Ministry Area;

Carmen Mills, who will serve as an Assistant Curate in the Bro Gwendraeth Ministry Area;

Brenda Riggs, who will also serve as an Assistant Curate in the Bro Gwendraeth Ministry Area.

Those ordained as Priest are:

Revd Nick Barroccu, Assistant Curate in the Bro Aman Ministry Area;

Revd Margaret Beman, Assistant Curate in the Bro Teifi Ministry Area;

Revd Lorna Bradley, Assistant Curate in the Bro Sancler Ministry Area;

Revd Heulwen Evans, Assistant Curate in the Bro Aeron (Coastal) Ministry Area;

Revd Kristie Godden-Griffiths, Assistant Curate in the Bro Caerfyrddin Ministry Area;

Revd Robert Moore, Assistant Curate in the Bro Caerfyrddin Ministry Area;

Revd Elizabeth Rowe, Assistant Curate in the Bro Teifi Ministry Area;

Revd Jordan Spencer, Assistant Curate in the West Cemais Ministry Area;

Revd Jean Voyle-Williams, Assistant Curate in the Bro Cydweli Ministry Area;

Revd Robert Wilkinson, Assistant Curate in the Aberystwyth Ministry Area.