Bishop’s visit

THE BISHOP of St Davids visited churches in the Llanllwchaearn benefice and the local lifeboat station.Accompanied by his chaplain, Rev Canon Paul Mackness and communications manager, David Hammond-Williams, Bishop Wyn spent the whole day in the New Quay area. In the morning, he attended a service at Holy Trinity Church, Cross Inn before an informal lunch at New Quay Church Hall to meet parishioners and an evening prayer at Llanina. In between, he was given a guided visit to the RNLI boathouse, in the company of Rev Matthew Baynham, the priest in charge, who is also chaplain to the RNLI, and Rev Judith Morton, assistant curate.The boathouse visit was hosted by Roger Couch, lifeboat operations manager, who arranged for Daniel Potter, coxswain, and several of the crew to give the bishop a guided tour and an informal presentation to paint a picture of what it means to be a crew member in the RNLI. The bishop was an attentive listener and very appreciative of what he was told.Also present was local historian Roger Bryan, author of The New Quay Lifeboats, the story of the service in New Quay during its 150-year history. At the conclusion of the meeting over tea and drizzle cake, a favourite with the Bishop, he was presented with a signed copy.Roger Couch said: “We were pleased that the bishop had wished to visit the lifeboat station and the interest which he showed when he was here. With Matthew Baynham as our chaplain we consider the local church to be one of our important community links.”