Welsh speakers offer spiritual leadership

THE recent comments by the Reverend Patrick Thomas regarding Bishop Joanna Penberthy have encouraged me to offer my personal recollections as a former member of the congregations at Cynwyl Gaeo and Carmarthen.

Rev Thomas proudly and rightly presents himself as one of a “tiara” of Welsh-speaking clergymen, but it surely is relevant to know that he himself is a Welsh learner from the borders of mid Wales near Newtown. This distinguished cleric, historian, author and broadcaster himself acknowledges the great help and encouragement he received from the late Bishop George Noakes and from the late Reverend Eric Grey, Rector of Brechfa.

The success which he has achieved means that he has crossed the bridge to become a fluent Welsh speaker, to such an extent that many do not realise that he is a “learner”.

In the late 1990s I was privileged to serve as one of the church wardens at Cynwyl Gaeo when the congregation was presented with its first female vicar, namely the Reverend Joanne Penberthy.

As it coincided with the popular TV series The Vicar of Dibley, there may have been some quiet misgivings. However, our new vicar quickly dispelled any such feelings through her personal qualities and abilities as a spiritual leader, as well as a determined supporter and learner of Welsh.

Such an impression was made by her that soon a comment was made by an elderly member: “You know, this new vicar is good enough to be a bishop one day!”

I am very happy to have lived long enough to see this prophecy fulfilled.

The examples set by both Rev Patrick Thomas and Bishop Joanna Penberthy deserve the highest praise, as do the efforts of thousands of learners throughout Wales and the wider world. It gives hope that the target of a million Welshspeakers by 2050 is not just a dream. D Cyril Jones

Rhuthun