Penodi Caplaniaid Anrhydeddus y Brenin
Y mae chwe uwch glerigwr yn yr Eglwys yng Nghymru wedi eu penodi yn Gaplaniaid Anrhydeddus i'w Fawrhydi y Brenin.
Dathlwyd eu penodiad gyda gwasanaeth arbennig yn y Capel Brenhinol ym Mhalas Sant Iago fel rhan o ddigwyddiadau Dewi Sant, Nawddsant Cymru.
Yn draddodiadol, penodwyd Caplaniaid Anrhydeddus y Brenin ar gyfer Eglwys Loegr ac Eglwys yr Alban, ond gallant hefyd gynnwys enwadau eraill. Dyma'r tro cyntaf i glerigwyr yr Eglwys yng Nghymru gael eu penodi.
Mae Caplaniaid Anrhydeddus y Brenin yn uwch glerigwyr yn y Deyrnas Unedig sy'n cael eu penodi gan y Brenin fel modd o gydnabod gwasanaeth nodedig. Deon Caplaniaeth Frenhinol newydd Cymru, sy'n rhan o Aelwyd Eglwysig yr Aelwyd Frenhinol, yw Esgob Tyddewi, y Gwir Barchedig Dorrien Davies.
Mae gan eglwys gadeiriol Tyddewi gysylltiadau hanesyddol â'r Teulu Brenhinol trwy linach y Tuduriaid. Mae'n unigryw ymhlith eglwysi cadeiriol yn y Deyrnas Unedig gan mai’r Brenin yw’r Canon Cwrsal Cyntaf yn yr eglwys gadeiriol ac mae ganddo sedd arbennig yn y côr.
Penodwyd y Caplaniaid gan Ei Fawrhydi y Brenin mewn ymgynghoriad â phob un o'r chwe Esgobaeth a Deon Caplaniaeth Frenhinol Cymru. Mae un offeiriad wedi'i benodi o bob un o'r chwe esgobaeth Gymreig:
Bangor
Y Parchg Llewelyn Moules Jones
Wedi'i eni a'i fagu yn Ynys Môn, mae Llew Moules Jones ar hyn o bryd yn Arweinydd Ardal Weinidogaeth Bro Dwynwen a hefyd yn 'Ddeon Ardal' Archddiaconiaeth Ynys Môn. Yn fab i ffermwr, mae gan Llew angerdd am 'Weinidogaeth Wledig' ar ôl gwasanaethu fel 'Eiriolwr Bywyd Gwledig' i Esgobaeth Bangor ers 2020.
Mae Llew hefyd yn ymwneud yn helaeth â'r elusen 'Tir Dewi' fel Ymddiriedolwr a Gwirfoddolwr, gan gynnig cymorth a chefnogaeth i Deuluoedd Ffermio a'u dibynyddion ledled Cymru Wledig.
Mae'n briod â Jane, sy’n filfeddyg. Pan fydd amser yn caniatáu, nid yw Llew a Jane yn hoffi dim gwell na helpu ar y ffermydd teuluol yn Ynys Môn a'r Alban. Mae eu hobïau yn cynnwys dangos Gwartheg Du Cymreig y teulu, cerdded eu pedwar ci spaniel a mwynhau'r ambell i ddram o wisgi.
Trefynwy
Y Parchedig Julian Gray
Ar hyn o bryd mae'r Parchg Julian Gray yn gwasanaethu fel Rheithor Tîm ar gyfer Ardal Weinidogaeth Gogledd Sir Fynwy yn Esgobaeth Trefynwy.
Wedi'i eni a'i fagu ym Mhont-y-pŵl, astudiodd Julian Diwinyddiaeth ym Mhrifysgol Cymru, Llanbedr Pont Steffan ac fe’i hyfforddwyd ar gyfer yr offeiriadaeth yng Ngholeg yr Atgyfodiad yn Mirfield yng Ngorllewin Swydd Efrog. Dechreuodd ei weinidogaeth fel Is-Ganon yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Casnewydd ym 1988 ac, ar wahân i gyfnod byr fel ficer yn Eglwys Loegr, mae wedi gwasanaethu ar draws yr esgobaeth ers hynny. Mae'n briod â Catherine, ac mae ganddynt ddau o blant, Timothy ac Abigail ac wyres fach, Elinor Rose.
Llanelwy
Y Parchedig Ganon Michael Balkwill, Caplan Esgob Llanelwy, Aelod o Drydydd Urdd y Ffransciaid.
Wedi'i eni a'i fagu yn Nyfnaint, daeth Michael i Gymru am y tro cyntaf ym 1982 i ddarllen Diwinyddiaeth yng Ngholeg Prifysgol Dewi Sant, Llanbedr Pont Steffan, cyn symud i Gaerdydd i astudio ar gyfer gradd Meistr mewn Diwinyddiaeth. Ar ôl ymgartrefu yng Nghymru, hyfforddodd Michael ar gyfer ei ordeinio yng Ngholeg Diwinyddol Sant Mihangel, Llandaf, a chafodd ei ordeinio yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Llanelwy yn 1991.
Gwasanaethodd Michael ei guradiaeth yn Llandudno a'r cymunedau cyfagos, cyn symud i ogledd Powys yn 1997 fel Rheithor ac yn ddiweddarach Deon Ardal Llanfyllin. Mae wedi'i leoli yn Swyddfa'r Esgob yn Esgobty fel Caplan yr Esgob ers 2011 pan osodwyd fel hefyd fel Canon Cwrsal yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Llanelwy. Mae Michael wedi ei urddo’n aelod o Drydydd Urdd Cymdeithas Sant Ffransis ers 2012 ac mae wedi gwasanaethu yng Nghymru fel Gwarcheidwad Ffurfiant Rhanbarthol a Gweinidog Ardal dros dro dros dro ar gyfer TSSF.
"Rwy'n teimlo anrhydedd ac gostyngeiddrwydd wrth gael fy ngwahodd gan y Brenin i ddod yn aelod o'i Aelwyd Eglwysig, yn enwedig ar yr adeg hon pan fo Caplaniaid Anrhydeddus y Brenin wedi cael eu recriwtio o Dalaith Cymru am y tro cyntaf. Bydd yn bleser gwasanaethu Ei Fawrhydi yn y rôl hon yn Esgobaeth Llanelwy."
Llandaf
Yr Hybarch Mark Preece
Wedi'i ordeinio yn 1987 yn 25 oed, mae Mark wedi gwasanaethu ei holl weinidogaeth yn Esgobaeth Llandaf. Ar hyn o bryd mae'n Archddiacon Margam – ardal sy'n cwmpasu arfordir deheuol yr esgobaeth, i'r de o'r M4 a'r ochr orllewinol, gan gynnwys Port Talbot a Chastell-nedd. Dros y blynyddoedd hyn mae Mark wedi gweinidogaethu mewn cyd-destunau trefol a gwledig yn ogystal ag mewn plwyf dinas ac fel Prif Gantor ac Is-Ddeon Eglwys Gadeiriol Llandaf. Mae ganddo gyfrifoldebau allblwyfol erioed, gan wasanaethu ar wahanol bwyllgorau a byrddau Esgobaethol, fel Cynghorydd Galwedigaethau ac fel Deon Ardal Caerdydd. Ar hyn o bryd, mae'n gwasanaethu'r Dalaith fel Cadeirydd Comisiwn Litwrgaidd Ymgynghorol Sefydlog yr Eglwys yng Nghymru ac fel aelod etholedig o'r Corff Llywodraethol a'r Coleg Etholiadol. Mae Mark yn briod â Michelle, athrawes gitâr glasurol. Mae ganddynt dri o blant sy'n oedolion ac un ŵyr. Yn y 1990au roedd Mark yn Ficer Priordy Ewenni, ger Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a dechreuodd adfer un o'r enghreifftiau gorau o bensaernïaeth Romanésg yng Nghymru. Unwaith, pan oedd yn Dywysog Cymru, ymwelodd Ei Fawrhydi â'r Priordy i weld canlyniadau'r gwaith adfer. Roedd yn anrhydedd ac yn fraint i Mark arwain y gwaith o gynllunio, llunio a pharatoi'r gwasanaeth i nodi marwolaeth ei diweddar Fawrhydi, y Frenhines Elizabeth II, yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Llandaf ym mis Medi 2022.
Abertawe ac Aberhonddu
Y Parchg Ddr Emma Louise Whittick, Is-Ganon yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Aberhonddu, a Chaplan yr Esgob.
Magwyd Emma yn Didcot a daeth i ffydd yn ystod ei hamser israddedig yn Aberystwyth. Ers ei hordeinio, mae hi wedi gwasanaethu mewn Ardaloedd Gweinidogaeth ac fel Caplan i Brifysgol Cymru yn Llanbedr Pont Steffan a Chaerfyrddin. Emma yw'r Caplan presennol i'r Esgob John yn Esgobaeth Abertawe ac Aberhonddu, gan wasanaethu hefyd fel Is-Ganon yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Aberhonddu. Mae hi'n siaradwr Cymraeg.
Meddai: "Mae'n anrhydedd mawr i mi gael fy mhenodi i'r rôl hon. Edrychaf ymlaen at wasanaethu ochr yn ochr â'r Caplaniaid Brenhinol eraill a Deon y Gaplaniaeth Frenhinol wrth barhau i ddal y Sofran a'i deulu yn fy ngweddïau personol a chyhoeddus."
Tyddewi
Y Parchg Ganon Michael Huw Rowlands. Deon Ardal Weinidogaeth Leol Dewisland Fwyaf.
Cafodd Michael ei eni ym Merthyr Tudful a'i fagu yn Pant. Symudodd ei rieni i Aberpennar lle gwasanaethodd ei dad fel meddyg teulu a'i fam fel athrawes. Addysgwyd ef yn Aberpennar, Coleg Llanymddyfri, Prifysgol Birmingham a Phrifysgol Caerdydd. Ordeiniwyd ef yn 1988 ar ôl astudio a hyfforddi yng Ngholeg Diwinyddol Sant Mihangel a gwasanaethodd yn gurad ym Mhenarth ac yna fel Ficer Templeton yng Ngorllewin Cymru. Gwasanaethodd hefyd fel Caplan y Fyddin (rheolaidd a wrth gefn) yn yr Almaen, Bosnia, Gogledd Iwerddon, Uzbekistan a'r DU. Mae'n dal i wasanaethu'r Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn fel Caplan Swyddogol i'r Fyddin (OCM), yn bennaf ym Marics Cawdor, Brawdy. Mae'n briod â Ruth ac mae gan y cwpl bedwar o blant: Gethin, Aled, Angharad a Sian. Mae'n mwynhau cerdded yng nghefn gwlad Sir Benfro a bod yn rhan o'r cymunedau y mae'n gwasanaethu ynddynt.
Yr haf hwn mae'n bwriadu datblygu ei fenter "Have a Brew" ymhellach, gan ddarparu presenoldeb ar draethau lleol, gweini te a choffi am ddim i bobl ifanc a darparu clust wrando gan gofio'r gyfradd uchel o hunanladdiad ymhlith pobl ifanc.
Bydd y Caplaniaid yn gwisgo gwisg ysgarlad arbennig a bathodyn gyda'r arwydd Brenhinol. Bydd pob un ohonynt yn cael eu gwahodd i bregethu mewn Capel Brenhinol yn ystod cyfnod eu penodiad.
Gallant hefyd gael eu gwahodd gan Arglwydd Raglaw Ei Fawrhydi ar gyfer pob sir i gymryd rhan mewn digwyddiadau cenedlaethol, dinesig a lleol ac ymweliadau Brenhinol ym mhob un o Raglawiaethau Cymru.
Mae'r penodiadau hyn yn cydnabod perthynas arbennig Ei Fawrhydi y Brenin â Chymru. Ei Fawrhydi oedd Tywysog Cymru hiraf ei wasanaeth ac mae wedi sicrhau bod iaith a diwylliant Cymru yn cael amlygrwydd mewn achlysuron Brenhinol, gan gynnwys defnyddio'r Gymraeg yn y Coroni, comisiynu Croes Orymdeithiol Cymru, a pharhau â thraddodiad y Delynores Frenhinol.
King’s Honorary Chaplains Appointed
Six senior clerics of the Church in Wales have been appointed as Honorary Chaplains to His Majesty The King. Their appointment has been marked by a special service at The Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace as part of the celebrations of St David, the Patron Saint of Wales.
Honorary King’s Chaplains have traditionally been appointed for the Church of England and the Church of Scotland, but can also include other denominations. This is the first time clerics of the Church in Wales have been appointed.
Honorary King’s Chaplains are senior members of the clergy in the United Kingdom who are appointed by the monarch in recognition of distinguished service.
The Dean of the new Royal Chaplaincy for Wales, which is part of the Ecclesiastical Household of The Royal Household, is the Bishop of St Davids, the Rt Revd. Dorrien Davies. St Davids cathedral has historic links with the Royal Family through the Tudor dynasty. It is unique among cathedrals in the United Kingdom in that the Sovereign is the First Canon Cursal of the cathedral and has a special stall in the choir.
The Chaplains have been appointed by His Majesty The King in consultation with each of the six Dioceses and the Dean of the Royal Chaplaincy for Wales.
One priest has been appointed from each of the six Welsh dioceses:
Bangor
Revd Llewelyn Moules Jones
Ynys Môn born and bred , Llew Moules Jones is currently the M A Leader of Bro Dwynwen and also 'Area Dean' for the Archdeaconry of Anglesey. A Farmer’s son, Llew has a passion for 'Rural Ministry ' having served as 'Rural Life Advocate' for the Diocese of Bangor since 2020. Llew is also heavily involved with the charity 'Tir Dewi' both as a Trustee and Volunteer ,offering help and support to Farming Families and their dependents across Rural Wales. He is married to Jane, a Veterinary Surgeon. When time allows ,both Llew and Jane like nothing more than helping out on the family farms both in Anglesey and Scotland. Hobbies include showing the family's Welsh Black Cattle , walking their four springer spaniels and enjoying the odd dram of whisky.
Monmouth
The Reverend Julian Gray
The Revd Julian Gray is currently serving as Team Rector for the North Monmouthshire Ministry Area in the Diocese of Monmouth. Born and brought up in Pontypool, Julian studied Theology at the University of Wales, Lampeter and trained for the priesthood at the College of the Resurrection at Mirfield in West Yorkshire. He began his ministry as a Minor Canon in Newport Cathedral in 1988 and, apart from a brief spell as a vicar in the Church of England, has served across the diocese since then. He is married to Catherine, and they have two children, Timothy and Abigail and an infant granddaughter, Elinor Rose.
St Asaph
The Reverend Canon Michael Balkwill,
(Ordained 1991) St Asaph Bishop’s Chaplain, Third Order Franciscan.Fir Born and raised in Devon, Michael first came to Wales in 1982 to read Divinity at St David’s University College, Lampeter, before moving to Cardiff to study for a Master of Theology. Having settled in Wales, Michael trained for ordination at St Michael’s Theological College, Llandaff, and was ordained in St Asaph Cathedral in 1991. Michael served his curacy in Llandudno and its surrounding communities, before moving to north Powys in 1997 as Rector and later Area Dean of Llanfyllin. He has been based at the Bishop’s Office at Esgobty as Bishop’s Chaplain since 2011 when Michael was also installed as a Canon Cursal at St Asaph Cathedral. Michael has been a professed member of the Third Order of the Society of St Francis since 2012 and has served in Wales as Area Formation Guardian and acting Area Minister for TSSF. “I feel both honoured and humbled to have been invited by the King to become a member of his Ecclesiastical Household, especially at this auspicious time when King’s Honorary Chaplains have been recruited from the Province of Wales for the very first time. It will be a joy to serve His Majesty in this capacity in the Diocese of St Asaph.”
Llandaff
The Ven. Mark Preece
Ordained in 1987 at the age of 25, Mark has served all his ministry in the Diocese of Llandaff. He is currently the Archdeacon of Margam – an area which covers the southern coast of the diocese, south of the M4 and the western flank, including Port Talbot and Neath. Over these years Mark has ministered in urban and rural contexts as well as in a City Parish and as Precentor and Sub-Dean of Llandaff Cathedral. He has always had extra-parochial responsibilities, serving on various Diocesan committees and boards, as a Vocations Adviser and as Area Dean of Cardiff. Currently, he serves the Province as the Chair of the Standing Liturgical Advisory Commission of the Church in Wales and as an elected member of the Governing Body and of the Electoral College. Mark is married to Michelle, a classical guitar teacher. They have 3 adult children and one grandson. In the 1990’s Mark was Vicar of Ewenny Priory, near Bridgend and began the restoration of one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Wales. His Majesty, when Prince of Wales, once visited the Priory to see the results of the restoration work. As Precentor of the Cathedral it was Mark’s honour and privilege to lead the planning, compilation and preparation of the service to mark the death of her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Llandaff Cathedral in September 2022.
Swansea & Brecon
Revd Dr Emma Louise Whittick Minor Canon at Brecon Cathedral, and Bishop’s Chaplain.
Emma grew up in Didcot and came to faith during her undergraduate time in Aberystwyth. Since ordination, she has served both in Ministry Areas and as Chaplain to the University of Wales at Lampeter and Carmarthen. Emma is the current Chaplain to Bishop John in the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon, serving also as a Minor Canon in Brecon Cathedral. She is a Welsh speaker. "I'm deeply honoured to be appointed to this role. I look forward to serving alongside the other Royal Chaplains and the Dean of the Royal Chaplaincy while continuing to hold the Sovereign and his family in my personal and public prayers."
St Davids
Revd Canon Michael Huw Rowlands. Local Ministry Area Dean Greater Dewisland.
Michael was born in Merthyr Tydfil and brought up in Pant. His parents moved to Mountain Ash where his father served as a GP and his mother as a teacher. He was educated in Mountain Ash , Llandovery College ,Birmingham University and Cardiff University .
He was ordained in 1988 after studying and training at St. Michael's Theological College and served a curacy in Penarth and then as Vicar of Templeton in West Wales .
He also served as an Army Chaplain (regular and reserve ) in Germany, Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan and UK. He still serves the MOD as an Officiating Chaplain to the Military (OCM) , primarily at Cawdor Barracks , Brawdy .
He is married to Ruth and the couple have four grown up children:Gethin, Aled, Angharad and Sian.
He enjoys walking in rural Pembrokeshire and being involved in the communities in which he serves.
This Summer he plans to further develop his "Have a Brew" initiative, providing a presence at local beaches, serving free tea and coffee for youngsters and providing a listening ear bearing in mind the high rate of suicide amongst young people .
The Chaplains will wear a distinctive scarlet cassock and a badge with the Royal cypher. Each will be invited to preach at a Royal Chapel during their period of appointment. They may also be invited by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for each county to participate in national, civic and local events and Royal visits in each of the Lieutenancies of Wales.
The appointments recognise the special relationship of His Majesty The King with Wales. His Majesty was the longest-serving Prince of Wales and has ensured that the language and culture of Wales is given prominence in Royal occasions, including by using the Welsh language in the Coronation, commissioning the processional Cross of Wales, and continuing with the tradition of Royal Harpist.