Leading Welsh priest to become Anglican

A PROMINENT PRIEST in the Diocese of Menevia has announced he is leaving the Catholic Church for the Anglican Communion.

Fr Ceirion Gilbert was a parish priest at Briton Ferry in Neath, director of youth services, chaplain to two secondary schools, secretary to the bishop’s council and in charge of the diocese’s online and social media presence. He is also a fluent Welsh speaker.

He has now, however, announced he is to be received into the Church in Wales on 12 October and will continue ordained ministry in the Diocese of Llandaff.

Fr Gilbert, 43, was ordained for the Diocese of Padua in 2005 having been received into the Catholic Church while living in Italy. He returned to his home country to serve in Menevia.

“On hearing of my decision to leave the Catholic Church after 20 years – the last 10 in ministry as a priest – and continue my priesthood within the Anglican Communion, the reaction of many has been one of overwhelming support and continued friendship,” he told The Tablet.

His decision to become an Anglican was due to his belief in the “oneness” of the Church – rather than any “particular brand” of Christianity – and the fact that the Anglican Communion is a “home” where it gets “ certainly at times cramped, and noisy and messy”.

Fr Gilbert added he felt increasingly at odds with the Catholic Church on matters such as the role of women – including female ordination – and same-sex marriage.