Rev Rachel Nelmes

From Bishop Cherry

Bishop Cherry is delighted to announce the appoint of Rachel Nelmes as Pioneer Priest in the St Illtyd Ministry Area. 

Ordained in 2023 as a non-stipendiary priest, Rachel has been completing her curacy in the Mynydd Bedwellty Ministry Area whilst working for the DBF as Children’s and Families advisor. For the past 12 months she has been using her gifts and knowledge in Children’s and Schools ministry to undertake a pilot project in Abertillery, developing the relationship between the Church and local Schools. It was the learning from this project that helped inform our successful Growth Fund bid for Schools Engagement Pioneers.

With this new role Rachel will be able to develop these relationships to the next level by becoming embedded in the community and re-planting a congregation into St Michaels Church in Abertillery. A licencing service will be held after Easter.

From Rev Matt Davis – Ministry Area Leader

It is with mixed emotions that we announce Rev. Rachel is moving on to become a Pioneer in Abertillery at the end of her curacy.

We have been truly blessed by her gifts and talents over the past few years, and I am incredibly grateful for everything she has contributed to our community. Rev. Rachel possesses exceptional patience, gentleness, and love, demonstrating a genuine pastoral heart for those she serves. She leaves us with our heartfelt blessing and love.

I am confident that she will excel in her new role, bringing with her valuable knowledge from the area she has served for the last few years, as well as the skills she has developed with us. Her natural talent will undoubtedly lead to great things for God’s kingdom.

As a reminder, curates typically do not remain in the same place after completing their curacy, even though we may wish they could.

We will announce shortly a time to say goodbye to Rachel.