Mallow welcomes a new reverend, Meurig Williams
VICAR The Reverend Meurig Williams arrived in Mallow in recent weeks to take up his new post at St. James’s Church in Mallow, replacing Canon Eithne Lynch who retired in August 2019.
Rev Meurig was born in sight of the mountains of Snowdonia in the city of Bangor in northern Wales. Rev Meuirig recalls that this part of the world would be known by many Irish people leaving the port of Holyhead en route to London.
His mother came from a farming background while his father’s people were all coalminers which, he says, is a classic Welsh upbringing.
Meurig’s home language was Welsh as well as English which drew him towards other languages and in particular French. In the 1980s while studying languages in university he did a course in Breton and was so delighted to learn on his arrival here that Mallow was twinned with Treguier in Brittany.
Even though his father was a minister Meurig admits he had no interest in religion as a teen but was more interested in politics while campaigning for the survival of the Welsh language but during his year in Bordeaux he was drawn into the religious life.
He joined a ecumenical and monastic community in a tiny village in Burgundy, France called Taize. It was here he knew his vocation was to the priesthood in the service of the people and the Church. He admits it was not a sudden conversion but just like a gentle tug of the sleeve.
Eventually, after theological studies in Cardiff, Cambridge and Berlin, he was a ordained a priest in 1993 in the Cathedral of his home town of Bangor, which is one of the oldest Cathedrals in the British Isles. Now almost 30 years later it has brought Meurig to the diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.
His ministry began in Holyhead and from there he ‘explored’ Ireland by taking a ferry to Dun Laoghaire in time to have a cup of coffee in Grafton Street. Coming from Wales the history of Ireland meant so much to Meurig and he says Brexit suited him because as a Welsh European he needed to stay in the EU.
He feels it has been very easy to settle in Ireland but jokingly says it may become problematic on certain international rugby days. During his life in religion he has served in Holyhead, Pwllheli, Cardiff and Bangor, when he became Archdeacon. For a decade he was based in HQ in Brussels and most recently serving as Archdeacon of France.
During his stay in mainland Europe he travelled widely and loved rural settings where sometimes without a transport service he availed of the good hearted people to get him home. Music in the Church or pub is a great interest to him and has sung in many choirs throughout his life.
Already Meurig has made contact with people in the Mallow Farmers Market and looks forward to exploring the Wild Atlantic Way. He said he is looking forward to the times ahead in Mallow making new friends and getting involved in community activities.
A lover of words and languages and literature and poetry Meurig Williams will certainly be welcomed with open arms by all in the community. We wish him well.