New bishop is a former Navy aircraft engineer
A FORMER Royal Navy aircraft engineer has been appointed as the new Bishop of Swansea and Brecon.
The Archdeacon of Wrexham, John Lomas, has been chosen as the 10th Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, a diocese which stretches from Gower up into much of Mid Wales.
During his 12 years as an aircraft engineer in the Royal Navy, Archdeacon John serviced helicopters, Phantom F4 jets and then Sea Harrier jets on the carriers HMS Illustrious, Invincible and Ark Royal, serving in the Falklands War.
He spent two years in the Middle East, working on Tornado jets at Dhahran military airbase during the first Gulf War. He eventually left the service and began training for ministry at St Michael’s Theological College in Llandaff, Cardiff, and was ordained in 1994.
Since then, John, originally from Ashton-under-lyne, Manchester, has served in St Asaph Diocese and has played a key role in planting churches and transforming those in difficulties.
As Archdeacon of Wrexham he was part of the team leading the diocese’s successful £1.9m bid for a major evangelism project in the heart of Wrexham – now Hope Street Christian Community.
Prior to that, he was the diocesan transition missioner, helping parishes with no vicar to think about the future in innovative ways. As Vicar of Holywell for a decade he oversaw the building of a new church, St Peter’s, as a resource for the whole community.
The announcement of his appointment as Bishop of Swansea and Brecon by the Church in Wales bishops follows the retirement in May of the Archbishop of Wales, John Davies, who was also the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon.
The appointment will be confirmed on November 22 at a meeting of the Sacred Synod of Church in Wales Bishops at St Giles’ Church, Wrexham. His consecration as bishop will take place at Brecon Cathedral at a date to be fixed.
Arrangements will now be made for the election of the next Archbishop of Wales.
The Senior Bishop in Wales, Andy John, said: “John will be an excellent addition to the Bench of Bishops and I am delighted he has accepted this role.
“He has a passion for evangelism and for supporting clergy in pastoral ministry. Above all, he is people-focused – he knows how to get alongside others and to help them. His experience in the Royal Navy, in particular, gave him an appreciation that life can be tough and he faces challenges with hope and energy, as well as a gentle sense of humour.”
The Bishop of St Asaph, Gregory Cameron, added, “John has served the diocese of St Asaph faithfully and with distinction. Now he brings his considerable passion for the Gospel and his creative flair to the service of the people and congregations of Swansea and Brecon, and, while we’re sad to lose his ministry, we are sure that he will bring great blessings to his new diocese.”
The new Bishop said: “I feel very privileged to have been appointed as Bishop of Swansea and Brecon and am looking forward to getting to know the diocese.
“My motivation has always been to work with people and clergy to release them and resource them to build church in the community and to be the very best interpretation of the Good News of Jesus in whatever situation we find ourselves, whether in a large urban setting or a small deeply rural setting. Helping people on the road to living their best life in Christ is a huge privilege.”
He said his time in the Navy, as well as his faith, had given him the confidence to find a way through difficult situations.
“I am very much a fan of keeping things simple, straightforward and understandable. I love the simplicity of the Swansea and Brecon Diocesan message of ‘Gather, grow, go’.
“I hope to work with people to make sure that these three words burst into life, that gathering happens, growing happens and going happens. And as a consequence a living Gospel is seen, experienced and proclaimed.”
John met his wife Jan in school and they married nearly 42 years ago. They have two daughters and five grandchildren. In his spare time he enjoys walking and reading and is looking forward to hikes in the Brecon Beacons.