The Rev’d Sarah Jones, Rector of St Mary’s Ross-on-Wye, St Michael’s Walford and St Michael’s Brampton Abbotts, has been appointed to the post of Priest in Charge of The City Parish of St John The Baptist, Cardiff.

St John’s is at the heart of Cardiff City Centre and is a significant post in the Diocese of Llandaff.

Sarah joined Ross-on-Wye as Assistant Curate in July 2004 and became Rector in December 2007. She has been in Ross for 14 years and has been Rector for ten and a half years.

Sarah told the Ross Gazette:?“I have absolutely loved my time looking after these three parishes. I really have. In many ways I don’t want to go, but parishes should always get the chance to have new leaders.”

Sarah added:?“My new post is very different - it is in a city, working alongside universities and a business community.

“I didn’t want a similar job because it wouldn’t compete with Ross and the villages which surround it and I would have wanted to stay. Nothing would compare. I have adored being here - I love the people and the area.”

Sarah’s last service in the benefice will be at Michaelmas at 9:30am on Sunday, September 30th and anyone who wants to attend would be very welcome.

Alternatively, if you are unable to attend her last service, the week prior, Sunday, September 23rd, will be her last Harvest service, of which Sarah promises is a lovely time to attend church.

Sarah will be licensed to her new post on Thursday, October 18th.

In the weeks ahead, the church will be making arrangements to say farewell to Sarah and are hoping to organise a visit to St John’s in Cardiff to be present at her licensing on October 18th.

Sarah said that the appointment of a new Rector usually takes around six to nine months. This involves the parishes meeting with the diocese in order to agree how they are now and what their hopes are for the future. Once that is done the recruitment can begin, and the new Rector appointed will have to give notice in their current post.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.