Grieving parish has a new vicar

The vicar said he felt drawn to the ministry

A parish whose priest was stabbed to death 18 months ago is welcoming the appointment of a new vicar.

Father Paul Bennett was killed outside his vicarage at St Fagans Church in Trecynon, Aberdare, south Wales by local man Geraint Evans.

The Reverend Kevin Lake, 50, will be inducted at a ceremony carried out by the Archbishop of Wales Barry Morgan.

Evans was detained indefinitely after admitting manslaughter on diminished responsibility at his trial in October.

Mr Lake, who worked as a firefighter for 18 years before training for the ministry, paid tribute to his predecessor and said he hoped he would have the support of the whole community in continuing Father Bennett's work.

"This is a ministry I felt called to following Father Paul's death," he said.

"The church was devastated and it is still in shock, is still grieving and there is a great deal of healing to be done.

I am pleased to be able to induct a person whom I know will be able to continue the good work done by Father Paul Dr Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales

"Father Paul's ministry will always be remembered and it is a tribute to his work and the great faith of his congregations that the church has not weakened at this time."

Father Bennett was 59 when he was killed by Evans, a paranoid schizophrenic who is being detained at a high-security psychiatric unit.

Archbishop Morgan had previously instituted Father Bennett into the parish in 2002.

During the service to induct Mr Lake, which starts at 1930 BST, he will be licensed to serve in the parish by the Archbishop and will be installed by the Archdeacon of Morgannwg Christopher Smith.

Members of the congregations of the three churches in the parish - St Fagans, St Luke's, Cwmdare, and St James, Llwydcoed - will also be there to welcome him. The Archbishop will preach the sermon.

Dr Barry Morgan said he was confident Mr Lake, who has three children and four grandchildren, would earn the trust and support of the parish.

Father Paul Bennett died in the grounds of St Fagans church

"This was a difficult appointment to make because of the tragic circumstances but I am pleased to be able to induct a person whom I know will be able to continue the good work done by Father Paul and lead the parish forward," he said.

"I know how much the community appreciated the ministry of Father Paul and I hope now they will give thanks too for Kevin Lake because he wanted to come here."

Mr Lake was ordained as a priest in 2000 and served as a chaplain at the Holme Tower Marie Curie Hospice in Penarth for two years before being appointed priest-in-charge of the parish of Llandyfodwg and Cwmogwr near Bridgend.

He and his wife Mags will live in a new vicarage in Cwmdare.

Mr Lake will conduct his first service at St Fagans on Sunday at 1000 BST when the congregations of the three churches in the parish will join together for worship.

The Church in Wales said he will live in a new vicarage in Cwmdare while options are considered for the future of the vicarage where Father Bennett lived.