Missing minister help recognised

There has been no sighting of the Reverend David Fox since June 2008

A church community will meet the Slovenian ambassador later, to thank him for his country's efforts to trace a missing minister from south Wales.

The Reverend David Fox, 52, minister of the Elfed Avenue United Church in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, has not been seen seen since June last year.

Mr Fox disappeared while on a walking holiday in the west of Slovenia.

Church members are presenting the ambassador with £1,500 for the country's mountain rescue service.

The gift to the ambassador, Iztok Jarc, is taking place at a special service at the Elfed Avenue church, taken by the leader of the United Reform Church in Wales, the Reverend Peter Noble.

'Family'

He used to say that the church congregation was his family. He was much loved Mostyn Davies, Elfed Avenue church

"When David disappeared it was a painful time for all of us who knew him," said the minister.

"We were comforted by the knowledge that the Slovenian authorities went on searching, long after they might have given up. We want to thank them."

As well as being minister at Elfed Avenue in Penarth, Mr Fox was also clerk to the Synod of Wales of the United Reformed Church.

Thursday's special service will be attended by the local assembly member, Lorraine Barrett, and the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Wales, the Reverend Haydn Thomas.

Mostyn Davies, an elder at Elfed Avenue said: "David was not married. He used to say that the church congregation was his family. He was much loved."

Mr Davies said the church would soon be considering appointing a new minister.

"This will be an opportunity for the friends and acquaintances of David to join together to remember him and celebrate his life, before we begin to move on," he added.