Group marks friendship with Bishop Dorrien with crozier gift

Friends of the new Bishop of St Davids have presented him with a crozier to mark his consecration and enthronement.

Bishop Dorrien Davies will be consecrated as the 130th bishop of St Davids on January 27, before being enthroned at St Davids Cathedral on February 3.

The crozier is a gift from three clergy friends, all ordained in Swansea and Brecon Diocese, and their families. Canon Keith and Mary Evans, Canon Tim and Mary Williams and Canon Rowland and Barbara Edwards have been friends with Bishop Dorrien for almost 40 years and, together with their families, still meet regularly.

The crozier was handmade by another priest, Rev'd Philip Morgan, who was ordained in Swansea and Brecon in 1978, Philip, who is Barbara's brother left the diocese in 1984 after serving in various parishes and served most of his ministry in the dioceses of Northern Indiana and Virginia in the USA. Now retired and resident in the Diocese of Eau Claire in Wisconsin, Philip has enjoyed woodworking since his teens.

The crozier is made from American red oak with a Celtic cross incorporated into the design, and its handmade case is also adorned with a Celtic cross.
Bishop Dorrien said: "This crozier represents not only my role to the flock of God, it is also a symbol of friendship, fidelity and love. I thank God that I have friends such as these who have presented me with such a thoughtful, useful, wonderful gift."
The group were in contact with Philip via FaceTime and Dorrien thanked him for his "marvellous workmanship".