Three members of the clergy serve the parishes of Abergavenny - Associate Vicar the Rev'd Dr Bernhard Sixtus; and non-stipendiary ministers the Rev'd John Hughes and the Rev'd Dr Chris Walters. From January 6, 2012, The Rev'd Mark Soady will lead the team as Vicar of Abergavenny. Later that month Fr Chris will leave Abergavenny to become priest in charge of the Govilon Group.
Rev'd Dr Bernhard Sixtus
Rev'd Dr Bernhard Sixtus
The Rev’d Dr Bernhard Sixtus was born in1968 of a mixed English-German family background, growing up partly in Germany and partly in England (where his parents still live near Peterborough).
He joined the Army (Military Police) after finishing school, and stayed until 2001 when he began theological training at the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield, West Yorkshire. He is married to Karla, a teacher and trained counsellor, and they have two young boys, Jonathan Richard (born while they lived in Paris in 2004), Robin Vincent (born here – in the Vicarage, in fact – in 2007) and a daughter, Emily (also born in Abergavenny, in 2009).
Bernhard served his curacy at St. George's Anglican Church, Paris (2003-2007) and is now 'Associate Priest' of the Anglican benefices of the town, with special responsibility for the parish of Holy Trinity.
Rev'd Dr Chris Walters
Rev'd Dr Chris Walters
The Rev’d Dr Chris Walters was ordained parish deacon at Holy Trinity, part of the Abergavenny group of parishes, in 2003.
He started his professional life as a metallurgist before serving with Gwent Police as a traffic officer, motorcycle instructor and firearms officer. He has worked in the intelligence and security industry, becoming a Fellow of the International Institute of Private Investigators.
He and his wife founded Greenwood Christian Centre and Greenwood Christian recording studios in 1985 and the Mayflower Christian School in 1989.
In 2003, Chris founded a legal firm dealing with land law and is currently studying for a Masters degree in that area of the law.
He lists his special interests as youth development, the care of the elderly, the condition and status of marriage and tackling drug abuse.