Archbishop of Wales Pays Tribute to Stabbed Vicar

A prayer service has been held in remembrance of a vicar killed outside his church in south Wales, drawn more than 300 people to pay their final respects.

Sunday morning's remembrance service was the first service to be held in the church since the tragic killing of Father Paul Bennett, 59, outside St Fagan's church in Trecynon, near Aberdare. Geraint David Evans, 23, also from Trecynon, has since appeared in court charged with Fr Bennett's murder.

The service was led by the Archbishop of Wales, the Most Rev Barry Morgan, who conveyed support to the packed church from some of the most senior members of the Anglican Communion, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and the new Archbishop of Armagh.

"At times like this it helps to know we are in the thoughts of the wider world and that messages of support have poured in from all parts," he said. "When something dreadful happens to one part of the body of Christ, the whole body is affected."

Archbishop of Morgan also touched on the unique role of clergy and mothers, as the service of remembrance also fell on Mothering Sunday.

He compared the work of mothers with that of the clergy - both, he said, do work which cannot be measured or quantified.

"Clergy are like mothers," he said. "They do a lot - it just seems as if they have not been doing a great deal! But the job of all parochial clergy is to foster a sense of belonging through their day-to-day work... that is what Father Paul clearly achieved in this parish and why so many people are here today.

"How can you measure spending time with a troubled teenager, for example, or being at the bed of a dying person? You cannot put a price on work like that."

The Archbishop ended the sermon with a tribute to Father Paul, "Father Paul spent his life serving God and the people of his parish. No-one can ask for more than that from anyone."

Following the sermon, prayers were said for Father Paul, his family, the parish, the whole community of Trecynon and for all victims and perpetrators of war and violence.