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Tributes paid to late archbishop Tributes paid to late archbishop
(40 minutes later)
Tributes have been paid to the former Archbishop of Wales, the Most Rev Alwyn Rice Jones following his death.Tributes have been paid to the former Archbishop of Wales, the Most Rev Alwyn Rice Jones following his death.
The 73-year-old's death at his home in St Asaph, Denbighshire was "sudden and unexpected" even though he had not been in good health since his retirement.The 73-year-old's death at his home in St Asaph, Denbighshire was "sudden and unexpected" even though he had not been in good health since his retirement.
He was described by the present Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan as "warm and engaging".He was described by the present Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan as "warm and engaging".
The funeral is due to be held at St Asaph Cathedral at 1400 BST on Saturday, 18 August.The funeral is due to be held at St Asaph Cathedral at 1400 BST on Saturday, 18 August.
Archbishop Morgan said he, along with the current Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, had been encouraged by the late archbishop in their early careers.Archbishop Morgan said he, along with the current Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, had been encouraged by the late archbishop in their early careers.
"It was with enormous sadness that I heard of Bishop Alwyn's death. He will be remembered as a deeply pastoral bishop and archbishop," he said."It was with enormous sadness that I heard of Bishop Alwyn's death. He will be remembered as a deeply pastoral bishop and archbishop," he said.
"People in parishes always found him warm and engaging."People in parishes always found him warm and engaging.
"He devoted his entire life to the Church in Wales and when Archbishop Rowan and I became bishops at relatively young ages in the early 1990s, he was extremely encouraging of our ministries."He devoted his entire life to the Church in Wales and when Archbishop Rowan and I became bishops at relatively young ages in the early 1990s, he was extremely encouraging of our ministries.
"He was enormously supportive of the ministry of women priests. He had the courage of his convictions and after the first attempt to ordain women to the priesthood had failed he went back to the bishops a second time and ensured it was successful then."He was enormously supportive of the ministry of women priests. He had the courage of his convictions and after the first attempt to ordain women to the priesthood had failed he went back to the bishops a second time and ensured it was successful then.
He will be mourned in the Diocese of St Asaph as well as in the whole Church in Wales Bishop of St Asaph, the Right Rev John Davies I don't think formality came to him very easy, he loved to prick balloons of pomposity with an impish sense of fun and a twinkle in his eye Bishop of St Asaph, the Right Rev John Davies
"It was also during his time as Archbishop that the Church in Wales allowed divorcees to remarry in church. "It was also during his time as Archbishop that the Church in Wales allowed divorcees to remarry in church," he added.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Meriel, his widow, who supported him throughout his ministry and welcomed clergy and laity alike into their home wherever they lived. Archbishop Rice Jones leaves his wife Meriel, daughter Nia and two grandchildren.
"He also leaves a daughter Nia and two grandchildren, to whom he was devoted." The current Bishop of St Asaph John Stuart Davies said: "I will remember him as a very colourful figure, when he came to St Asaph as bishop, he was a real breath of fresh air.
"He was a popular figure, very approachable, easy to talk to and quite unstuffy.
"I don't think formality came to him very easy, he loved to prick balloons of pomposity with an impish sense of fun and a twinkle in his eye."
He said Archbishop Rice Jones's "greatest achievement" was steering the church "through the very difficult processes to enable women to be ordained as priests," and his support of Wales' devolution.
"He had a sense that the church was greater than its clergy, greater than its bishops so he wanted to involve every level of church life in any proposals to church growth and mission.
"I think his legacy will be a strengthening of links across the church and with other churches and a confidence in the church and its future," he added.
Born in 1934, Archbishop Rice Jones held the top post in the Welsh Anglican church for eight years from 1991 to 1999.Born in 1934, Archbishop Rice Jones held the top post in the Welsh Anglican church for eight years from 1991 to 1999.
Ordained in 1958 in Bangor and living in St Asaph, he was originally from Capel Curig.Ordained in 1958 in Bangor and living in St Asaph, he was originally from Capel Curig.
He was Bishop of St Asaph from 1982 to 1999 and, before that, had been Dean of Brecon.He was Bishop of St Asaph from 1982 to 1999 and, before that, had been Dean of Brecon.
He supported devolution and took part in the special service to mark the opening of the National Assembly for Wales in May 1999.
The present Bishop of St Asaph, the Right Rev John Davies said he had been a "much loved and respected, wise priest."
He said, "He will be mourned in the Diocese of St Asaph as well as in the whole Church in Wales. Our thoughts and prayers are with Meriel and his family at this time."