A former Royal Marines Commando who served in Libya and Afghanistan has been welcomed as the new vicar in a Pembrokeshire community.

Reverend Doctor Jonathon Wright is the new vicar for the Fishguard and Goodwick area churches.

Revd Dr Wright, a 40-year-old father of two married to a local girl, follows in the footsteps of Revd Christopher Brown, who retired earlier this year.

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“My wife cut out Revd Brown’s retirement notice and pasted it to my desk,” said Jonathan.

“I applied and Bishop Dorian was gracious to offer me the opportunity to come to Fishguard.”

Jonathon left the navy in 2012 and attended a seminary in Oxford for three years.

Before his most recent appointment hr served as Priest in the Penderi Ministry Area in the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon, serving his curacy in Cardiff before this.

He has an MPhil and a doctorate and met Charlotte when they were competing against each other at an Oxford versus Cambridge Pentathlon.

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The couple married in 2011 and have two children, Martha and Peter, aged nine and three.

More than 240 people attended as Jonathon was licensed and installed by Bishop Dorrien Davies on Friday, September 6, with the local Sea Cadets and Sea Scouts among those in attendance.

This was followed by a packed church and the reintroduction of Sunday School for his first service at St Mary’s on Sunday, September 8.

The new vicar already feels welcome in the community.

“I have a very large dog called Froome,” he said. “A half an hour dog walk can take up to an hour and a half as people stop to chat.

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“It is brilliant to be ministering in a community that is welcoming, tight knit and has a real sense of identity.”

Jonathon is a keen reader, a runner and is learning Welsh. He has also just finished proofreading his first book, which is a new look at the tale of Joseph and Asenath; a reworking and expansion of his doctoral thesis.

Jonathon is making some changes to worship in Fishguard and the surrounding area.

Sunday worship at St Mary’s will now take place at 11.15 with an earlier 9.15 service taking place at one of the smaller satellite churches on a monthly rotation.

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There will also be weekday Eucharists at 10am on Tuesdays at St Mary’s Fishguard and on Wednesdays at 10am at St Geyndaf’s Llanwnda.

There are plans for the imminent return of evensong, a Welsh language service and crafty church for children and families as well as morning and evening prayer.

“When the bell rings in church, I will be there,” he said.