Cymraeg

Translation form

Thank you for taking the time to translate this page, making our website accessible to more people. We have created a simple form to help ensure the process is easy and intuitive. Follow the headings for each section and add your translations below each one.

You are currently translating

Giving Thanks for 72 Remarkable Years of Ministry

View current page

English content

Text block 1

A remarkable chapter in the life of the Church was marked on All Saints' Day as the Revd Canon Glynne Turner celebrated his final Eucharist at St Faith's Church, Llanishen, bringing to a close an extraordinary 72 years of ordained ministry.At the age of 96, Canon Turner offered his final blessing to the congregation, marking the culmination of more than seven decades of faithful service. It was an occasion filled with gratitude, affection and thanksgiving, as parishioners gathered to honour a priest whose ministry has touched countless lives across Wales and beyond.Ordained priest on 24 September 1955 at St Dyfrig's Church, Cardiff, by Archbishop John Morgan, Canon Turner has devoted his life to serving God and his people. His ministry has taken him across the Dioceses of Swansea and Brecon and Llandaff, serving in parishes including Aberaman, Oystermouth, Abercynon, Ton Pentre, Ystradyfodwg, Caerphilly and Whitchurch.His distinguished service also included appointments as a Chapter Canon of Llandaff Cathedral and later as Canon Precentor. Alongside his parish responsibilities, he undertook significant chaplaincy work at Whitchurch Hospital and Velindre Hospital, offering pastoral care, comfort and support to patients, families and staff.Yet titles and appointments tell only part of the story. Those who have had the privilege of knowing Canon Turner speak most readily of his warmth, humility, wisdom and genuine love for people. He was known for treating those serving alongside him not as subordinates but as colleagues, reflecting a generosity of spirit and respect for others that has characterised his ministry throughout the years.Throughout this remarkable journey, his beloved wife Pat has been a constant companion and source of support, sharing in the joys, challenges and blessings of a lifetime dedicated to the service of Christ and his Church.Canon Turner's ministry has long been guided by the words of the much-loved hymn O Jesus, I Have Promised, which so perfectly reflects the faithfulness, dedication and steadfast discipleship that have shaped his vocation.The words of the Psalmist also seem especially fitting as the Church reflects on a life of faithful service:"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green."Psalm 92:12-14After 72 years of ordained ministry, these words resonate deeply. Canon Turner's life and witness stand as a testament to enduring faith, faithful service and a ministry that continues to bear fruit.There was also a note of gentle humour amid the emotion of the day. Canon Turner reassured the congregation that he would still be available in the event of emergencies, prompting many to conclude that this is retirement in name only. As several parishioners remarked, St Faith's has almost certainly not seen the last of him.Members of the congregation expressed their heartfelt thanks not simply for the services he has celebrated or the churches he has served, but for the comfort he has brought, the faith he has nurtured, the wisdom he has shared and the example he has set over so many years.As tears accompanied his final blessing, they reflected the deep affection and gratitude felt by all present. They spoke of a ministry that cannot be measured merely by years served, but by lives changed, faith strengthened and communities enriched.The congregation of St Faith's extends its sincere thanks to Canon Turner for 72 years of faithful priestly ministry and offers its warmest good wishes to both Glynne and Pat for the years ahead.While his final Eucharist has now been celebrated, the impact of Canon Turner's ministry will continue to live on in the people, parishes and communities he has served. His legacy is not only one of remarkable longevity, but of faithfulness, kindness and a vocation lived wholeheartedly in the service of God and others.

Welsh content