The appointment of the Revd. John Binny BA as Vicar of Pentyrch with Capel Llanilltern was announced on Sunday 27th October. The Revd. Binny is currently the Rector Vicar of Eglwysbrewis with St. Athan and Gileston in the Vale of Glamorgan, where he has been the incumbent since 1982. He is married to Judy, who is a teacher at St. Athan's Primary School. They have two children, both of whom attended the Bishop of Llandaff High School. Rachel, who is 22, works as a Trading Standards Officer in Coventry having graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University, and Christopher, who is at Warwick University studying Biological Sciences.
   John Binny, whose parental home was in Rhiwbina, was educated at Penarth Grammar School. After university he studied Theology at Lampeter before being ordained in Llandaff Cathedral, as a Deacon in 1971 and as a Priest in 1972. He was an assistant Curate in Llantrisant from 1971 to 1977 when he became Vicar of Troedyrhiw, where he served until his translation to St. Athan.
   He married Judy, whom he had met in Llantrisant, in 1975. Although Judy was born in Welshpool she was brought up in Yorkshire, where her father, who was in the Army was later posted. She trained to be a Home Economics teacher at Worcester Training College and later graduated in Biology through the Open University. When they moved to St. Athan she became involved with the local play group and later undertook part time Biology teaching at Balfour House School in St. Athan. Her work with the playgroup led her to a change of career and she took a sabbatical year to complete the Primary Teacher Conversion Course at the Teachers' College in Cyncoed. After she had taught for a number of years in the Infant School in St. Athan this school was amalgamated with the Junior School to form St. Athan Primary where she now takes the Year Two class and is the

Science Co-ordinator. In the village she is a member of the Women's Institute (a Former president).
   Judy and Christopher are both members of Côr Bro Ogwr and the Mid-Glamorgan Savoyards.
   John believes in the importance of Parish Ministry and enjoys working with people of all ages. He is "Broad" in Churchmanship and is happy to fit in with the tradition of the Parish. Visiting is important part of his mission and he places great emphasis on getting to know people in their own homes. His experience has encompassed both rural industrial and rural dormitory communities. He is Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governors of the St. Athan Primary School and a founder member of the Parent Teacher Association. He regularly takes school assembly and visits classes and welcomes the children to the parish church for special services. He ministers in a local Residential Care Home and has counselled young care assistants who are learning to cope with death.
   In recent years St. Athan's Church has held well-advertised "At Home" days to welcome people from the community and beyond to learn more about the church, its life and ministry, past and present and its aims for the future. During the recent millennium and Royal Golden Jubilee celebrations the churched of the parish played an integral part, with Civic Services, Flower Festivals and involvement in village events. Many villagers responded to the invitation to make kneelers for the church to mark the Millennium.
Co-operation with the St. Athan Methodist Church has been a marked feature of his ministry.

There is a liaison committee of lay people and he has regular meetings with the Methodist Minister. Some services are shared and joint Lent Lunches and Bible Study Groups are held.
   I am sure that all the readers of this magazine will wish to join with the Churchwardens and myself in welcoming John and Judy to the parish and wishing them a very happy and fruitful ministry within the Parish of Pentyrch with Capel Llanilltern.

Gordon Longmore,
Secretary,
Parochial Church Council.