Richard Pain
Bishop of Monmouth
Pain in 2009
ChurchChurch in Wales
DioceseDiocese of Monmouth
Installed2013
Retired2019
PredecessorDominic Walker
SuccessorCherry Vann
Other post(s)Archdeacon of Monmouth (2009–2013)
Orders
Ordination1984 (Anglican deacon)
1985 (Anglican priest)
Consecration2013 (Anglican bishop)
Personal details
Born
Richard Edward Pain

(1956-09-21) 21 September 1956 (age 67)
NationalityBritish
DenominationCatholicism
Anglicanism (formerly)
Childrenthree
ProfessionBishop, theologian
Alma materBristol University
University of Wales, Cardiff

Richard Edward Pain (born 21 September 1956) is a retired former Anglican bishop. From 2013 to 2019, he served as Bishop of Monmouth in the Church in Wales. In June 2023 it was announced that he was being received into the Catholic Church.[1]

Early life and education

Pain was born on 21 September 1956 in London, England.[1][2] He studied English Literature at Bristol University,[1] graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1979.[3] In 1981, he entered St Michael's College, Llandaff to train for ordination.[1][4] He also studied theology at University of Wales, Cardiff, and graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity (BD) degree in 1984.[3]

Ordained ministry

Pain was ordained in the Church in Wales as a deacon in 1984 and as a priest in 1985.[3] He served his curacy at St Mary's Church, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, in the Diocese of Monmouth.[3][5] Next, he was curate-in-charge and then vicar of Cwmtillery and Six Bells between 1986 and 1991.[3][4] He then moved to Risca, where he was vicar of St Mary's Church from 1991 to 1998.[3] From 1998 to 2008, he was vicar of Monmouth.[4] He was additionally warden of ordinands from 2001 to 2006, and made an honorary canon of St Woolos' Cathedral, Newport in 2003.[3] He served as Archdeacon of Monmouth from 2008 to 2013.[6]

Episcopal ministry

He was elected Bishop of Monmouth on 23 July 2013.[4] Having accepted the position, he was consecrated on 21 September at Llandaff Cathedral and enthroned at Newport Cathedral on 18 October.[6][7] He was the 10th Bishop of Monmouth.[5]

At the time of his election, Pain stated that he was in favour of the ordination of women as bishops.[5]

In January 2019, the South Wales Argus revealed that Pain had not performed any of his episcopal duties since July 2018.[8] He was undergoing a "formal process of mediation": this was due to a "personality clash between the bishop and some of his staff", rather than relating to a serious or criminal matter.[8][9]

Pain retired on 30 April 2019, due to ill health.[10]

Roman Catholic Church

On 12 June 2023, it was announced that he would be received into the Roman Catholic Church through the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.[1] This took place during a service at the Church of St Basil and St Gwladys, Rogerstone, on 2 July 2023.[11] He is the first Welsh Anglican bishop to be received into the Ordinariate since its creation in 2011.[12]

Personal life

Pain is married. He and his wife have had three children together,[5][13][4] one of whom died in 2008 from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e luegi (12 June 2023). "Right Revd Richard Pain to be received in the Personal Ordinate of Our Lady of Walsingham". Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  2. ^ "New Bishop of Monmouth". Christian Today. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Richard Edward Pain". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Bishop Richard Pain". The Diocese of Monmouth. The Church in Wales. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d "New Bishop of Monmouth is Richard Pain". BBC News. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  6. ^ a b Brownson, Sophie (23 July 2013). "Archdeacon of Monmouth Richard Pain chosen as next bishop of Monmouth". The South Wales Argus. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  7. ^ "Enthronement of the Bishop of Monmouth". Events. Church in Wales. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  8. ^ a b Povey, Tomos (3 January 2019). "Bishop of Monmouth has not carried out any official work for six months". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  9. ^ "Bishop absent amid mediation with team". BBC news. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Bishop of Monmouth to retire". The Church in Wales. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  11. ^ Arnold, Tyler (14 June 2023). "Anglican bishop from Wales will convert to Catholicism to serve as priest". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  12. ^ Caldwell, Simon (15 June 2023). "First Welsh former Anglican bishop joins Ordinariate". Catholic Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  13. ^ Harrison, David (26 April 2009). "Anguish of parents whose daughter died after taking overdose of drugs bought online". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  14. ^ "Internet drug warning after death". 21 April 2009.

External links


Archdeacons of Monmouth
Bishops of Monmouth
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