Brecon Cathedral is delighted to announce that on February 4 the Rev’d Dr Emma L. Whittick will become a member of the cathedral team at a special evensong service. 

Emma grew up in Oxfordshire and moved to Wales to study Mathematics at Aberystwyth where she became a Christian having previously had no contact with church.  Following a brief career as a teacher, Emma returned to academia to complete a Masters and PhD.  She then worked as a Deanery Evangelist, helping the 25 Anglican Churches in the Aberystwyth area share the Gospel in their communities.  This led to exploring a call to ordained ministry.  Emma was ordained in 2015, serving her Curacy in Dafen and Felinfoel, near Llanelli, in the Diocese of St Davids and then working as Chaplain to the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David at the Lampeter and Carmarthen Campuses.  

In addition to her work at the University, Emma contributes regularly to religious broadcasting on BBC radio. She enjoys a variety of sports and also plays the viola and guitar.  She’s a member of the Society of Contemporary Evangelists, the Fellowship for Parish Evangelism and is a Trustee for a Christian Healing Charity.  Emma is delighted to be appointed to this new role and is very much looking forward to getting to know the Cathedral community in the coming months.  

"It will be a privilege to participate in the ministry of the Cathedral, where Christian worship has taken place for over 900 years," writes Emma. 

"I’m especially looking forward to working alongside the Dean and his team to ensure that future generations will know the peace of Christ in this place and be able to draw closer to God, whether they are a tourist, a pilgrim or a committed member of the congregation."

The Dean of Brecon, the Very Revd Dr Paul Shackerley said: "We are looking forward to welcoming Emma to share in the Cathedral’s ministry and mission. She will bring many gifts, working 50% of the time as Minor Canon and 50 per cent as Bishop’s Chaplain. I know you will all give her a warm Brecon welcome when she moves here early 2024."