A PENARTH cleric is set to be given a church honour by the Archbishop of Wales.

The Reverend Peter Cox, vicar of Penarth All Saints since 1997, is to be made a canon of Llandaff Cathedral by Dr Barry Morgan where he will occupy the stall of Warthacwm.

Having been area dean of Penarth and Barry for four years, Mr Cox will now become a member of the cathedral chapter where he will join a team of canons who are responsible for maintaining and ministering to the cathedral.

Mr Cox grew up in the Rhondda where his father was a vicar in the parish of Tylorstown and Pontygwaith.

He has since studied history and theology at St David’s University College, Lampeter, and, after graduating, spent a gap year working at the Mayflower Family Centre, a Christian Community based in the East End of London.

His time in the church has saw him start out at All Saints in Penarth as a curate in 1979 before going on to become vicar at Aberpergwm with Blaengwrach for four years followed by eleven years as vicar at Bargoed and Deri with Brithdir before returning to Penarth.

He said: “I feel very honoured to be offered this ministry in recognition of what has been happening in my parish. My parents would have been really proud. I hope that I am able to make a valuable contribution to the mission of the Cathedral Chapter.”

Archbishop Barry Morgan was full of praise for the highly regarded Mr Cox.

The Archbishop said: “Peter Cox is not only a faithful parish priest and area dean but he has facilitated a sea change in the outreach of All Saints Penarth to the town as well as transforming the church building for more flexible community use. It gives me great pleasure to appoint him to be a member of the Cathedral Chapter.”

Mr Cox will be installed as canon (Warthacwm) at Llandaff Cathedral on Sunday, June 21, at Evensong at 3.30pm.