STORIES of courage, uncertainty and hope were recounted to celebrate 21 years of women priests.

The event was held last Friday at St Asaph Cathedral.

Organised by MAE Cymru – an organisation which supports the wellbeing and fairness for women in the church – the event featured storytellers such as Ester Andrews, who worked as a pawnbroker in Rhyl before training to be a youth worker.

Ester, who lives in Prestatyn and works in schools around Towyn, told parishioners how pawning false teeth and gold chains led her on the path to ministry with the church.

She and her husband, Jon, a former sound engineer, are training to be youth workers at the Church in Wales’ college, St Padarn’s, in Cardiff.

Karen Maurice, of the St Asaph Diocese, said: “Ester was the youngest storyteller of the evening. She spoke to audiences in the new tearooms.

“Mary Stallard, the newly-announced archdeacon of Bangor, was the second of the storytellers. She explained how she and her husband, Andrew, currently the Vicar of Llangollen, were the first stipendiary married clergy couple in Wales.

“She also recounted a story from her childhood – as a ‘vicarage kid’. Mary’s dad is a vicar too. One day, when she was eight years’ old, she opened the front door to a man with a gun. She remembered being not frightened, but astonished.

“She was grabbed quickly by her mum and dad and the police were called and dealt with the situation.

“It taught her to always look through the window before opening the door.”

Music was provided on the night by Elise Gwilym, who played guitar, and Cass Meurig, a Bala-based folk artist.

Sarah Wheat, event organiser and the Diocese of St Asaph’s engagement officer, added: "It was an inspiring evening, celebrating the achievements of women. The atmosphere was warm and encouraging and all the stories were both entertaining and moving in equal measure.

"I’d like to thank all the six storytellers for standing up bravely to tell others of their experiences."

Other speakers included Dorothi Evans, a priest in the Valle Crucis Mission Area near Corwen, and Lorraine Badger Watts, a priest in the Estuary and Mountain mission area, near Holywell.