The vicar of Tywyn has congratulated the Rt Rev Andy John on becoming the new Archbishop of Wales.

Rev Dr Ruth Hansford said it was “wonderful” news that the Bishop of Bangor had been elected.

Both she and Bishop Andy, as he likes to be known, are long-time supporters of the Tallylyn Railway in Tywyn.

In 2009, Bishop Andy presented the first of what has become an annual Easter event, the railway’s popular Stations at Stations. This is a railway journey around the traditional Christian stations of the cross, but each set up at the six main stations on the railway.

Bishop Andy has returned on numerous occasions to assist and to take a leading part in many celebratory events including a blessing of Loco No. Six (Duncan) a former RAF loco, on the occasion of both the RAF and Duncan’s 100th birthday. Bp Andy also visited the railway in 2016 to name the newly acquired diesel Loco No 12, St Cadfan.

In 2020, Bishop Andy came to open the railway’s Awdry Weekend, a celebration of the link to Rev W G Awdry, author of the famous Thomas the Tank Engine series.

Commenting on Bishop Andy’s appointment, the vicar of Tywyn, the Rev Dr Ruth Hansford, herself a very enthusiastic supporter of the railway said: “It is wonderful to hear that the Bishop of Bangor, Andrew John, has been elected as the new Archbishop of Wales.

“Bishop Andy has always been very committed to supporting local churches in sharing the good news of God’s love in our communities, in traditional and new ways.

“He has certainly enjoyed being part of various events on the Talyllyn Railway over the years, something we hope will continue, despite the pressures of the new job.

“In the Church in Wales, the Archbishop remains a diocesan Bishop, so his ministry and leadership at national level will still be grounded in the knowledge and experience of ministry in the Diocese of Bangor, where churches remain an important part of our rural communities, and the Welsh language is integral to the life and worship of many communities.”