Why on earth are you a pirate? It is a good question to ask a vicar. I moved to Conwy in February 2025, and a friend of mine from the Fellowship for Parish Evangelism told me of Conwy’s Pirate Festival (https://www.visitconwy.org.uk/whats-on/conwy-pirate-festival-2025-p483091). I went and took a look. I enjoyed it. I even got the chance to fire a musket.

I have become good friends with many of the gang and it was a delight to host a Pirate Carol Service in St Benedict’s Church in December 2025. Readings were from the Pirate Bible and the carols had been rewritten. There were lots of arrgghs and laughter. For more of the pirate bible, see https://piratebible.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopEzLt7LrFHG4RKRX3HLFUy_HCd9UA1ks3DSEfRgNErlkgylLpU

There are rumours of pirates being buried in the churchyard and indeed in the church. Indeed an archbishop of york (a long time ago) is reputed to have been a pirate. For now there are two reasons why I am a pirate vicar. First, the Conwy Pirates raise a lot of money for charity and are deeply committed to each other. Second, there is a pirate code. That is a subject for another blog. At its heart is the phrase: ‘no one stands alone’. That is tru for me when I am with them.