Newport Cathedral dean Jeremy Winston dies aged 57
Tributes have been paid to the dean of Newport Cathedral who has died after a short illness.
The Very Reverend Jeremy Winston, who was 57, had been due to start treatment for a brain tumour on Monday.
Father Jeremy was installed as dean in September after 18 years as vicar of St Mary's in Abergavenny.
The Bishop of Monmouth, the Right Reverend Dominic Walker, said he was "deeply saddened" at the loss of a "devoted priest".
Leading the tributes, the bishop described Father Jeremy as a man of "vision and inspiration".
"His death is a great loss to the cathedral and the diocese. I give thanks to God for Jeremy and his friendship and ministry and offer my condolences to his family and his many friends who will feel deeply bereaved at their loss," said Bishop Walker.
"Jeremy knew that he was seriously ill and faced the possibility of death with faith and confidence in the goodness of God. May he rest in peace."
Speaking on behalf of the congregation at St Mary's, Abergavenny, churchwarden Sir Trefor Morris, a close friend of Father Jeremy, said he had "given so much to Abergavenny, both to the church and to the local community".
"It is so sad for him as he had just been given a fantastic promotion to serve at Newport Cathedral. We are still getting over the shock of the news," said Sir Trefor.
"He will surely be missed by everybody who knew him in Abergavenny and by all his new friends in Newport."
Father Jeremy grew up in Griffithstown near Pontypool. After training as a teacher at Trinity College, Carmarthen, he went to theological college at St Stephen's House, Oxford, and was ordained in 1979.
He served as curate in Bassaleg near Newport before becoming Vicar of St Arvan's in 1983 and then moved ten years later to become vicar of St Mary's, Abergavenny.
St Mary's Church underwent major restoration under his leadership including the development of a priory centre and the nearby tithe barn.
In 2002, Father Jeremy became the area dean for all the parishes in the Abergavenny area and canon of the cathedral.