PEOPLE from across Gwent are giving thanks for a decade of dedicated service from a bishop who is retiring at the end of this month.

A week of farewells will be held for the Bishop of Monmouth, Rt Revd Dominic Walker OGS, who will retire at the end of June.

They include a full peal of bells from Newport Cathedral, special services, and the premiere of a new hymn setting in his honour.

Bishop Dominic became the ninth Bishop of Monmouth in 2003, following Archbishop Rowan Williams who became the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Bishop Dominic said: "It has been a great privilege to serve as Bishop of Monmouth. It is such a varied diocese with the urban, rural and valley communities.

"There are also the church schools and Tymawr convent of contemplative nuns as well as chaplains ministering to schools, university hospitals and prisons.

"I have greatly enjoyed my teaching role in the diocese and the large crowds that have gathered for the Lent talks. I have also loved the services of baptism and confirmation with people of all ages committing themselves to the Christian faith. I shall miss the staff team and the contact with so many people but not the meetings and the paperwork!”

Events to mark Bishop Dominic’s retirement include: A Bell peal: on Saturday June 22 the 12 bells at Newport Cathedral will ring out in a full peal as a thanksgiving for the ministry of Bishop Dominic.

A Farewell service: On Monday June 24, Bishop Dominic will preside at a Farewell Eucharist in St Mary’s Priory Church, Abergavenny. The Priory's Director of Music has written a special setting of the hymn "Hail, harbinger of morn".

A Choral Evensong: Bishop Dominic’s final service will be Choral Evensong in the cathedral on Sunday June 30 at 6.30pm. The Dean of Monmouth will preach at the service and Bishop Dominic will give the blessing.

At the end of a week of farewells, Bishop Dominic will be ordaining seven priests and five deacons in two services at Newport Cathedral on Saturday June 29.