Bikers with belief: Trainee priest brings his passions together

Bibles and bikes will come together for the first ever Rev Run, a service and ride out across north Wales led by trainee priest and motorcyclist Stuart Dean.

The event takes place at St Asaph Cathedral in Denbighshire on Saturday, May 20 with Dean accompanied by the Cathedral Precentor, Canon Rex Matthais.

Dean said: “I wanted to create a service which reflects my passion as a biker and offer others the opportunity to join with me in the service and then head off together for a ride out through the north Wales countryside.

“Riding is about sharing the experience and sharing the experience sometimes can lead to other questions about wellbeing, mental health and the crossroad moments in life, which can include faith.

He added: “I’ve been a biker all my life since the age of 16 and my sermon will include what my faith means to me and sharing some experiences of what bikers sometimes call being in the zone and what it means to be in the zone in faith and on your bike.”

The service is open to everyone interested in bikes who want to combine their faith with their passion for motorcycles. Beginning at 11am, with the ride out beginning from the Cathedral at 12pm, there will be a chance to meet other service goers over a coffee and a bacon roll from 9.30am.

Dean added: “It will be good to have the opportunity to chat and get to know each other ahead of the service and ride out. The biker community is friendly and welcoming so do come along by yourself or with friends and family.

“The two-hour ride out will take us up to Blaenau Ffestiniog, over to Betws y Coed, then Bala and across to the Horseshoe Pass above Llangollen where we can re-group at the popular Ponderosa Café.”

Dean is training to be a priest at St Padarn’s Institute in Cardiff.