THE cathedral at St Asaph, like so many other
cathedrals on Maundy Thursday, was packed with deacons, priests,
and bishops who had come to renew their ordination vows. An
important part of the service was the blessing of the holy oils,
which the clergy would then take back to their parishes, and it is
to be hoped that the Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Revd Gregory
Cameron, was not the only one making a point of using Fairtrade oil
from Palestine.
It was part of a campaign by the Church in Wales to become a
Fairtrade Province, believed to be the first in the Anglican
Communion. "The holy oils are used in ministry as symbols of God's
peace and blessing, and are described in scripture as the 'oil of
gladness'," the Bishop said.
"The use of Fairtrade oil this year is an expression of our
prayer that all workers will receive fair reward for their labours,
and, as a consequence, know the peace, blessing, and joy this
brings."