A popular north Pembrokeshire minister has announced he is to retire later this year.

Rev Carl D. Williams, of Hermon Chapel, Fishguard and Glandwr Chapel, Llanychaer, plans to step down from the pulpit at the start of November, and has been described locally as “one of the great preachers of our time”.

Rev Williams is well known throughout Wales, and has been a minister in the Fishguard parish for 28 years, during which Hermon celebrated its 200th anniversary, and the ancient horse chestnut tree in the church grounds was felled.

He has been a minister for 50 years.

He said: “I feel it is time to retire and have notified my people. I will feel a great loss to leave the two churches and the community at large.

“It has been a privilege to be part of such a close-knit community and I will miss it. I have had many kind blessings from people.”

He added: “I have seen many changes in the church, comings and goings, joy and sadness. The kindness of the two churches has been first class, and my involvement in the community has given me great showers of joy.”

Hermon secretary Clive Jackson paid tribute to Rev Williams’ work in the church and wider community.

He said: “He’s been a wonderful minister the whole time, and has looked after the people well.

“He’s an excellent preacher, one of the best, and he will be missed very much.

“Everybody is very sorry that he is going. It’s a big loss to the church and town.”

Rev Williams became president of the Baptist Union of Wales in 2000, and brought meetings to Fishguard. During the 1990s he was made president of the free church council of Wales.

Rev Williams and his wife Rita will move back to Carmarthenshire after his retirement.

anwen.humfrey@ westerntelegraph.co.uk.