Hundreds remember stabbed priest

The requiem mass for Father Paul Bennett, 59, was held at St Fagan's Church in Trecynon, near Aberdare, south Wales, where he had been vicar for five years and just yards from where he was stabbed to death.

It has emerged that Father Bennett, who died three weeks ago, was profoundly deaf, and he was praised for the way he coped with his disability.

The service started at noon, but friends, family and parishioners started to arrive hours before. The funeral cortege made its way from the vicarage, where the devoted family man lived with his wife Georgina, children Emma, 32, and Nigel, 34, and grandson John, 11, to the church next door. The Archbishop of Wales, the Most Rev Dr Barry Morgan, led the service, which was attended by many members of the clergy.

Father Bennett's long-time friend, the Assistant Bishop of Llandaff the Rt Rev David Yeoman, paid an emotional tribute to him during the 90-minute mass. He said: "As we all know Paul was profoundly deaf. What a challenge that must have been in a ministry that demands listening skills, but with his determination he managed it well."

The Assistant Bishop, who met Father Bennett 30 years ago, said people were still coming to terms with the "terrible tragedy". He spoke of the grief felt by the priest's wife, children, grandson and parents Tom and Anita, and praised the community for their support.

He described his friend as humble, relaxed and humorous, and said he was "a man of God and a man of the people". He said: "Here and in every parish he served, Paul was a committed and dedicated priest. A priest who loved God and loved people, and served both to the very best of his strength and ability."

Prayers were offered for Father Bennett's family, and Dr Yeoman spoke of the active role they played in church life. He said: "One of the greatest tributes you could pay to Paul is that he not only gave his own life to the church, but encouraged his own family to be very much part of the church, too."

Father Bennett was found in the grounds of his vicarage with multiple stab wounds on March 14 and was pronounced dead at the scene. An inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned.

Geraint David Evans, 23, from Maes Rhydwen in Trecynon, just yards from the vicarage, has been charged with Father Bennett's murder. He has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance on June 1.