THE VICAR of Aberporth has quit his post after revealing a lengthy battle with mental health he says brought him to the brink of a nervous breakdown.

In a heartfelt resignation speech before parishioners at St Cynwyls Church on Sunday, Rev Christopher Frost claimed many rural vicars were suffering the effects of a heavy workload.

And in announcing his intention to leave the Anglican Church In Wales he also had harsh words for Bishop of St Davids Joanne Penberthy.

“Bishops have far too much power and too little accountability which has the tendency to cause a bit of chaos,” said Rev Frost, in a video posted on YouTube.

“When a Bishop is installed who is pleasant to be with in person but who makes very divisive and unwise decisions it brings the whole Church into disrepute whilst also having a catastrophic effect on clergy morale.”

The married dad-of-one – who has served at Aberporth for five years following a two-year spell at Cardigan – added: “The job of being a vicar is really difficult.

“(We) are expected to be an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a pastor and a teacher all rolled up as one, as well as being a good manager and general organisational genius.

“The rural Anglican Church places a huge emphasis on one vicar trying to be good at everything, whether we like it or not.

“Many vicars, some younger and far more capable than me, are suffering from stress, anxiety, depression and burn-out because the pressure of trying to juggle all those apples is too much and it’s difficult for me to see the pain that they are going through.

“Over the past two or three years despite trying my best I myself have become quite exhausted and stressed.

“I’ve repeatedly sought medical attention and needed to take time off work earlier this year due to nearing a breakdown.

“I’ve become not as inspired as I want to be and not as loving as I know I could be as well as being not the quite the father and husband that I want to be.

“The problem is that to Jesus those are the most important things.

“Earlier this week I tendered my resignation as vicar which was accepted by the Archbishop of Wales in the absence of Bishop Joanna.”

Rev Frost added that he would work a three-month notice up until the end of November before focusing on Christian teaching and preaching ‘at any local church that will have me’.

He also announced his intention to return to education to study a philosophy degree and said he and his wife Kate were eager to offer help and relationship advice for young families.

Having grown up as an atheist teenager in High Wycombe in a family with no religious links, Rev Frost had worked as a cook, restaurant manager and teacher before becoming a Christian while studying at university in Aberystwyth.

Following a stint teaching English in South Korea he returned to west Wales to enter the Church as an assistant to Rev John Bennett at St Mary’s in Cardigan, prior to taking over at Aberporth.

The Church In Wales has been asked to comment.