Bishop of Bangor elected as new Archbishop of Wales
A new Archbishop of Wales has been elected today.
There had been speculation that Wales could become the first country in the UK to vote a woman into the highest position, but Andy John who has served as the Bishop of Bangor for the past 13 years, has been chosen as the 14th Archbishop of Wales.
He succeeds Bishop John Davies who retired in May after four years as the leader of the Church in Wales.
Archbishop Andy was elected having secured a two-thirds majority vote from members of the Electoral College on the first day of its meeting at Holy Trinity Church, Llandrindod Wells.
The election was immediately confirmed by the five other diocesan bishops and announced at the door of the church by the Provincial Secretary of the Church in Wales, Simon Lloyd. Archbishop Andy will be enthroned at St. Deiniol’s Cathedral, Bangor, in due course. As Archbishop he will continue to serve as Bishop of Bangor.
Half of the six bishops who are candidates were women.
‘Privilege’
He said: “As we look forward to the future, we face many challenges, but we do so not alone. We face the challenges with God’s grace and with one another, because together we are so much stronger, so much better.
“I am confident that the Church in Wales will be able to respond with energy and vision and vigour. It is my enormous privilege to serve our church to this end.”
The Archdeacon of Meirionnydd, Andrew Jones, welcomed the news on behalf of the Diocese of Bangor.
He said: “On behalf of the Diocese of Bangor, I want to congratulate Bishop Andy on his election as the next Archbishop of Wales. His leadership in the Diocese of Bangor since 2009 has been excellent and very much appreciated.
“He has steered the diocese through uncharted times and has done it with care, compassion and clarity.
“This is a great privilege for us as a Diocese and he becomes the third Bishop of Bangor to be the Archbishop of Wales in the last century – GO Williams in the late 70s/80s and Charles Green in the 30s.
“Both left a significant mark on the history of our Church and I am certain that Bishop Andy will equally be an outstanding Archbishop, who will lead our Church strategically, diligently and pastorally.
“As a Diocese we pray for Bishop Andy and his family and that he will be blessed in this new ministry and leadership.”
‘Candidates’
The other candidates were the Bishop of St Asaph, Gregory Cameron, the Bishop of St Davids, Joanna Penberthy, the Bishop of Llandaff, June Osborne, the Bishop of Monmouth, Cherry Vann, and the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, John Lomas.
The 42 members of the Electoral College will have three days to make a decision. To be elected Archbishop a nominee must win two-thirds of the votes of the college.
Usually, the candidate with the fewest votes will withdraw if there is no clear winner, and then the process is repeated.
If the college fails to choose within three days the decision passes to the Bench of Bishops.
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Will the new Archbishop of Wales 🏴 open all the church’s and chapels 💒for homeless people to sleep and stay in as most are Empty that’s what Religion should be doing
No this is the Anglican church, all they do is look after their own interests. It’s the Tory party at prayer remember. Personally I’m surprised that anyone actually cares about this bit of news. According to the 2018 British Social Attitudes Survey, Wales was the most irreligious part of the UK with 58% of Welsh adults stating that they did not identify with a religion. Given that most Welsh people are non-religious, the fact that the Church of Wales is disestablished and that most Welsh Christians are non-conformist I really don’t see why this should be regarded as an important… Read more »
The Church in Wales (CinW) , disestablished by Welsh Liberals, is the Tory Party at pray 😂 I think you’re confusing the CinW with the socially Conservative Evangelical churches. Most Evangelical churches won’t even ordain single women, where as 3 out of 6 of the CinW’s bishops are women and over half of the Vicars are female. Do your research before you attack an organisation just because you are angered with others 🙄
The Church in Wales is very supportive of Cymru as a nation and certainly of yr iaith Cymraeg. The Bishop of St Davids has recently been castigated for speaking out against Tories. I am part of a Welsh speaking Church in Wales congregation (including Welsh republicans) who would take great issue at your insinuation that we are Anglo-centric and want to be part of the Church of England. Even Evangelicals in the Church in Wales are theologically conservative, not Tory. Wales is already a secular country but with a rich religious heritage which has preserved our language thanks to William… Read more »
The Archbishop has no authority over chapels. Most church buildings are unsuitable for accomodation for anyone for long and are often too old to heat effectively. However Christians have always been among the foremost advocates and supporters for vulnerable and homeless people, but old deteriorating buildings would provide little physical comfort of the homeless to sleep in. I don’t think you understand what Christianity is…
Actually my experience of Christians has shown me that most ‘Christians’ don’t understand what Christianity is. I’ve heard far too many hateful remarks about the poor, the unemployed, single mothers and refugees from so-called ‘Christians’.
Sorry to hear that Barry. Not my experience thankfully, I’ve been poor, unemployed, addicted and found nothing but love and support. Christianity is salvation by Jesus and forgiveness. People who go to church aren’t always following Jesus. I hope you meet some genuine disciples.
Yes, and speak prophetic truth to power. Show courage, unlike the Bishop of St.Davids who banned ringing a church bell because of Covid, if you can figure that. If you are Welsh, narcissistic and woke, the Church Wales may agree with you on some things. But you need to watch out on others.