Church in Wales is Rocked by Scandal

Unholy Habits: Rot at the Heart of a Welsh Cathedral

A crisis of conduct has overwhelmed Bangor Cathedral, culminating in the resignation of the Archbishop of Wales. Revelations depict a toxic culture steeped in excessive drinking, safeguarding failures, and severe governance issues. Former choir members and staff have brought to light a deeply embedded pattern of misconduct, including a drinking game they called the "seven last shots of Christ," which took place following services for Good Friday. These troubling accounts triggered two official inquiries whose findings revealed a cathedral in disarray. This prompted the immediate retirement of Archbishop Andrew John and a reckoning for the Church in Wales. The institution now confronts the task of rebuilding trust shattered by these deeply troubling events.

A Culture of Excess

Testimonies from individuals previously associated with Bangor Cathedral paint a grim picture of its internal environment. Accounts from former choir members depict an environment where any event was an excuse to serve alcohol or visit a local pub. This atmosphere was not confined to social gatherings. It bled into the aftermath of services, with reports that it was common for multiple bottles of sparkling wine to be finished after Sunday services. The normalisation of heavy drinking created an atmosphere where individuals felt pressured to drink, and choosing not to was met with disbelief and questioning. This unhealthy relationship with alcohol appears to have been a significant symptom of wider institutional failings.

The Archbishop's Resignation

The escalating scandal led to the swift departure of Andrew John, who announced his immediate retirement as Archbishop of Wales and his later departure from the post of Bishop of Bangor. Having served as Bishop of Bangor since 2008 and taking on the role of Archbishop in 2021, his leadership came under intense scrutiny. The release of a pair of damning inquiries, which he had commissioned in October of the previous year, laid bare the extent of the problems. Although Mr. John was not accused of personal wrongdoing, the reports detailed a catastrophic failure of leadership and oversight within his diocese, making his position untenable. The representative body for the Church in Wales asserted that a complete overhaul of the diocese's 'leadership, procedures and governance' was essential.

"Seven Last Shots of Christ"

A deeply inappropriate drinking game stands out as an example of the cathedral’s environment. This event took place following a 2023 Good Friday concert when some priests and singers went to a local pub. They partook in an activity they called the ‘seven last shots of Christ’. This involved taking seven alcoholic shots, a twisted reference to the final seven statements of Jesus from the Cross. A former choir singer, Jessica, expressed her unease. She recalled departing after just one shot, feeling disturbed by the sight of clergy members in their collars participating in such an activity. This event reveals a profoundly casual attitude that had developed among some clergy and others in the cathedral’s social circle.

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A Voice of Warning

Jessica’s distressing experiences went further than the pervasive drinking. At a cathedral-run Oktoberfest celebration in 2022, a man training for the priesthood assaulted her. She remembers that he had drunk a great deal and that she had tried to alert others about his state. Jessica feels her cautions went unheeded, which led to the attack. The same man also assaulted another person at the celebration. She reported what happened, and while the man offered an apology and his path to the priesthood was stopped, Jessica insists the fundamental issues within the environment remained unaddressed.

An Unsafe Environment

Esmé Byrd, who worked for half a year as a lay clerk, called the atmosphere "profoundly unhealthy." She witnessed some people becoming severely intoxicated. Her worries also extended to inappropriate behaviour, such as lewd jokes and offensive humour being used around young choir members. This, along with a total lack of safety instruction when she started, fostered an environment she considered hazardous for young people. She remembers that her mandatory background check was not processed until weeks after her employment began, despite her being appointed months earlier.

Systemic Failures Exposed

The inquiries, which included a formal Bishop's Visitation and an independent safety audit, validated the personal accounts. The released summaries described an atmosphere where "sexual boundaries seemed blurred" and promiscuity was considered normal by some. The reports identified poor financial oversight, a lack of transparency, favouritism, and the spread of malicious gossip. A widespread loss of trust in leadership was noted, both at the cathedral and throughout the broader church organisation.

A "Badly Run After School Club"

Ms. Byrd’s frustration with the absence of professionalism and response ultimately prompted her to resign. She described the cathedral’s operations as having the feel of a poorly managed youth club instead of a professional body. Her perspective was that the issues arose not from ill intent, but from a profound failure to adhere to proper procedures, stemming from carelessness and inattention. This laxity, she warned, created a risky opening for "a person with bad intentions to do almost anything they wished." Her account underscores a systemic collapse of professional standards at a key Welsh religious institution.

Assault at Oktoberfest

The attack on Jessica during the 2022 Oktoberfest celebration is a harsh reminder of the consequences of the cathedral's permissive atmosphere. Held inside the historic 6th-Century Gwynedd cathedral, the gathering should have been a secure setting. Jessica’s claim that she had flagged the assailant’s heavy drinking to others suggests a breakdown in bystander responsibility and a general failure to recognise escalating danger. Officials from the Church in Wales later verified that two individuals lodged complaints regarding the man’s conduct, which resulted in the cancellation of his clerical training, but for the victims, the harm had been done.

Pressure on the Vulnerable

The unhealthy drinking environment included pressuring people who chose not to drink. The pressure to drink was also felt during a choir trip to Italy in 2023. Jessica, who was abstaining from alcohol during that period, found her choice was constantly questioned. She explained how her declining offers of complimentary drinks was met with persistent challenges. This compulsion to fit in points to a coercive social dynamic where individual autonomy was disrespected. The safety audit would later advise the cathedral to create a clear alcohol policy, partly to prevent anyone from feeling forced to drink.

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Safeguarding Lapses and Inappropriate Humour

Esmé Byrd’s anxiety for the choir's youngest participants was especially strong. The routine use of coarse, adult-themed humour around very young choir members demonstrates a staggering failure of judgment and a poor grasp of safeguarding duties. The independent audit later backed up claims of "inappropriate language, rude jokes and innuendoes" within the choir that made some feel unsafe. It was noted this kind of language was at times used to intentionally embarrass people. This conduct, along with the acknowledged delays in training and background checks, represented a major failure in protecting vulnerable individuals.

The Path to Resignation

The process leading to Archbishop Andrew John's departure started with his own initiative. In October 2024, he set up the two investigations after "very serious and urgent" safeguarding matters were brought to him. Media leaks in early 2025 exposed the existence of these reviews, which the diocese had kept private. Once redacted summaries became public, they confirmed the gravity of the problems. Shortly before stepping down, the Archbishop apologised, accepting responsibility for the failures on his watch and for not acting sooner. This was not, however, sufficient to silence the increasing demands for his exit.

Financial Mismanagement

Beyond the cultural and safety problems, the official reports revealed major financial irregularities. Questions were raised about lax financial oversight, ambiguous reporting structures, and spending that was not properly vetted. A significant area of dispute was the use of over £400,000 for new cathedral furnishings, covered by money from the diocese rather than the cathedral's own budget. An additional £20,000 of diocesan funds was used for staff trips abroad. Officials from the Church in Wales acknowledged the mistake, and the money was later paid back. These financial issues led to several serious incident reports being sent to the Charity Commission.

The Charity Commission Intervenes

The severity of the situation at Bangor prompted the involvement of the Charity Commission, the regulatory body for charities in England and Wales. It was revealed that six "serious incident reports" connected to the cathedral had been submitted in the previous year, covering both money and safeguarding. In reaction, the Commission launched formal compliance investigations into the Bangor Diocesan Trust and the cathedral's governing body. This external examination places additional pressure on the Church in Wales to implement meaningful changes regarding governance, financial practices, and conflicts of interest.

A History of Appointments

The origins of the crisis seem to be partly connected to leadership decisions. In 2021, following the departure of the Dean of Bangor, Archbishop John gave the diocesan secretary the additional role of sub-dean, a move combining two powerful positions. The later Visitation Report offered an implicit rebuke of this choice. Its primary recommendation was that any new appointment for Dean or Sub-Dean should not be combined with other duties. The report emphasized that running the cathedral was a full-time commitment. This shows how decisions made at the top may have played a part in the management breakdown at the center of the scandal.

An "Unequivocal" Apology

Before his retirement, Archbishop John made a personal statement. He gave a "heartfelt, unreserved, and unequivocal" apology for the misjudgments that he admitted caused "anxiety and hurt." He conceded that the reports exposed "shortcomings and poor organisational practice" that should not have occurred under his watch. He took full accountability for his delayed response to the issues. While this apology was a vital step, the gravity of the crisis, detailed in reports and personal stories, made a complete leadership change necessary for the diocese to start recovering.

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The Church's Response and the Way Forward

Following the archbishop's retirement, the Church in Wales has promised major reforms. Its representative body has acknowledged the "deeply troubling" findings and demanded comprehensive change. An Implementation Group and an Oversight Board are tasked with carrying out the suggestions from the twin reports, concentrating on embedding better safety protocols and governance. It has been stated that alcohol is not routinely offered following worship, and new guidelines are being drafted. Moreover, a safety audit of every cathedral in Wales is planned, along with a cultural review of the whole church body.

A Culture of "Negligence and Neglect"

Esmé Byrd’s view that the cathedral's problems came from a profound level of carelessness and inattention, rather than ill will, is telling. This indicates a slow decay of standards and a blindness to mounting risks within the organization. It suggests an atmosphere where individuals did not fulfill their responsibilities, whether to young singers or to vulnerable adults. The reports later backed this up, citing "inadequate oversight arrangements" and an unwillingness to act when people’s conduct became unacceptable. This passive culture allowed a toxic environment to grow, with terrible results for those involved.

Restoring Faith in the Institution

The scandal has severely harmed the public image of Bangor Cathedral and the greater Church in Wales. Re-establishing trust with the public and its congregation will be a long and difficult road. The new leaders must show a clear and lasting dedication to openness, accountability, and most importantly, the safety and welfare of all participants in its activities. The mandated reviews and audits are an essential beginning, but transforming a deep-seated culture involves more than just new rules; it requires a fundamental change in mindset and actions at all levels of the organization.

A National Reckoning

The situation at Bangor is not an isolated incident. It connects with broader public anxieties about how institutions are held accountable for safety. The commitment from the Church in Wales to audit all its cathedrals indicates a recognition that these issues might extend beyond a single diocese. The crisis in Bangor is a sharp warning to all organizations, religious or not, about the risks of weak governance, unexamined cultural habits, and the failure to heed those who sound the alarm. The path to redemption for the Church in Wales will be monitored closely as a test of its ability to achieve real reform.