Church in Wales Makes Historic Move

A New Archbishop for a Church in Crisis

A historic appointment has been made by the Church in Wales, which has selected a woman who is openly gay as its new archbishop. The Most Rev Cherry Vann is set to lead a church that is navigating a period of profound crisis. Her election comes after the departure of her predecessor amid a scandal involving bullying and misconduct. She assumes her role with a firm promise of healing and reconciliation for a deeply wounded institution.

The selection of Vann, who remains Monmouth's Bishop, marks a significant moment for the worldwide Anglican Communion. For the first time, a woman holds such a post in the United Kingdom. Her appointment is viewed by many as a powerful symbol of a more inclusive and progressive future. Supporters believe she has the skills needed to restore confidence after a series of damaging revelations.

A supermajority vote from the church's Electoral College decided Vann's election. The vote occurred in Chepstow at the end of July 2025. She now heads one of the smaller provinces in the global Anglican family, but one that has been disproportionately influential in its progressive stances. The church now must face the challenge of rebuilding trust from within its own pews and with the wider public.

A Tumultuous Inheritance

Archbishop Vann takes over a church shaken by events at Bangor Cathedral. Her predecessor, Andy John, stepped down from his archbishop post suddenly in June 2025. He also declared his plan to retire from his role as Bangor's Bishop at the end of August of the same year. John's departure was preceded by mounting pressure for him to resign over his handling of a crisis in his diocese.

Reviews revealed a toxic culture at the cathedral. Reports gave details of excessive alcohol consumption, inappropriate language, and an environment where sexual boundaries were blurred. Failures in safeguarding, financial mismanagement, and bullying were also uncovered. One report from the safeguarding agency ThirtyOne:Eight described a culture of humiliating banter and perceived promiscuity. There was no suggestion of personal misconduct by John himself.

However, John took full responsibility for the failings under his leadership, offering an "unreserved and unequivocal" apology. He called the pressure for his resignation a "nightmare" but conceded it was right for a new person to take charge. The governing body for the Church in Wales had reviewed deeply troubling reports about the lack of transparency and weak management in Bangor. Six reports on serious incidents were delivered to the Charity Commission, covering both safeguarding and financial matters.

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The Path to Priesthood

Born in 1958 in Leicestershire, England, Cherry Vann's early life was immersed in music and faith. Her father was an organist at their church, and she followed a similar path. She trained as a pianist, violinist, and music teacher through the Royal College of Music. For more than two decades, she also conducted the Bolton Chamber Orchestra, showing a passion for music that developed alongside her vocation.

Her formal path to ministry started in 1986 at Westcott House, Cambridge. There she entered an Anglican theological college for ordination training. In 1989, she was ordained a deacon inside the Diocese of Manchester. This occurred during a time of significant change and debate regarding the role of women in ministry inside the Church of England.

In a trailblazing move, Vann was among the first group of women to be ordained a priest in England during 1994. This step placed her at the front of a historic shift within the Anglican tradition. She held parish roles across the Manchester diocese before her leadership qualities led to recognition with more senior appointments. These formative years helped shape her understanding of the church’s internal struggles and its capacity for change.

A Ministry of Firsts

Vann's career is defined by a series of pioneering achievements. After her priest ordination, she held the position of Archdeacon for Rochdale for eleven years, a senior role in the Diocese of Manchester. In 2020, she moved across the border to become Monmouth's Bishop in the Church in Wales, a move that also established her as the first lesbian bishop in the Welsh church.

Her latest election to be the 15th Welsh Archbishop elevates her to a highly significant leadership post inside the global Anglican Communion. The appointment makes her the first woman archbishop in the UK and the first primate who is an openly lesbian and partnered woman in the entire Anglican Communion. A primate is a senior archbishop who leads an ecclesiastical province.

This series of firsts was not a path sought for personal recognition. Vann has said she is not a campaigner but is instead someone striving to be faithful to God's calling. Nonetheless, her journey has broken through multiple "stained-glass ceilings" and provides a powerful symbol of change for Anglicans globally who want greater inclusion of women and LGBTQ+ individuals within the denomination.

A Tale of Two Churches

The Archbishop’s path highlights the different approaches of the English and Welsh churches on human sexuality. For much of her career in England, Vann kept her long-term relationship with her partner, Wendy Diamond, private. She has mentioned the fear of being outed by the press and the possible consequences for her ministry. This reflects the stance of the Church of England, which expects gay clergy to practice celibacy even while permitting same-sex relationships in theory.

Conversely, a more progressive stance has been adopted by the Church in Wales. Since 2021, the church has formally allowed its clergy to offer services of blessing for same-sex civil unions and marriages. This decision created a divergence from its larger English counterpart. While it does not authorize clergy to perform same-sex marriages, it was a major step that came after years of debate.

For Vann, moving to Wales during 2020 created an opportunity to be open about her relationship publicly for the initial time in her ministry. Her partner now joins her at public events and services, a normality that she could not have foreseen in England. This contrast shows the significant cultural and theological differences that have developed between the two neighbouring Anglican provinces.

The Challenge of Reconciliation

In her first statements as Archbishop, Vann clarified that her top priority is to bring "healing and reconciliation" throughout the Church in Wales. Acknowledging the "very public failings" that resulted in her predecessor’s departure, she has committed to tackling the issues that have damaged trust within the church and its communities. This task requires more than just addressing the specific issues surrounding the Bangor Cathedral events.

The church has initiated a Wales-wide "cultural audit" to hold people accountable and to understand the systemic issues that let the crisis unfold. Vann has stated her belief that this audit will be adequate to address the problems, playing down requests from some clergy for a specific, independent investigation of the Bangor situation. Her focus is on rebuilding confidence and moving forward.

The Dean of Newport, the Very Revd Ian Black, has expressed strong support for her leadership. He called Vann "the right person for this moment," mentioning her skills, vision, and deep faith as essential qualities for restoring stability and trust. Her supporters are confident her ability to be open to different viewpoints will be vital in uniting a fractured church.

Navigating Deep Divisions

Despite her own identity as an openly gay woman, Archbishop Vann has taken a cautious and pastoral approach to same-sex marriage within the denomination. She has said she doesn't personally require a church wedding, as she has been in a committed civil partnership for over three decades. She concedes that full marriage equality within the denomination is likely "unavoidable," but she highlights that the timing is the key question.

Vann's position shows the deep theological divisions that persist inside the Church in Wales and the broader Anglican family. She has stressed that as a leader, she is bound to honour the position of those who are theologically opposed to same-sex marriage. Pushing the issue too fast, she worries, could estrange a large portion of the clergy and laity, which would hinder her primary objective of reconciliation.

This balancing act will be a primary challenge of her primacy. The Church in Wales gave approval for the blessing of same-sex unions as an experimental five-year measure in 2021, and a review of that decision is getting closer. Her leadership will be vital in guiding the church through the next phase of this sensitive debate, aiming to maintain unity while demonstrating a way for people with vehement disagreements to maintain love for one another.

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A Controversial Appointment

The election of an openly lesbian archbishop was not welcomed by all. Her appointment has prompted indignation in some conservative circles. One prominent group, Christian Concern, called the decision a departure from the church's foundational principles and biblical doctrine. They contend that her relationship goes against the historic teaching that marriage is a lifelong union between one man and one woman.

Responding to the criticism, the Welsh church has emphasized the overwhelmingly positive reception from many other denominations and faith groups. This suggests that while the decision is divisive for some, it is viewed as a positive and progressive step by many others in the ecumenical community.

Vann herself has waved away concerns that her election might be viewed as tokenistic. She highlighted the demanding supermajority vote needed from the electoral college. She shared her confidence that the clergy and laity voted for her based on their belief in her skills and leadership abilities to guide the church at this specific, challenging time, not chiefly due to her gender or sexuality.

An Outsider's Perspective

Born and serving most of her ministry in England, Vann is somewhat new to the institution she leads. She was raised in Whetstone, Leicestershire, and spent her whole career in the Diocese of Manchester until she moved to Monmouth in 2020. This lack of deep roots within the internal politics and history of the Church in Wales could prove to be a significant advantage.

Her arrival represents a clear departure from the Andy John era and the particular crisis that engulfed Bangor Cathedral. It brings a fresh perspective to long-standing issues and helps avoid any perception of being tied to previous factions or disputes. Indeed, her initial appointment to be Monmouth's Bishop was viewed by some as an effort to resolve factional fighting related to her predecessor there, Richard Pain.

This status as an external figure, combined with her historic identity, puts her in a position to lead a genuine cultural shift. Her supporters hope she can enact the necessary reforms and cultivate a new culture of transparency and accountability without being held back by past loyalties or conflicts. Her main allegiance is to the future well-being of the denomination, not its troubled past.

The Future of the Church in Wales

Archbishop Vann takes charge of a church facing major demographic challenges. Like many denominations in the UK, the Welsh church has seen a steep membership decline over the last several decades. Official figures showed its membership fell to just 42,441 by 2018, which is only 1.4% of the Welsh population.

Reversing this trend and connecting with younger generations is a huge undertaking. To help with this, the church has started new evangelism projects. In January 2024, the Diocese of Monmouth got a £3 million grant from the Evangelism Fund of the Church in Wales to create four new church plants aimed specifically at people under 40. These initiatives are a key part of the strategy to secure the church's future.

Vann's leadership will be vital for inspiring and guiding these efforts. Her historic appointment may attract new interest in the denomination, but long-term growth will rely on the church's ability to show its relevance and commitment to serving the communities of modern Wales. Her focus on healing and building trust is the initial step toward creating a foundation for that future growth.

A Symbol for the Global Church

The selection of Archbishop Vann sends ripples beyond Wales' borders. The worldwide Anglican Communion is a family of 42 autonomous provinces, and it is deeply fractured over issues related to gender and sexuality. While some provinces, such as those in Scotland, the US, and Brazil, have moved toward greater LGBTQ+ inclusion, many others, especially in the Global South, maintain conservative theological views.

Vann's elevation to the role of primate will be viewed as a profoundly affirming step by progressive Anglicans globally. Conversely, it will probably deepen the split with conservative provinces, many of which are part of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON). These groups already reject the authority of more liberal churches and may view Vann's appointment as additional proof of a move away from orthodox faith.

She is also a patron of the Open Table Network, a charity that helps ecumenical communities for LGBT people and their allies across England and Wales. Her public support for such groups, combined with her prominent new position, places her at the heart of the global Anglican dialogue. Her leadership in Wales will be watched closely as a test case for how a church can manage deep internal differences while embracing a more inclusive identity.

A Vision for Unity

Throughout the commentary on her appointment, a consistent theme comes through: Cherry Vann is viewed as a leader who can listen and build bridges. This quality was developed during the hard early years of her ministry. She took part in dialogue groups during the 1990s where newly ordained female priests met with male clergy who strongly opposed their ordination. She called these meetings "awful" and "really difficult," but the group continued.

Over time, she saw hostility fade as people got to know each other as individuals, not just as symbols of a theological stance. She wants to apply this same model to the present divisions over sexuality. Her stated objective is to show that it is possible to disagree profoundly on important issues while still recognizing each other as God's children and showing love within the body of Christ.

This commitment to "modelling" a better way of disagreeing is maybe her most important leadership promise. In a world, and a church, that is often defined by polarization and conflict, this vision for unity through mutual respect and love presents a powerful alternative. The success of her archiepiscopate may be measured by her ability to make this hopeful vision a lived reality within the Church in Wales.