Wales And Archbishop Cherry Vann

Wales Appoints First Female Archbishop in Historic Move After Scandal

The Church in Wales has chosen Cherry Vann as its new archbishop, a landmark decision making her the first woman to hold such a role in the United Kingdom. Her appointment also marks her as the first openly LGBTQ+ leader of a church in the Anglican tradition in the UK, signalling a profound shift for a religious body seeking to heal from a period of intense turmoil and scandal.

The election of Bishop Cherry Vann as the fifteenth individual to hold the title of Archbishop for Wales represents a watershed moment for the Anglican Communion in Britain. Vann was selected at age 66 to lead the church following a two-day meeting of the electoral college at a church in St Pierre, located in the vicinity of Chepstow, on 30 July 2025. The body, composed of both lay members and clerical figures from across the nation, secured her appointment with a two-thirds majority vote, a decision that has resonated far beyond the borders of Wales.

Church in Wales Looks to New Future

Her rise to the primacy is not merely a historical footnote. It arrives as the religious body in Wales grapples with the fallout from a significant crisis of confidence. Vann's predecessor, Andy John, resigned from the role in June 2025 amidst revelations of a damaging culture connected to Bangor Cathedral. The appointment of a leader who embodies a clear break with the past is seen by many as a deliberate and necessary step towards recovery and renewal.

Vann, who will continue to serve as Monmouth's bishop, now faces the considerable challenge of restoring trust and providing a new vision for the church. Her election is a statement of intent, placing a figure known for her progressive views and pastoral leadership at the helm during one of the most critical junctures in the church's modern history. She has already signalled her primary focus will be on addressing the recent failings and fostering reconciliation.

A Decisive Election

The process to select the new leader for the religious body in Wales was concluded with deliberate speed. The electoral college, a representative body drawn from every one of the six Welsh dioceses, met with a clear mandate to find a successor to Andy John. Each diocese contributed three chosen representatives from the clergy and three from the laity to the college, ensuring a broad base of support for the eventual winner. The requirement for a two-thirds majority meant any candidate needed to command significant and widespread confidence from across the church.

Traditionally, the diocesan bishop with the most seniority is often considered a leading candidate for the archbishop's role. In this instance, that position would have gone to the St Asaph bishop, Gregory Cameron, who, as Senior Bishop, officially announced Vann's election. The college's decision to elect Vann, who has been an episcopal leader in Wales for five years, over a more tenured figure underscores a desire for a different style of leadership to navigate the church's present difficulties.

The Very Revd Ian Black, Newport's Dean, immediately welcomed the news on behalf of the Monmouth Diocese, stating that Vann possesses the necessary skills and vision to restore trust after recent public failings. He praised her for bringing stability to her own diocese and for her deep, open faith. Her enthronement as archbishop will take place at St Gwynllyw's in Newport, which is the cathedral she calls home, on a future date.

Image Credit - The Church in Wales

From Concert Halls to the Clergy

Cherry Vann's journey to becoming an archbishop is an unconventional one. Born in Whetstone, Leicestershire, her early career was not in religion but in music. She pursued her passion at the esteemed Royal College of Music and also at the Royal Schools of Music, developing a foundation in the arts before she felt a calling to ordained ministry. This background in music has been a recurring theme in her life, shaping a ministry that values creativity and communication.

In 1986, she made the decisive shift to theology, beginning her training at a college for theology in the Anglican tradition. Her ordination as a deacon followed in 1989. She was part of a historic moment in 1994, becoming one of the initial cohort of women to become priests within the Anglican Communion in England, a move that at the time was the subject of intense and often acrimonious debate.

Her clerical career saw her serve for eleven years as Rochdale's archdeacon within the Manchester diocese, a significant leadership position that prepared her for future episcopal roles. She moved to Wales in 2020 after her consecration as the Bishop for Monmouth. This extensive experience in both parish ministry and diocesan leadership has given her a reputation for being a capable and compassionate administrator, qualities that were undoubtedly key factors in her election.

The Shadow of the Bangor Scandal

The backdrop to Archbishop Vann's appointment is a scandal that has profoundly shaken the religious establishment in Wales. Her predecessor, Andy John, announced his immediate resignation as archbishop in June 2025, a decision that followed intense and growing calls for him to step down. While there was no hint of personal misconduct by John, he took responsibility for the systemic failures that occurred during his tenure as both Archbishop and Bishop of Bangor.

The crisis was centred on Bangor Cathedral, where two separate reports, commissioned by John himself, uncovered a deeply problematic atmosphere. The reviews, one conducted by the Christian safeguarding agency ThirtyOne:Eight, detailed an environment with heavy alcohol use, intimidating behaviour, sexual misconduct, and inappropriate language. The findings painted a picture of a workplace where professional and personal boundaries had become dangerously blurred, creating an atmosphere that left some staff and volunteers feeling unsafe.

In a statement before his resignation, John issued what he described as a personal apology that was "unreserved and unequivocal" regarding the situation. He stated his repentance and affirmed he would provide neither justifications nor excuses. His departure, however, did not quell the concerns. Instead, it highlighted the depth of the problems and the urgent need for a comprehensive response to a crisis that had damaged the church's reputation.

An Atmosphere of Misconduct

The reports into the situation at the cathedral in Bangor laid bare a disturbing pattern of behaviour. The review by ThirtyOne:Eight heard testimony about a setting where sexual promiscuity appeared to be acceptable to some and where homophobic comments were made. The environment was described as an "unhappy working environment," with accounts of "inappropriate language and humiliating banter" that caused distress, particularly to younger figures within the choir.

A second report, compiled by a cathedral "visitation" team, echoed these concerns. It called for the appointment of "strong leadership" to "steady the ship" and recommended significantly improved scrutiny of the cathedral's governance and finances. The issues were not confined to personal conduct; they extended to a clear failure of oversight and management that allowed the toxic conditions to fester.

The fallout was not just internal. A pair of priests from the cathedral's college publicly called for a separate investigation of the happenings at Bangor. Furthermore, the official Charity Commission, which serves as the statutory regulator for charities in England and Wales, confirmed it had opened a regulatory compliance case after receiving six reports of "serious incidents" from the diocese in the preceding year and a half. Four of these reports were related to safeguarding matters, and another two concerned financial subjects.

Financial and Leadership Failings

Alongside the cultural problems, significant financial irregularities associated with Bangor Cathedral came to light. One of the most glaring examples was the spending of over £400,000 for new cathedral furnishings, a decision made without proper consultation, raising serious questions about financial stewardship. A further £20,000 was spent on trips for senior staff to the cities of Rome and Dublin, adding to concerns about the use of church funds.

Many of these issues centred on the tenure of Siôn Rhys Evans, who held the dual roles of acting dean of the cathedral and the secretary for the Bangor diocese. Holding both of these senior, full-time positions simultaneously was an unprecedented arrangement and concentrated significant power in one individual. Evans, seen as a protégé of Andy John, was elevated to the role of acting dean rapidly after his ordination, a promotion some critics described as "astounding."

During February 2024, Rhys Evans stepped down from both posts without any public explanation. He was absent from work for ten months before taking a new post as a bursar at a college for theology in Cambridge, a position he also subsequently left. His abrupt departure and the lack of transparency surrounding it only fuelled further calls for a thorough and independent investigation into the cathedral's management.

Image Credit - BBC

A New Chapter on Inclusivity

Cherry Vann’s election is profoundly symbolic due to her identity as an openly gay woman in a civil partnership. Her leadership marks a significant moment for LGBTQ+ Christians in Wales and beyond. She provides patronage to the Open Table Network, a Christian ecumenical charity that works to create safe and affirming worship communities for LGBTQ+ individuals and their supporters. Her affiliation with the network demonstrates a long-standing commitment to inclusivity.

In a message to the Open Table Network, Vann has spoken of her desire for the church to be a place where all can feel welcome and accepted. She has articulated a core belief that all people are "precious children of God, loved and cherished for who we are," and that God wants individuals to thrive rather than "live in fear and self-loathing." This message of affirmation is central to her pastoral approach and signals a clear direction for the church under her leadership.

The religious body in Wales has already taken steps towards greater inclusivity. While it does not currently permit same-sex marriage ceremonies, its governing body voted in 2021 to authorise official blessings for partners in same-sex civil partnerships and marriages for a trial five-year period. Clergy are also allowed to enter into civil unions with a same-sex partner. Vann's partner, Wendy Diamond, has accompanied her to official church functions, including the Lambeth Conference in 2022.

Navigating a Divided Church

The policy on same-sex blessings is due for review shortly, and many expect it will be extended. There is also the possibility that the religious body might advance toward a vote on allowing full marriage for same-sex couples in the spring of next year. Vann's presence as archbishop will undoubtedly be a significant factor in these conversations, though she leads a church that, like the wider Anglican Communion, contains a diversity of views on the subject.

Her sexuality could prove controversial on the global stage. The Anglican Communion, an 80-million-strong family of churches, is profoundly split regarding issues of sexuality. Most provinces in Africa, for instance, are firmly against allowing marriage for same-sex couples and have previously taken action against more liberal churches. The year 2017 saw leaders from the global church place penalties on Scotland's Anglican Church following its decision to permit weddings for same-sex partners in its churches.

Vann's leadership in Wales therefore places the province at the forefront of a global debate. Her election is a clear statement of the Welsh church's progressive trajectory, but it is one that will require careful navigation within the complex politics of the worldwide Anglican family. Her focus will be on leading her own province, which remains a self-governing part of the wider communion.

Contrasting Fortunes with Canterbury

The landmark appointment in Wales comes at a time when England's church is also searching for new leadership, but under very different circumstances. The resignation of Justin Welby as Canterbury's archbishop in November 2024 was also prompted by a major scandal involving abuse. Welby stepped down after a report criticised him for failing to act on allegations against the late John Smyth, a lawyer who abused numerous young men at Christian summer camps.

The Makin Review, an independent investigation, concluded that Welby had not reported Smyth to the authorities in 2013 when he was first made aware of the abuse, a failure that allowed Smyth to continue his actions. Welby's departure has put the Church of England in a protracted process to find his successor; his replacement will likely be revealed during the autumn. The crisis has exposed deep-seated issues of safeguarding and accountability at the highest levels of the institution.

There is a belief that some high-ranking individuals in the Church of England support the appointment of a woman archbishop to indicate a fresh start following many years of internal conflict about sexuality and gender, in addition to the damage from abuse scandals. The fact that the more diminutive Church in Wales has now become the first Anglican province in the UK to appoint a woman as its primate may well cause some irritation in Canterbury, having beaten the mother church to this historic milestone.

The Path to Healing and Reconciliation

In her first public statements following her election, Archbishop Vann made it clear that her immediate priority is to address the issues that led to her predecessor's departure. "The first thing I shall need to do is to ensure that the issues which have been raised in the last six months are properly addressed," she said. She emphasised her commitment to "work to bring healing and reconciliation, and to build a really good level of trust across the Church and the communities the Church serves."

This task will not be simple. It involves not only addressing the specific failings at Bangor but also tackling the broader cultural issues that allowed them to occur. It will require a commitment to transparency, robust safeguarding procedures, and a willingness to hold individuals accountable. Vann's leadership will be judged on her ability to steer the church through this difficult process of introspection and reform.

Her election has been met with a sense of hope by many who see her as the right person for this moment. They point to her track record of managing change with clarity and purpose in her own diocese as evidence of her capability. Her supporters believe her deep faith, combined with an openness to different viewpoints, will be crucial in rebuilding a church that has been bruised by scandal but is now looking towards a more inclusive and accountable future.