Lesbian becomes UK's first female archbishop
The Bishop of Monmouth, the Rt Rev Cherry Vann, 66, has been revealed as the new Archbishop of Wales.
As well as being the 15th person to hold the role, she is also the first woman and the first non-heterosexual member of the clergy to do so.
Her appointment marks a break from centuries of tradition in both the Church of England, and the more recently established Church in Wales, where the role of Archbishop is always assumed by a straight man.
Archbishop Cherry's biography on the Church's website describes her as living with her civil partner, Wendy, and their two dogs.
Her appointment comes at a turbulent time for the Church in Wales.
She replaces the Rt Revd Andrew John, who retired last month after just three-and-a-half years in the role following the publication of a safeguarding review at Bangor Cathedral, which identified 'a culture of sexual misconduct, bullying, excessive drinking and in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred' and 'promiscuity was acceptable'.
There is no suggestion that the former Archbishop behaved inappropriately. Last month, he offered an 'unreserved and unequivocal' apology, adding that he took full responsibility for failings under his leadership.
Archbishop Cherry said: '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 and that I work to bring healing and reconciliation, and to build a really good level of trust across the Church and the communities the Church serves.'
Her predecessor commissioned two reports into the Bangor Cathedral in October last year.
A summary of a report shared on the Church in Wales' website said there were also reports of 'inappropriate language, rude jokes and innuendos in the choir that left some feeling unsafe and marginalised'.
Inappropriate language was also used in front of younger members of the choir and at times caused 'humiliation to some', the report's authors were told.
Among the other issues raised are the presence of hurtful gossip, a poor safeguarding approach and weak financial controls.
Archbishop Cherry, who is originally from Leicester, has served as the Bishop of Monmouth for the past five years.
She was ordained as a deacon in 1989 and was then among the first women to be ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1994. She then served as Archdeacon of Rochdale, in the Diocese of Manchester, for 11 years.
She was chosen for the role after an electoral college made up of both clergy and laypeople met for two days of deliberations at St Pierre church near Chepstow.
Her appointment appears to mark a symbolic break as the Church in Wales attempts to make a fresh start following recent safeguarding scandals.
The appointment of the new Archbishop for the Church in Wales also comes as the Church of England is currently without an Archbishop of Canterbury.
Justin Welby's resignation
The Most Rev Justin Welby tendered his resignation to the King in November following the publication of a damning report into prolific child abuser, John Smyth.
The report found that he mishandled abuse allegations against Smyth, a barrister and QC who died in 2018, who has been described as the most prolific serial abuser in the Church's history.
The Crown Nominations Committee is currently debating and selecting who should be his replacement, with an announcement expected in the Autumn.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in England and Wales since 2013. However, the Church of England did not change its teaching on the subject. Since then, both the The Scottish Episcopal Church, and the Presbyterian Church of Scotland agreed to offer same-sex marriage ceremonies.
In an historic vote in 2021, the Anglican Church in Wales voted for gay couples to be legally allowed to have their civil partnership or marriage blessed in church.
In 2017, the Church of England began an extended consultation period called 'Living in Love and Faith' and the bishops' recommendations form the culmination of this.
In February 2023, following a landmark vote from the General Synod, the Church of England's legislative body, same-sex couples were officially recognised for the first time. The Church did not go as far as to offer gay marriage, but instead approved blessings for couples.
Mixed views
Archbishop Cherry's appointment was welcomed by liberal members of the Church.
Rev Charlie Baczyk-Bell, a gay priest, described her appointment as 'very significant' and a 'story and a half'.
However, it prompted a backlash among more conservative sects.
Andrea Williams, the chief executive of Christian Concern, said: 'Cherry Vann lives with her civil partner, Wendy, in a same-sex relationship. This directly contradicts the Church's historic and biblical doctrine that marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman, and that sexual relationships are reserved for marriage.
'As an ordained minister, and now Archbishop, Cherry Vann has sworn to uphold the teaching of the Church. Instead, she is publicly living in deliberate rejection of those very doctrines.
'That she was elected with a two-thirds majority of the Electoral College demonstrates that the Church in Wales has now institutionally turned away from biblical teaching on sexual morality.
'What is a church if it refuses to uphold the doctrines it professes to believe? What does the Church in Wales actually stand for, if not the gospel handed down through the centuries?
'This appointment marks a tragic moment, evidence that the Church in Wales is in open rebellion against God's Word. It is a clear sign of apostasy.
'No Bible-believing Christian can remain under the spiritual leadership of someone who so publicly rejects the clear teaching of Scripture.'
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