Latest news with #Archbishop
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Archbishop of Wales to be chosen amid cathedral concerns
The process to elect a new Archbishop of Wales has begun, after a turbulent period for the Church in Wales. Former Archbishop of Wales Andrew John announced his decision to retire with immediate effect in June following two report summaries highlighting safeguarding concerns and misbehaviour at Bangor Cathedral. His successor, who will become the 15th person to hold the title, will be chosen from the serving Welsh diocesan bishops. The Electoral College are meeting at St Pierre Church and Hotel in Chepstow, with the process taking up to three days. Ex-Archbishop was aware of sexual assault allegations 'Any excuse to go to pub' culture at crisis-hit cathedral Archbishop retires amid cathedral behaviour failings Mr John announced his decision to retire from the role with immediate effect on June 27, as well as confirming he would also be retiring as Bishop of Bangor on 31 August. It followed the publication of summaries of two reports earlier this year which mentioned "a culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred". The reports also found excessive alcohol consumption as well as governance and safeguarding weaknesses at Bangor Cathedral. Shortly after there were calls for Mr John, who was elected Archbishop of Wales in December 2021, to resign. The full reports have not been published but there is no suggestion the former archbishop has behaved inappropriately. Meanwhile The Church in Wales said it had created an implementation group to ensure the issues raised in the reports are addressed. Earlier this year, the former Archbishop of Wales admitted he was aware of a safeguarding incident involving a drunken sexual assault in his diocese, despite previously denying knowledge of "that sort of behaviour". After initially denying any awareness of it in an interview with BBC Radio Cymru's Bwrw Golwg, a Church in Wales spokesperson confirmed the matter had been reported to Mr John but said he had no licence to officiate, which Mr John said his comments referred to. There is no suggestion that Mr John behaved inappropriately. How will a new archbishop be elected? The meeting of the Electoral College will begin with Holy Communion at St Peter's Church in Chepstow, which is on the St Pierre estate, before college members begin confidential discussions. The successor will be chosen from the serving Welsh diocesan bishops: The Bishop of St Asaph, Gregory Cameron The Bishop of Monmouth, Cherry Vann The Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, John Lomas The Bishop of Llandaff, Mary Stallard The Bishop of St Davids, Dorrien Davies To make the decision, each of the six dioceses elects three clerics onto the college as well as three lay people, who are members of the religious community but not part of the clergy. The current bishops are also members. After a discussion and a period of reflection, the president will call for nominations and the bishops nominated must then withdraw from the discussion. A nominee must achieve two thirds of the votes of the college in order to be elected as archbishop. If, after a vote is taken, no candidate receives the necessary votes the process begins again with fresh nominations. Once the archbishop is elected, they will be enthroned in his or her home cathedral at a later date. Sexual abuse claims against former bishop and vicar investigated Exit painful amid church crisis, says ex-archbishop Calls for safeguarding inquiry into cathedral
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
New Archbishop for Wales to be chosen after Andrew John retires
The process to elect a new Archbishop of Wales has begun, after a turbulent period for the Church in Archbishop of Wales Andrew John announced his decision to retire with immediate effect in June following two report summaries highlighting safeguarding concerns and misbehaviour at Bangor successor, who will become the 15th person to hold the title, will be chosen from the serving Welsh diocesan Electoral College are meeting at St Pierre Church and Hotel in Chepstow, with the process taking up to three days. Mr John announced his decision to retire from the role with immediate effect on June 27, as well as confirming he would also be retiring as Bishop of Bangor on 31 followed the publication of summaries of two reports earlier this year which mentioned "a culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred". The reports also found excessive alcohol consumption as well as governance and safeguarding weaknesses at Bangor after there were calls for Mr John, who was elected Archbishop of Wales in December 2021, to full reports have not been published but there is no suggestion the former archbishop has behaved The Church in Wales said it had created an implementation group to ensure the issues raised in the reports are addressed. Earlier this year, the former Archbishop of Wales admitted he was aware of a safeguarding incident involving a drunken sexual assault in his diocese, despite previously denying knowledge of "that sort of behaviour".After initially denying any awareness of it in an interview with BBC Radio Cymru's Bwrw Golwg, a Church in Wales spokesperson confirmed the matter had been reported to Mr John but said he had no licence to officiate, which Mr John said his comments referred is no suggestion that Mr John behaved inappropriately. How will a new archbishop be elected? The meeting of the Electoral College will begin with Holy Communion at St Peter's Church in Chepstow, which is on the St Pierre estate, before college members begin confidential successor will be chosen from the serving Welsh diocesan bishops:The Bishop of St Asaph, Gregory CameronThe Bishop of Monmouth, Cherry VannThe Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, John LomasThe Bishop of Llandaff, Mary StallardThe Bishop of St Davids, Dorrien Davies To make the decision, each of the six dioceses elects three clerics onto the college as well as three lay people, who are members of the religious community but not part of the current bishops are also a discussion and a period of reflection, the president will call for nominations and the bishops nominated must then withdraw from the discussion.A nominee must achieve two thirds of the votes of the college in order to be elected as archbishop. If, after a vote is taken, no candidate receives the necessary votes the process begins again with fresh the archbishop is elected, they will be enthroned in his or her home cathedral at a later date.
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Archbishop Rowan Williams extension link to house sales
Funding for the extension of Archbishop Rowan Williams Church in Wales Primary School, which has been close to capacity for at least the past two years, is linked to money promised to Monmouthshire County Council by housing developers. The councillor in charge of education, Labour's Laura Wright, said a timeframe for when a planned classroom extension for the Portskewett school can be built is dependant on the housing developments. She said the council has invoiced the developers for 'some of' the money it is owed under a Section 106 legal agreement which governs payments for community benefits linked to planning permissions. It has requested the cash as Cllr Wright said the 'relevant number of houses have either been sold or occupied'. She said: 'However the amount isn't immediately sufficient to develop a classroom extension as envisioned as being needed. When the remaining funds are received from the developer it will be feasible to undertake the work. 'A timeframe for this is as yet undefined and will be dependent on how quickly the houses can be built and sold. This approach isn't unusual in the circumstances but I appreciate it is probably frustrating. We do remain committed to the development and extension of Archbishop Rowan Williams Church in Wales Primary.' Conservative councillor for Portskewett, Lisa Dymock, said all connected with the school were 'eagerly awaiting clarity on the promised funding especially given the pressures on space and rising pupil numbers.' Two years ago there was a row between the Conservatives and the ruling Labour group over a decision to allocate more than £400,000 paid to the council, from earlier housing developments, to a primary school in Caldicot rather than Archbishop Rowan Williams. At the time Cllr Dymock, and the Conservatives, claimed some of the cash should have gone to the Portskewett school which was just four places short of its 210 pupil capacity. But the council cabinet said the money wouldn't have covered the work required at the school but its expansion could be funded from an expected £1.1m due from the other local housing developments.
Times
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Times
Inside the race not to be Archbishop of Canterbury
When Pope Francis died in April, the Roman Catholic Church's succession process moved swiftly into action. Just over a fortnight later, amid smoke and ceremony, it elected a new pope, Leo XIV. Yet eight months after Justin Welby quit as Archbishop of Canterbury, following a safeguarding scandal over the serial child abuser John Smyth, the Church of England is still leaderless and is likely to remain so until the autumn. Why is it taking the Anglicans so long? In the wake of the Smyth scandal, finding a suitable candidate to replace Welby — who fits the bill, has no safeguarding issues in their past, and actually wants the job — is proving far from straightforward. In fact, many potential candidates are shying away from the role of leading the 85 million-strong Anglican Communion. The Anglican church has a longstanding tradition of would-be archbishops claiming nolo episcopari: I do not want to be bishop. On this occasion, however, most of them actually mean it.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Ex-Archbishop of Wales says retiring painful amid Bangor cathedral crisis
The former Archbishop of Wales has told the BBC that his decision to retire was the right one for himself and the to BBC Radio Cymru's Bwrw Golwg, Andrew John said the decision had affected him."It has been very painful and my mental health has suffered in a way I've never experienced before, but that's a consequence of having to make big decisions," he announced he was retiring with immediate effect just over a week ago after the publication of the summaries of two critical reports mentioned "a culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred", excessive alcohol consumption, as well as governance and safeguarding weaknesses at Bangor Cathedral. While there is no suggestion the archbishop behaved inappropriately, the church's representative body had said there must be a "change in leadership, procedures and governance in the Diocese of Bangor".After the publication of the summaries, he had faced criticism and calls to stand down, with calls for an independent inquiry into the archbishop, who will also step down as Bishop of Bangor next month, said he had little choice but to go."Being present at the meeting and [to] have people more or less calling for your resignation was like being in a nightmare," he said."I know the people who were in that meeting."I don't think I had a chance to explain the changes we've made and how complicated things are, but having heard from them I don't want to be a problem for them either."I think it's a good decision for the future." He said he did not feel he had the opportunity to emphasise the improvements which had already been made and regretted not being more open with the press to explain what was former archbishop said it was difficult, given the church needed to show whistleblowers it was treating what they said in said he did not know about the "drinking culture" around the choir in Bangor Cathedral."The idea that they went out after important services, that they went out until late saddens me," he said."It gives a bad impression of the diocese. It was a shock to hear about heavy drinking in the diocese."He said allegations of people making inappropriate jokes around children were "unacceptable" and that changes in culture were acknowledged financial mismanagement had been a problem and that a "lot of mistakes had been made".But said he was not unhappy that about £20,000 had been spent on two trips to Rome and one to Dublin."I'm not unhappy, because the diocese decided to have those three trips," he said."It's not extravagant with 20 people travelling." 'These things happened under my watch' He admitted he had not paid enough attention to the cathedral, but said that was down to his role as archbishop, which meant taking on wider asked what his biggest regret was, he said not ensuring there was a structure in place in the cathedral to deal with some of the issues and that he had been part of the problem."It pains me that these things happened under my watch and I'll have to live with that," he said."Bangor is a fantastic diocese."The damage done to the diocese, because I didn't pay enough attention to problems, is a burden I'll carry."He said he thought change would take years, but that the church would have to work together to ensure that change said he did not feel he had been mistreated, but added he had been shocked by some of the comments directed towards him on social media."It's been very difficult to see what people are saying on social media."I'm a bishop and a leader in the church, these things have happened during my tenure, so it's only right to give someone else the opportunity to take responsibility for the future."
