Church should 'represent diversity', says new archbishop

Cherry Vann has become the first female leader of the church in Wales, as well as its first LGBTQ+ leader

The Church in Wales should represent the "diversity around the world and in our communities", its new archbishop has said.

Cherry Vann has become its first female leader, as well as its first LGBTQ+ leader.

She said there were "a range of views" in the church on gay rights and the ordination of women, but that she wants to demonstrate that diversity "can be a cause of celebration".

"As a woman, and as a civily-partnered bishop, I'm modelling that for people in the country and I think that's good news," she said.

Originally from Leicestershire, Bishop Vann was ordained by the Diocese of Manchester in 1994 - making her the first women to be ordained as a priest in the Church of England - and was Archdeacon of Rochdale for 11 years until being appointed Bishop of Monmouth in 2020.

Bishop Vann replaces Andrew John, who retired last month following the publication of two summaries highlighting safeguarding concerns and misbehaviour at Bangor Cathedral, where he was bishop.

The new church leader said she wants to "deal appropriately" with what has happened in Bangor and ensure that "relationships are healed".

Bishop Vann, who was elected with a two-thirds majority by members of the Electoral College, said she had received "nothing but positive comments" since being elected to the role.

She said that when moving to Wales more than five years ago, she was assured that being a bishop in a same-sex civil partnership "was not going to be an issue".

"I struggled to believe that because I had a very different experience while serving in England, but I have to say that since I've been in Wales, it's been nothing but positive," she told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

She added that, within the church, there were those who "don't accept the ordination of women", nor same-sex relationships.

"But I've worked hard with those in my own diocese who have struggled with these characteristics of mine, and we have come to a really good understanding," she said.

"I think the important thing is how we manage those differences – people have a range of views on these issues, but what I want to try and model is that this can be a cause for celebration.

"I want to see a church that represents the diversity that is in our communities."

Bishop Vann also addressed the issue of same-sex marriages in churches in Wales.

In 2022, in his role as Archbishop, Bishop John said they could take place in churches in Wales by 2027.

Bishop Vann said bishops of all the churches in Wales were undertaking a consultation process on the issue.

"I believe that we will go down that road at some point, absolutely. I think we're on the right trajectory, but whether we get to that point in the next two years, I'm really not able to say," she added.

She was also asked about the recent controversies in Bangor, notably two report summaries that mentioned "a culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred" and excessive alcohol consumption as well as governance and safeguarding weaknesses.

Bishop Vann said a new dean had been appointed to Bangor, who was "firmly committed to making sure the proper processes are in place".

"I'm very aware that the Church in Wales has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, over the last six months, but behind all that there are lots of really good things going on," she said.

"So I want to reverse that trend and make sure the bad news stories are at a minimum, and let the good news stories shine out."