from Religion Media Centre
The Archbishop of Wales, Cherry Vann, addressed the Bangor diocesan conference in north Wales last weekend, acknowledging the trauma the church has gone through in the last year as Andy John, who had two roles, retired as Bishop and resigned as Archbishop.
This followed two reports into Bangor Cathedral which described weak governance of finances, a culture where “sexual boundaries seemed blurred” and excessive drinking.
The Dean went on gardening leave then resigned and most recently the choir walked out during a service.
The archbishop said it was clear that the challenges in Bangor were “complex, deep-seated and long-standing and they will take a long time to unravel and deal with”. She urged the church to focus on spiritual roots while it is “pruned like a vine, to encourage growth”.
The new Dean of Bangor, Dr Manon Ceridwen James, who grew up in Nefyn, on the Llyn Peninsula, was installed last Sunday and vowed to lead the cathedral through a period of healing and reconciliation.
The new Bishop of Bangor will be chosen by the Electoral College on 25-27 November.