The UK has now appointed its first-ever female – and lesbian – archbishop.
Cherry Vann has been named as the 15th Archbishop of Wales.
Ms Vann, originally from Leicester, has served as the Bishop of Monmouth for the past five years.
She replaces Andrew John, who retired last month after three-and-a-half years in the role.
Mr John’s departure followed a safeguarding review at Bangor Cathedral in Wales, which identified ‘a culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred’ and ‘promiscuity was acceptable’.
There has been no suggestion Mr John behaved inappropriately.
He commissioned two reports into the cathedral in October last year.
A summary revealed reports of ‘inappropriate language, rude jokes and innuendos in the choir that left some feeling unsafe and marginalised’.
Cherry Vann, pictured, has been named as the 15th Archbishop of Wales. She has served as the Bishop of Monmouth for the past five years
She replaces Andrew John, pictured in 2023, who retired last month after three-and-a-half years in the role
Ms Vann was ordained as a deacon in 1989 and was among the first women to be ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1994.
She then served as Archdeacon of Rochdale for 11 years.
She said: ‘The first thing I shall need to do is to ensure the issues which have been raised in the last six months are properly addressed and work to bring healing and reconciliation, and build a really good level of trust across the Church and the communities the Church serves.’
