A BISHOP, originally from Aberystwyth, has been elected by the Church in Wales as the new Archbishop of Wales.

Andy John, who is currently the Bishop of Bangor, takes over from the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, John Davies, who had served since 2017.

Mr John, who grew up in Aberystwyth and served the church in Pencarreg and Cardigan, was ordained as a deacon in 1989 and became Bishop of Bangor in 2008.

“It’s my enormous privilege to serve that church to that end,” he said.

He becomes the 14th Archbishop of Wales after the decision was made by a select group who were locked in the Holy Trinity Church in Llandrindod Wells, Powys.

He secured a two-thirds majority vote from members of the Electoral College on the first day of its meeting.

Mr John graduated with a degree in law from the University of Wales in 1986 and theology in 1988 before beginning his ordained ministry, first as a deacon and as a priest in the Diocese of St Davids in 1990.

He was appointed vicar of Pencarreg with Cwmann and Llanycrwys and Archdeacon of Cardigan in 2006.

“As we look forward to the future, I’m very conscious that we’re not yet out of those restrictions that have inhibited our lives for so long,” he said.

“We face many challenges, but we do so not alone - we do so with God’s grace and with one another.

“I’m confident that the Church in Wales will be able to respond with energy, with vision and with vigour to all the challenges which lie ahead of us.”

Mr John will be enthroned at St. Deiniol’s Cathedral in Bangor, and will continue to serve as the Bishop of Bangor.