Andy John

The Right Reverend Andy John
Archbishop of Wales
John in 2023
Church	Church in Wales
Province	Church in Wales
Diocese	Diocese of Bangor
Installed	6 December 2021
Term ended	27 June 2025
Predecessor	John Davies
Successor	Cherry Vann
Other post(s)	Bishop of Bangor (2008–present)
Orders
Ordination	1990
Consecration	29 November 2008
Personal details
Born	Andrew Thomas Griffith John (1964-01-09) 9 January 1964 (age 61)
Nationality	Welsh
Denomination	Anglicanism
Alma mater	University of Nottingham St John's College, Nottingham

Andrew Thomas Griffith John ^{[1] [2]} (born 9 January 1964) is a Welsh Anglican bishop. He has served as Bishop of Bangor since 2008 and was additionally Archbishop of Wales, the head of the Church in Wales, from 2021 until he announced his immediate retirement from the post on 27 June 2025.

Early life

A native of Aberystwyth, John was educated at Ysgol Penglais School, a comprehensive school in the town. ^[3] He went on to study law at the University of Wales, Cardiff. ^[3] After graduating in 1986, he studied theology at the University of Nottingham, graduating in 1988, followed by a diploma in pastoral studies at St John's College, Nottingham in 1989. ^[4]

Ordained ministry

He was ordained deacon in the Diocese of St Davids and a priest at Petertide 1990 (on 30 June at St Davids Cathedral by George Noakes, Bishop of St Davids and Archbishop of Wales). ^[5] Until his election as Bishop of Bangor, all his ministry was in the Diocese of St David's. ^[3] Initially he was curate for Cardigan, Y Ferwig and Mwnt from 1989 to 1991 and then in Aberystwyth from 1991 to 1992. He was a vicar in the Rectorial Benefice of Aberystwyth from 1992 to 1999. From 1999 he was vicar of Henfynyw with Aberaeron and Llanddewi Aberarth, to which was added Llanbadarn Trefeglwys in 2005. In 2006 he was appointed vicar of Pencarreg and Llanycrwys and the Archdeacon of Cardigan.

Episcopal ministry

John was elected Bishop of Bangor on 9 October 2008 and was consecrated in Llandaff Cathedral on 29 November 2008, along with the new Bishop of St David's, Wyn Evans. ^[6] He was enthroned in Bangor Cathedral on 24 January 2009. ^[7]

On 6 December 2021, John was elected as Archbishop of Wales (remaining Bishop of Bangor) by an electoral college of the Church in Wales meeting at Holy Trinity Church, Llandrindod Wells; his election was confirmed and therefore he legally immediately took up the archiepiscopal see. ^[8] He was formally enthroned as Archbishop of Wales on 30 April 2022. ^{[9] [10]} He was honoured as a member of Gorsedd Cymru in 2023 ^[11] as were two previous archbishops of Wales, Barry Morgan and Rowan Williams.

On 27 June 2025, John unexpectedly announced his immediate retirement as Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Bangor effective 31 August 2025. ^{[12] [13]} This followed the publication of two reports critical of behaviour at Bangor cathedral, where it was found that "sexual boundaries seemed blurred" and also that alcohol had been consumed to excess. ^[14] Although John was not himself criticised for these failings, he apologised to those who had been hurt or let down. ^[15] There were also allegations of financial mismanagement involving diocesan charities. ^{[14] [16]} After meeting with John, the Representative Body of the Church in Wales issued several recommendations to the diocese and the cathedral ending with a declaration of no confidence in the leadership at the diocese. ^{[12] [13] [17]}

Views

John identifies himself with the Evangelical tradition of Anglicanism. Some of his actions and views also align with Anglo-Catholicism ^[18] and with liberalism. ^[19]

Personal life

John and his first wife, the Reverend Caroline John, have four children. Following their divorce, ^[20] he remarried. ^[21]

References

1. Diocese of Bangor — Bishop of Bangor, Accessed 15 January 2021.
2. Church in Wales — Former Navy aircraft engineer appointed Bishop (Accessed 15 January 2021)
3. Morrell, Anna (17 November 2008). "New Bishop of Bangor elected". The Church in Wales. churchinwales.org.uk. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2021. spent all his ministry so far in the Diocese of St Davids
4. "Nottingham alumnus is the new Bishop of Bangor". University of Nottingham Alumni Online. 10 October 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011. Andrew John, 44, grew up in Aberystwyth and graduated in Law at the University of Wales, Cardiff, in 1986, Theology at Nottingham in 1988 followed by a Diploma in Pastoral Studies in 1989 at St John's College, Nottingham.
5. "Ordinations at Petertide" . Church Times . No. 6648. 13 July 1990. p. 5. ISSN   0009-658X . Retrieved 5 August 2023– via UK Press Online archives.
6. Morrell, Anna (1 December 2008). "New Welsh bishops consecrated together". The Church in Wales. churchinwales.org.uk. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011. The Very Rev Wyn Evans, Dean of St Davids, will be consecrated as the 128th Bishop of St Davids while the Venerable Andrew John, Archdeacon of Cardigan, will be consecrated as the 81st Bishop of Bangor. Both were elected while serving in the Diocese of St Davids.
7. "The Diocese of Bangor – Who's Who – The Bishop of Bangor". The Church in Wales. churchinwales.org.uk. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011. The Rt Revd Andy John Consecrated Bishop at Llandaff Cathedral on 29th November 2008, enthroned as 81st Bishop of Bangor, at Bangor Cathedral on Saturday 24th January 2009
8. "New Archbishop of Wales elected". Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
9. "Cadeirio Archesgob Cymru | Enthronement of the Archbishop of Wales" – via YouTube.
10. "Enthronement" (PDF). Retrieved 12 April 2023.
11. "Anrhydeddau'r Orsedd 2023: Y gogledd" (in Welsh). BBC Cymru Fyw. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
12. Loader, Gwyn (27 June 2025). "Archbishop of Wales retires after Bangor cathedral behaviour failings". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
13. "Archbishop of Wales steps down, with immediate effect". Church Times. 28 June 2025. Archived from the original on 28 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
14. Sherwood, Harriet (27 June 2025). "Archbishop of Wales stands down after Bangor cathedral scandal". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
15. "Statement on Bangor Cathedral Visitation Report implementation". Church in Wales. 23 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
16. "Church in Wales charities probed by Charity Commission". Nation.Cymru. 27 June 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
17. "Statement from the Representative Body of the Church in Wales on Bangor Cathedral". Church in Wales. Archived from the original on 16 July 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
18. John, Andy (30 September 2016). "An Evangelical pilgrim goes to Walsingham". Church Times. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
19. Feb 14, The Bangor Aye |; News | 0 |, 2019 | Bangor (14 February 2019). "Bishop of Bangor: 'Allow Same Sex Couples to Marry in Church'". The Bangor Aye. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
20. "Andy John is next Archbishop of Wales". Church Times. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
21. "Bishop of Bangor". The Church in Wales. Retrieved 20 August 2021.

Church in Wales titles
Preceded by Anthony Crockett	Bishop of Bangor 2008–present	Incumbent
Preceded by John Davies	Archbishop of Wales 2021–2025	Succeeded by Cherry Vann