Andrew Thomas Griffith John (called Andy;[1][2] born 9 January 1964) is the current Archbishop of Wales, of the Church in Wales. He became the Bishop of Bangor in 2008 and was appointed archbishop in 2021.


Andy John
Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Bangor
John in 2009
ChurchChurch in Wales
ProvinceChurch in Wales
DioceseDiocese of Bangor
Installed24 January 2009 (Bangor)
6 December 2021 (Wales)
PredecessorAnthony Crockett (Bangor)
John Davies (Wales)
Orders
Ordination1990
Consecration29 November 2008
Personal details
Born
Andrew Thomas Griffith John

(1964-01-09) 9 January 1964 (age 60)
NationalityWelsh
DenominationAnglicanism
EducationUniversity of Nottingham
St John's College, Nottingham

Early life

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A native of Aberystwyth, John attended Ysgol Penglais before studying 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

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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

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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 to serve 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 took up the archiepiscopal See) immediately.[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 had two previous archbishops of Wales, Barry Morgan and Rowan Williams.

Views

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John identifies himself with the Evangelical tradition of Anglicanism. However, some of his actions and views also align with Catholicism[12] and with liberalism.[13]

Personal life

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He and his first wife, Reverend Caroline John, have four children. Following their divorce,[14] he remarried.[15]

References

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  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. ^ a b 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. ^ John, Andy (30 September 2016). "An Evangelical pilgrim goes to Walsingham". Church Times. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  13. ^ 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "Andy John is next Archbishop of Wales". Church Times. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Bishop of Bangor". The Church in Wales. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
Church in Wales titles
Preceded by Bishop of Bangor
2008–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Archbishop of Wales
2021–present
  NODES
eth 1
News 1
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