The Archdeacon of Cardigan, the Venerable Andrew John, is the Bishop Elect of the Diocese of Bangor.

The announcement was made this afternoon by the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, at the west door of Bangor Cathedral on the third and final day of the meeting of the Electoral College.

The election follows the death of the Rt Rev Anthony Crockett in June, who served as bishop of the diocese from 2004. The new bishop will be the 81st Bishop of Bangor, serving an area stretching across north-west Wales from Holyhead to Llanidloes.

The Ven Andy John, 44, has served as Archdeacon of Cardigan since 2006.  He grew up in Aberystwyth and has spent all his ministry so far in the Diocese of St Davids. He is married with four children and is a fluent Welsh speaker. He has recently pioneered a course in Christian evangelism for the Diocese of St Davids, called Menter.

He said he was looking forward to leading the Diocese of Bangor. “I am aware that I have a hard act to follow and that the diocese is still grieving for Bishop Tony. I am very honoured to have been chosen and I hope I will quickly gain the support and the confidence of the people I will serve. Bangor is a very special diocese in a beautiful part of the world and I am very much looking forward to beginning this new chapter in my ministry.”

The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, who is President of the Electoral College, welcomed the decision. He said, “I am delighted with this appointment. Andy John is a talented, energetic and popular priest with a good understanding of the needs and challenges of a predominantly rural and Welsh-speaking diocese, having served from quite a young age as Archdeacon of Cardigan.

“Bangor diocese has been through a difficult and uncertain period lately following the long illness and then sad death of its much loved bishop, Tony Crockett. I am confident, however, we have chosen a popular and well respected leader who will continue the work Bishop Tony started and who will take the diocese forward with fresh inspiration and vigour. I am sure that the people of Bangor will take him and his family to their hearts very quickly and I am very much looking forward to working with him on the Bench of Bishops.”

The Venerable Andrew John

Andrew John, 44, grew up in Aberystwyth.  He went to Ysgol Penglais. He graduated in Law at the University of Wales, Cardiff, in 1986 and in Theology at the University of Nottingham in 1988.  He studied a Diploma in Pastoral Studies in 1989 at St John’s College, Nottingham.  He was ordained as a deacon in 1989 and as priest in the Diocese of St Davids in 1990 and has served all his ministry so far within that Diocese. He was a curate for Cardigan, Y Ferwg and Mwnt from 1989 to 1991.  He was a curate for Aberystwyth from 1991-1992. He served as vicar in the Rectoral Benefice of Aberystwyth from 1992 to 1999. He was vicar for Henfynyw with Aberaeron & Llanddewi Aberarth from 1999 to 2005 – a parish which expanded in 2005 to include Llanbadarn Trefeglwys. He has been vicar of Pencarreg & Llanycrwys since 2006 and Archdeacon of Cardigan since 2006.

His is married to Caroline, 43, a project manager with Age Concern who is also a deacon in the Church in Wales. Caroline was ordained as a Deacon when Andy was ordained as a priest in 1990. The couple have four children, a son Matthew, 16, Bethany, 15, Hannah, 13 and Harriet, 11.

Andy John enjoys running, squash and mountain biking, playing the saxophone and the guitar.

For more information, please contact Anna Morrell (details below). A photograph of the Venerable Andrew John with the Archbishop can be seen on the Church in Wales website: http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/dynamic/shared/library/fullsize/272.jpg