Bishop David to conclude his ministry in the Diocese of Bangor

The Rt Revd David Morris will conclude his ministry as Bishop of Bardsey and Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Bangor at a farewell service on Saturday 14 February, at Bangor Cathedral.

At the midday Eucharist, Bishop David will lay down the Assistant Bishop’s pectoral cross and ring. He will preside and preach at the service. All are warmly invited to attend, and a reception will follow.

Bishop David will undertake project work with the Representative Body of the Church in Wales for three months until the end of May. He will continue to reside in Bangor during this time, allowing space for prayerful discernment as he considers his next ministry.

David is widely known, respected, and held in great affection across the diocesan family.

Bishop David’s ministry in the diocese has been marked by deep pastoral care and significant initiatives to grow vocations. He established Yr Alwad, a vocations discussion group, in partnership with the Diocese of St Asaph to nurture vocations, oversaw the training of new candidates for lay and ordained ministries, and appointed dedicated roles to support retired clergy and Licensed Lay Ministers.

Bishop David says, “‘The Diocese of Bangor has played such a significant role in my formation as a student exploring ordination, as a priest, and latterly as a bishop.

“I lay down my ministry as Bishop of Bardsey with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the responsibilities entrusted to me, the experiences I’ve been afforded, but even more importantly, for the opportunity and privilege to serve in such a beautiful diocese and among such extraordinary colleagues and church communities.

“My thanks particularly to all who have encouraged and supported me in my ministry over the past four years, I will miss you all greatly. Diolch o galon, Esgobaeth Bangor, a phob bendith i'r dyfodol.”

He goes with our love, our prayers and our very best wishes for the future.

Archbishop of Wales Cherry Vann says, “David has been a faithful servant of the gospel both as Director of Ministry and as Assistant Bishop and has offered invaluable pastoral care to many in the diocese of Bangor. He has been a good colleague on the Bench and I am grateful to him for all that he has contributed to the life of the Church in Wales.

“As he moves on from his role as Bishop of Bardsey, I join with my fellow Bishops and colleagues across the Diocese of Bangor in thanking him for his faithful service. He goes with our love, our prayers and our very best wishes for the future.”

In a joint statement, the Diocesan Archdeacons and Dean of Bangor Cathedral Manon Ceridwen Jones say, “We are very grateful to Bishop David for his friendship, spirituality, skill and care as he has ministered with us during the past four years, first as Director of Ministry then as Bishop of Bardsey. We were particularly grateful for his wise pastoral support of the cathedral at a challenging time.

“David has been such a source of joy, hope and encouragement to congregations throughout our diocese and we are sure that he will bring the same gifts of judgment, deep spirituality, integrity, laughter and love into his future ministry. It has been a privilege to serve with him and we will continue to pray for him, although we will miss him enormously. We wish him every blessing for the future.”

Lay Chair of Bangor Diocesan Council Hywel Parry-Smith says, “I would like to thank Bishop David for his self-sacrificial service to the diocese for almost four years. His commitment to a life of faith and service has benefited the diocese as demonstrated in his ministry in public worship, his support of Diocesan staff and his work with preparing candidates for ordination. His natural pastoral gifts and his attentive and patient listening skills have been appreciated by many in our diocese.

“I'm sure that you will join me in wishing him well as he seeks God's guidance for his future .

We give thanks to God for Bishop David’s ministry among us and hold him in our prayers as he moves into the next chapter of his vocation.