Election of the Archbishop of Wales

The Electoral College will meet at St Pierre Church and Hotel in Chepstow on the 29th of July to choose the 15th Archbishop of Wales. The College can take up to three days to elect an Archbishop.

This election follows the retirement of the Bishop of Bangor, Andrew John, who held the office of Archbishop of Wales for three and a half years. His successor will be chosen from among the serving Welsh diocesan bishops – the Bishop of St Asaph, Gregory Cameron, the Bishop of Monmouth, Cherry Vann, Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, John Lomas, the Bishop of Llandaff, Mary Stallard, and the Bishop of St Davids, Dorrien Davies.

Those making the decision represent churches across Wales. Each of the six dioceses elects three clerics and three lay people onto the College and the bishops are also members. The College President is the Senior Bishop, Bishop Gregory Cameron.

The meeting will begin with Holy Communion at St Peter’s Church, which is on the St Pierre estate. Following that, college members will meet for confidential discussions.

After a discussion on the needs of the Province and a period of prayer and reflection, the President will call for nominations. The bishops nominated then withdraw from the discussion, only returning to vote. A nominee must achieve two-thirds of the votes of the college in order to be elected Archbishop. If after a vote is taken no candidate receives the necessary votes, the process begins again with fresh nominations, which may or may not include those who had been nominated in the previous round.

Once the Archbishop is elected, an announcement is made. The normal practice is for the bishop to confirm his or her election immediately. The new Archbishop will be enthroned in his or her home cathedral at a later date.

If The College fails to elect an Archbishop within three days, the decision passes to the Bench of Bishops.

• Find out more about the Welsh diocesan bishops

God of truth and mercy,

you call women and men

to preach your life-giving word,

to preside at the sacraments of your new creation

and to lead your people in faith, hope and love:

as the Church in Wales elects a new Archbishop

grant wisdom to those who seek to discern your will

and abundant gifts to the one you call to this ministry

that Christ’s Body, the Church, may be built up,

your gracious kingdom extended

and your holy name glorified;

through Jesus Christ your Son,

our crucified and risen Saviour,

to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,

be all praise and honour,

now and for ever.

Amen.