New Bishop of Bangor consecrated at Newport Cathedral

The recently elected Bishop of Bangor, the Rt Revd. Dr Manon Ceridwen James, was consecrated at a special service today.

Hundreds of people from across Wales packed into St Woolos Cathedral in Newport to celebrate the Episcopal Ordination during which Bishop Manon was anointed and presented with the symbols of the office of a bishop: an episcopal ring, a pectoral cross, a mitre, a Bible, and a pastoral staff. The event took place at Newport as it is the cathedral of the current Archbishop of Wales the Most Revd Cherry Vann.

You can watch the livestream on YouTube here: Consecration - YouTube.

This consecration followed Bishop Manon’s election in June as the 82nd Bishop of Bangor, and the first female Bishop in the diocese.

Bishop Manon was brought up in Nefyn, on the Llŷn peninsula, and was ordained deacon in 1994 in Bangor Cathedral before being one of the first women to be ordained priest in the diocese in 1997. She has served as a parish priest in both Bangor and St Asaph dioceses, as well as holding a variety of diocesan roles in training, education and vocations, the last of which was as Director of Ministry at St Padarn’s Institute before she became Dean of Bangor cathedral in October 2025.

The Episcopal Ordination falls near two dates in the Church Calendar which are significant for both the Welsh language and the Cathedral and Diocese of Bangor. The Sacred Synod service, which confirms legal status as Bishop, took place at St Woolos Cathedral on September 9th, on the eve of the day when the Church remembers two scholars who helped to translate the Prayer Book and Scriptures into Welsh: William Salusbury and Bishop William Morgan. Their work had lasting impact on the spiritual life, language and literature of Wales. The Consecration itself took place the day after the feast of St Deiniol, founder of the Monastic School at Bangor Fawr from which the Diocese of Bangor derives its origin.

The music at the consecration began with Bishop Timothy Rees’s famous hymn - ‘Arglwydd, trefni mean doethineb’ ‘Lord, who in thy perfect wisdom’, with a verse that Bishop Manon adapted to celebrate saints associated with the Diocese of Bangor.

Upon Bishop Manon’s election in June, the Archbishop of Wales said: “Manon is well-known to the people of the diocese, and she will be a huge asset to the diocese and the Province and the Bench of Bishops. We are delighted at her election and wish her every blessing as she steps into this ministry.”

Bishop Manon said, “I feel very privileged to be called to this ministry. I am also deeply grateful as I remember all those people, from my Sunday school teacher onwards, who have nurtured and encouraged me in faith and supported me throughout my life. It will be particularly special to be ordained in Newport Cathedral, where I served for a time as Canon Theologian, surrounded by family, friends and colleagues who mean so much to me.

“In the service we will be praying for the strength of the Holy Spirit to equip and sustain me in this ministry. My husband will be reading the Old Testament lesson, and the sermon will be preached by a friend from theological college who has also been part of my clergy support group for the last thirty years. Knowing that I am upheld both by God and by so many people is a great source of encouragement.

“As I respond to this call, I hope it will also be an opportunity for people across the Diocese of Bangor, and beyond, to reflect on their own calling and on what God might be calling us to do together. I am excited by the opportunities we have to serve our communities and to share God's love with everyone".

Next weekend, Bishop Manon will be installed as Bishop of Bangor at St Deiniol’s Cathedral. She will be installed in the bishop’s chair and welcomed by representatives from across the Bangor Diocese. The service takes place on Saturday 19th September at 2pm.