Dictionary

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Bishop

‘Bishop’ comes from the Greek word for ‘overseer’. So a bishop is a senior Christian minister authorised to have oversight for God’s people. As well as duties given to deacons and priests, bishops confirm and ordain.

Diocese

‘Diocese’ refers to the geographical territory in which a bishop exercises oversight. The Church in Wales is divided into six dioceses each with its own cathedral in which is housed the cathedra (the bishop’s ‘chair’ or ‘throne’).

Eucharist

‘Eucharist’ comes from the Greek word for ‘thanksgiving’. At the Eucharist the Church remembers Jesus’ last supper where he gave bread and wine to be his body and blood, a sign of his saving love. See also Holy Communion.

Holy Communion

At Holy Communion blessed bread and wine is shared, by which we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The congregation gives thanks for Jesus’ life, his death and resurrection and his continuing presence. See also Eucharist.

Prayer

Prayer sustains our human relationship with God and may involve words (formal or informal) or be silent. Prayer can involve adoration (‘I love you’), confession (‘sorry’), thanksgiving and supplication (‘please’).

Home News New Bishop of Bangor to be Elected in Llandudno

New Bishop of Bangor to be Elected in Llandudno

Provincial news Posted: 2 June 2026

Representatives from across the Church in Wales will gather at Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno, in June to elect the next Bishop of Bangor.

An Electoral College of 46 members will meet to pray, reflect, and discern who God is calling to serve as the next bishop. They will consider a confidential list of shortlisted candidates.

The College, which begins on 16 June, follows the retirement of the Right Reverend Andrew John in August 2025.

The new bishop will be the 82nd Bishop of Bangor, serving a diocese richly connected to pilgrimage and prayer, stretching from Ynys Môn to the Llŷn Peninsula.

The Electoral College includes clergy and lay representatives from each of the six dioceses of the Church in Wales, together with all the diocesan bishops. All proceedings are confidential. Candidates will be interviewed in person during the meeting, discussed, and then voted on by ballot. Any candidate receiving the support of two-thirds of those present and voting is declared bishop-elect. If no candidate reaches this threshold, the College returns to the nomination stage, and the process continues. The College may sit for up to three consecutive days.

Once a decision has been reached, an announcement will be made at the door of Holy Trinity Church.

Following the election, the bishop-elect has up to 28 days to accept the position. If they do so, the election will be formally confirmed at a meeting of the bishops in sacred synod.

The Electoral College will begin on 16 June with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 9:30am, to which all are warmly welcome. After this service, the church will be closed for the duration of the decision.