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Anglican

Anglicans form the family of Christians closely related to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Whilst tracing their inheritance back to Christ and the earliest Christians and to the ancient Roman Catholic church, the sixteenth century Reformation was a crucial moment for Anglicanism.

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’).

Priest

‘Priest’ comes from the Greek word for ‘elder’. Priests in the Church in Wales are those authorised specifically to proclaim forgiveness of sins, preside at the Eucharist and bless God’s people, as well as other responsibilities.

Home News Cardiff priest honoured with LGBT award

Cardiff priest honoured with LGBT award

Provincial news Posted: 22 June 2021

Cardiff priest the Revd Canon Sarah Jones has been honoured in the Attitude Pride Awards for embodying the spirit of LGBTQ Pride in the Christian community.

Canon Sarah was the first trans priest to be ordained in the Church of England. In 2005 she was outed to a national newspaper and continues to campaign for LGBTQ equality within the church community. Now based in the Diocese of Llandaff, Canon Sarah is the priest of St John the Baptist Church, a fully inclusive Anglican church in the heart of the Wales' capital city.

Faith and God are inclusive of all people, says Canon Sarah Jones

Sarah says, "I’m delighted to receive an Attitude Pride Award. I’d like to thank Attitude Magazine and whoever nominated me. I’d also like to express my thanks to everyone who helped me to realise that faith and God were inclusive of all people.

"I meet so many LGBTQIA+ people who tell me that they don’t feel welcome in church or that they’ve been told that God would not approve of them and I would like them to know that they are very welcome in many more churches and worshipping communities than they might think.

"I am honoured to minister at St John’s Church in Central Cardiff. The people there are loving, kind and supportive. Bishop June, Llandaff Diocese and the Church in Wales have made me very welcome.

I THANK THEM FOR THEIR OPEN HEARTS AND FOR THEIR SHARING OF GOD’S LOVE FOR THE WORLD.

The Bishop of Llandaff, June Osborne says, "Congratulations to Canon Sarah Jones for her award as a LGBTQ hero which is so very well deserved. Sarah is authentic, courageous and through her own vulnerability she has encouraged so many to be the person they’re supposed to be, to ‘get on and be glorious’.

"As a priest she proclaims the message that not being good enough for God is a heresy and she works tirelessly to create a fully inclusive and welcoming church community at St John the Baptist Church in Cardiff. The Diocese of Llandaff is so proud of her."

'God is non-binary'

Interview with Canon Sarah Jones