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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.

Home News Election of new Bishop of St Davids

Election of new Bishop of St Davids

Provincial news Posted: 2 October 2023

St Davids Cathedral (photo by Toby Pickard)

A cathedral’s doors will be locked for up to three days later this month as a new bishop for the Church in Wales is elected.

St Davids Cathedral will be closed as a college of 47 people, representing churches from across Wales, meets inside to nominate and vote on a confidential list of candidates for the next Bishop of St Davids.

The election follows the retirement of Joanna Penberthy, who served as Bishop of St Davids for six years. The new bishop will be the 130th Bishop of St Davids, a diocese which takes in the west Wales counties of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.

The Electoral College, which includes all the Welsh bishops, begins on October 16. Candidates for election are nominated at the meeting, discussed and voted on by ballot. Any candidate receiving two-thirds of the votes of those present is declared Bishop-Elect. Otherwise, the College returns to the nomination stage and the cycle starts afresh. Once a decision is made, the Cathedral will re-open and the Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, will make the announcement at the west door.

The College has up to three days to reach a decision. If it fails to elect anyone after that, the decision passes to the Bench of Bishops.

Once a bishop is elected, he or she will have up to 28 days to accept the position. If they accept, the election will be formally confirmed at a Sacred Synod service held shortly afterward. Then the new bishop will be consecrated at Bangor Cathedral, the seat of the current Archbishop of Wales.

The Electoral College meeting will begin on October 16 with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 9.30am to which everyone is welcome. Following that, College members will meet in private and the Cathedral will be closed.

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