THE Very Revd Dr Manon Ceridwen James, installed as Dean of Bangor in October, has been elected as the next Bishop of Bangor.
The announcement was made on Wednesday after a meeting of the Electoral College on Tuesday.
The previous Bishop, the Rt Revd Andrew John, retired in August 2025, having apologised for his part in failings at Bangor Cathedral, in the wake of two reports that recorded concerns about “weak financial controls” and “inappropriate behaviours” (News, 27 June 2025).
The Representative Body subsequently called for a “change in leadership, procedures and governance in the Diocese of Bangor” (News, 4 July, 2025).
After the Electoral College in Bangor decided not to shortlist any candidates for a new Bishop last year, the Governing Body of the Church in Wales agreed to appoint an Interim Bishop for up to two years, to advance reform and provide a “healing presence” (News, 28 November 2025). In February, however, it was announced that interviews had not resulted in an appointment (News, 27 February).
A recommendation of the cathedral’s Visitation report last year was that a new Dean be appointed urgently. The appointment of Dr James, Canon Theologian of Newport Cathedral, was announced last July (News, 18 July 2025).
Bangor Cathedral had been without a Dean since the Very Revd Kathy Jones left in 2021. The Revd Siôn Rhys Evans, appointed Sub-Dean and Canon Treasurer by Archbishop John in 2021, ceased to minister at the cathedral in March 2024 and left in the following December.
In the wake of problems with governance and finance, including reports of serious incidents to the Charity Commission and a protest by the choir, the Chapter said last year that the new Dean was “committed to patient listening and reconciliation” (News, 12 September 2025).
“The people of Bangor, and indeed the people of the diocese who look to the cathedral as a mother church, deserve a cathedral which embodies all that is good about the city and the diocese,” she said (News, 18 July 2025).
Dr James was trained at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, was ordained deacon in Bangor diocese, and was among the first women priests there in 1997. She has served as a parish priest in both Bangor and St Asaph dioceses, and has held diocesan posts in training, education, and vocations, the last of which was as director of ministry.
Before ordination, she took a humanities degree at the University of South Wales, Pontypridd. She completed a postgraduate certificate in adult education and theological reflection at Chester University in 2008 and was awarded a doctorate by Birmingham University in 2015.
She has written two books, Women, Identity and Religion in Wales: Theology, poetry, story (Books, 21 September 2018) and Notes from a Eucharistic Life (Features, 29 November 2024), a poetry collection. She has contributed chapters to several academic books on women’s faith, Welsh identity, domestic violence, theology, and other topics. She is a contributor to the SPCK website assemblies.org.uk and has published material for school assemblies.
Dr James is also a regular contributor to BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales. In her spare time, she enjoys attending football matches and comedy events with her husband, Dylan, who is the Group Financial Controller at Bangor University.
The Archbishop of Wales, the Most Revd Cherry Vann, said after the election: “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.”
The Bishop-elect has up to 28 days to accept her election. If she does, it is for the Bishops in sacred synod to confirm it, before consecration and enthronement can follow.