Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

Dean of St Davids Cathedral elected as new Bishop of St Davids, Wales

The man in charge of one of the country's best loved landmarks and the cradle of Christianity in Wales was elected as the new Bishop of St Davids.

The Dean of St Davids Cathedral, the Very Reverend John Wyn Evans, was elected as the 128th bishop of the diocese by the Electoral College of the Church in Wales, at a "lock in " meeting at the cathedral.

The election took place following the resignation of the former bishop, Rt Rev Carl Cooper, in May, who was bishop from 2002.

The Very Rev John Wyn Evans (known as Wyn), 61, has served as Dean for the past 14 years, during which time he was the driving force behind the £5.5m Cathedral restoration project, which included the acclaimed rebuilding and expansion of the historic cloisters area, and has secured the future of the building for generations to come.

He said he was stunned but honoured to have been elected bishop of the diocese in which he has served since his ordination. He said, "We are fortunate that Bishop Carl gave the diocese a sense of purpose and direction which I look forward to continuing."

The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said, "I am delighted with the result of this election. It is obvious that Wyn has enormous support both within and without the diocese. He is a safe pair of hands and also a man who can move the diocese forward and continue its good work."

Wyn Evans, 61, grew up in Aberystwyth, the son of the vicar of Aberystwyth Efion Evans. He was educated at Ardwyn Grammar School, Aberystwyth, then studied archaeology at the University of Wales, Cardiff. He trained for the priesthood at St Michael's College, Llandaff 1968-71 and has served all his ministry in the Diocese of St Davids.

Ordained as a priest in 1972, Wyn served as a minor canon at St Davids Cathedral from 1972-75.

After a period of research at Oxford University he returned to Pembrokeshire, serving as Rector of Llanfallteg with Clunderwen and Hellan Amgoed with Llangan from 1977-82. He was Diocesan Warden of Ordinands from 1978-83, chaplain of Trinity College of Carmarthen 1982-90 and diocesan director of education 1982-1992. He was made an honorary canon of St Davids Cathedral 1988 and served as a canon from 1990 to 1994. He was made Dean of Chapel, Trinity College Carmarthen 1990-94 and head of department of religious studies 1991 - 94. He was made Dean and Precentor of St Davids Cathedral in 1994. He was vicar of St Davids 1994-2001, a parish which was enlarged into a Rectorial Benefice and renamed, Dewisland, in 2001, where he served as rector.

A keen historian, the Dean is an honorary fellow of the University of Wales, Lampeter, and a leading expert on the lives of the early Welsh saints and St Davids Cathedral. He has recently edited a book, titled, St David of Wales - Cult, Church and Nation.

He is married to Diane, a professional potter in St Davids.

For photograph visit:

Archbisop and Bishop Elect.
http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/dynamic/shared/library/fullsize/257.jpg

Notes to editors

St Davids Diocese covers the three Welsh counties of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, from the towns of Llanelli to Aberystwyth.

The Electoral College is made up of representatives from all six Welsh dioceses. The "home" diocese is represented by six lay people and six clergy, and the other five dioceses by three lay people and three clergy each, plus the four remaining Diocesan Bishops.

 Its discussions are confidential. 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. Traditionally, the Bishop of St Davids is a Welsh-speaker.

The College may meet for up to three consecutive days in order to reach a decision; if it is unable to do so within this deadline the decision passes to the Bench of Bishops.

Once a bishop is elected, he will have up to 28 days to accept the position.

Item from: The Church in Wales

New Bishop of Aston, Birmingham announced

The new Bishop of Aston, announced by Downing Street, will be the Revd Andrew Watson. He will succeed the Rt Revd John Austin who died in 2007 following his retirement as Bishop of Aston in 2005.

News of the appointment of a new Bishop of Aston is significant for Birmingham and the surrounding region. Primarily, the Bishop of Aston works with the Bishop of Birmingham in leading the Church of England across the city and surrounding areas including Solihull, Sutton Coldfield and parts of Staffordshire, Sandwell and Bromsgrove, and therefore it is the one of the most senior appointments in a Diocese. The Bishop of Aston will also be required to advise and consult with key people and organisations involved with the well-being of all communities in this region and will be especially engaged with working with parishes in developing Mission and Evangelism.

The Revd Andrew Watson, 47, comes to Birmingham from the Diocese of London where he is Vicar of St Stephen’s East Twickenham. He is married to Beverly who was brought up in the West Midlands and was Ordained as a deacon this year. Andrew and Beverly have 4 children, Hannah, Samuel, Joseph and Lydia. The family will live in the former Rectory in Sutton Coldfield, now known as Bishop’s Lodge.

Andrew Watson’s paternal grandparents were missionaries in south-west China and have been a strong influence in his life. He was educated at Winchester College and Corpus Christi College Cambridge. Before Ordination he worked as a Youth Worker in an inner-city London parish where he became aware of many of the problems associated with Urban Poverty. Following his Ordination, he was a Curate in Redditch before moving to London to be a Vicar in Notting Hill and was involved in community support for the Notting Hill carnival. Andrew has been Vicar of St Stephen Twickenham since 1996 during which his congregation has grown to nearly 900 people. He is also Area Dean of Hampton, and the author ofThe Fourfold Leadership of Jesus (BRF 2008).

Andrew’s interests include music, walking, reading, photography - and keeping chickens. He also maintains an interest in China - which he has recently visited.

Andrew said: “'It is a great privilege to have been chosen to serve as the next Bishop of Aston. I know there are many exciting challenges ahead. The Church needs to grow and I look forward to working with Bishop David and all the parishes in Birmingham and its districts in encouraging an ethos of encouragement, trust and prayerful risk-taking in both congregations and local communities.

‘I am very pleased to be moving to Birmingham and to becoming part of a forward-looking, international city at a very important time in its history. I look forward to being part of a diocese which is positioned so strategically for God's mission in the 21st century.'

Bishop David Urquhart, Bishop of Birmingham said: “I am delighted that Andrew Watson is coming as the new Bishop of Aston. He brings with him wide experience, which includes working in some of the more challenging areas of London. He knows how churches grow and understands the contribution they make to their local communities. His track record in both Notting Hill and Twickenham is outstanding. He is a friendly, outgoing and gifted person, who will, I am sure, very quickly become part of our Christian Mission to the whole region. Andrew joins a strong leadership team in the Diocese and will relate to civic leaders and faith leaders as well as those working in community regeneration, education, youth work and children ministries. I am very much looking forward to working with him and to welcoming him and his family to the region.”

Andrew will be consecrated as a Bishop in St Paul’s Cathedral on Tuesday 28th October and he and his family will be formally welcomed to Birmingham in a service at Birmingham Cathedral on Saturday 8th November.

Item from: The Church of England