'It is not business as usual': New Archbishop wants to 'refresh' Church in Wales

The new Archbishop of Wales has said he wants to help 'refresh the vision' of the Church in Wales once he is enthroned today, adding: 'It is not business as usual.'

John Davies, who has been Bishop of Swansea and Brecon since 2008, was elected in September after the retirement of Dr Barry Morgan.

Bishop John Davies The Church in Wales

He will be enthroned today at Brecon Cathedral as the 13th archbishop since the Church in Wales separated from the Church of England in 1920.

The 64-year-old former lawyer is the new head of the Church in Wales, which includes six dioceses: Bangor, St Asaph, St Davids, Llandaff, Monmouth and his own diocese of Swansea and Brecon.

The father-of-two from Newport is a former criminal law solicitor who left the profession in 1982 to join the church in before being ordained in 1984.

He has called for the Church in Wales to 'pause and draw breath' after his appointment.

'The coming into post of a new archbishop is an opportunity for me to say to the very good and very many people that we have as part of our church, that we need to take stock,' Davies said, the BBC reported.

'I want to try and refresh the vision of the church as that institution to support and nourish the lives of wider society.'

Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
What should Christians make of Tommy Robinson?
What should Christians make of Tommy Robinson?

In demanding that the likes of Robinson be banned from the Oxford Union, the clergy are in effect setting their own limit on freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

Christian woman persecuted by Iranian regime sentenced to 9 years in prison
Christian woman persecuted by Iranian regime sentenced to 9 years in prison

A Christian convert in Iran has been sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison on trumped-up charges linked to state security and anti-government activity.

John Lennox fears AI is making us lazy
John Lennox fears AI is making us lazy

Christian media leaders heard calls for courage, authenticity and discernment at the recent Revive 2026 conference.

Does the Church of England need to re-think its messaging?
Does the Church of England need to re-think its messaging?

If you look at the Church of England’s communications all that it ever seems to highlight is the good works that Christians do to improve the temporal well-being of their neighbours. It is right to highlight these things, but they are not the primary reason for the Church’s existence.