Church in Wales to elect new Bishop of St Davids

Senior clergy in the Church in Wales will come together on September 1 to elect a successor to the Bishop of St Davids, the Rt Rev Carl Cooper, following his resignation earlier this year amid speculation of an improper relationship with his chaplain.

Bishop Cooper announced his marriage break up in February, just a few weeks before rumours broke out in the media over his relationship with the Rev Mandy Williams-Potter, who was also his press officer at the time and in the process of separating from her husband, Christopher.

Joy Cooper, Bishop Cooper's wife of 25 years, said that the break up of the two marriages at the same time was "coincidence". Two bishops, however, led petitions to the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, calling for an investigation into the allegations. Bishop Cooper formally announced his resignation in May, after being in the post for six years.

Dr Morgan will lead an electoral college of 46 people, including the four other Welsh diocesan bishops, in nominating and voting on candidates. The process will take place behind closed doors in St Davids Cathedral and could last up to three days.

The new bishop will be the 128th Bishop of St Davids, an area covering the traditional counties of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.