Pressure on the Church in Wales to commission an independent investigation into Bangor Cathedral is growing, as public concern intensifies over the findings of two internal reports detailing serious leadership failures, blurred sexual boundaries, and safeguarding issues.
The Church in Wales confirmed this week that its Representative Body met in Cardiff to discuss the situation in the Diocese of Bangor and at Bangor Cathedral. The meeting comes in the wake of two abridged reports, published last month, which outlined a deeply troubled culture within the Cathedral, including excessive alcohol use and organisational breakdowns.
Since then, calls for accountability have intensified, with some within the Church calling for the resignation of the Archbishop of Wales, the Most Revd Andrew John, who also serves as the Bishop of Bangor.
Amid growing pressure, Archbishop John issued a personal statement acknowledging responsibility for the failings under his leadership.
“Firstly, I wish to apologise for errors of judgement I have made that have caused anxiety and hurt,” said Archbishop John. “My apology to you all is heartfelt, unreserved, and unequivocal.”
He continued: “Abridged versions of both [independent reports] are now publicly available on our websites and reveal shortcomings and poor organisational practice which should not have occurred. I deeply regret that they happened under my episcopate, and I recognise I ought to have done more to ensure such failings did not occur. I also take full responsibility for not addressing these matters quickly enough.
“I recognise our witness to Jesus Christ and our mission to Wales has been damaged, and I repent and offer no excuses nor justifications.”
The Archbishop’s statement comes as the Church moves forward with its response, including the creation of an Oversight Board and an Implementation Group tasked with enacting reforms at Bangor Cathedral. In an official statement published on the Church’s website this week, it said the groups will be responsible for “driving forward the implementation of the recommendations and for ensuring progress is monitored, communicated, and evaluated.”
The Oversight Board, chaired by a lay member, will report to the Church’s Governing Body, while the Implementation Group includes clergy and lay representatives. According to the Church, both bodies have begun their work and will focus on ensuring safeguarding reforms and good governance practices are established.
Despite these steps, public concern remains high. Two members of the Cathedral clergy have called for an independent investigation, and their appeal has been echoed by Siân Gwenllian, the Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for Arfon.
In an interview with S4C News, Siân Gwenllian said: “I’m deeply concerned about the situation. A number of constituents have approached me with worries about press reports, allegations, and internal documents that have also made their way into the media.
“As a result, I’ve written to the Archbishop of Wales and Church in Wales representatives to ask for clarity on the matter and to urge them to commission an independent review.
“At the moment, I don’t feel confident that any review will be truly independent of the Church, and that is what concerns me most.
“We need full transparency. Only then can people have confidence that things will change, that recommendations will be acted upon, and that public trust in the cathedral’s good name can be restored.”
The Church has so far declined repeated media requests for interviews with the Archbishop. On Tuesday morning, as he arrived at the Representative Body meeting in Cardiff, Archbishop John did not respond to questions from reporters.
A Church spokesperson offered only a brief statement: “The Representative Body of the Church in Wales met to consider matters related to Bangor Cathedral. After extensive and detailed discussions, the meeting has been adjourned, and a statement will be issued in due course.”
As criticism continues, Archbishop John acknowledged the difficult road ahead:
“I am committed to an ongoing process of reflection to ensure these unacceptable events do not happen again. I am grateful that the Church in Wales is seeking to assist both the Cathedral and Diocese in re-establishing proper governance arrangements, and am also grateful to my episcopal colleagues for their challenge, their love and their support.”
However, with many still unconvinced that internal processes are enough, the call for an external, independent investigation is unlikely to fade soon.
