The Archbishop of Wales, , has spoken candidly about the backlash she has faced since her historic appointment, revealing that some parishioners have chosen to leave the Church in Wales in protest over her sexuality and gender, while she continues to urge unity and mutual respect within the church.
Archbishop Vann, who also serves as the Bishop of Monmouth, made history in July when she became the United Kingdom’s first female Archbishop and the first openly gay Archbishop in the world. Her appointment has drawn significant attention both within and beyond the Anglican Communion, generating praise from supporters and criticism from more conservative groups.
Speaking ahead of delivering her first Christmas message as Archbishop, Vann acknowledged that the criticism has at times been deeply hurtful. However, she stressed that the church must remain a space where differing views can be expressed openly, even when those views challenge her own identity.
“There are still patches all over the place where people continue to struggle with women in leadership, and I have to respect that,” she said in an interview with BBC Wales. “The Church in Wales is working hard to welcome LGBT+ people, but I also respect that there are people in the Church in Wales who find that really difficult. Some, sadly, have felt the need to leave, and I take that very seriously.”
Her comments come in the wake of strong criticism from the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (Gafcon), which described her appointment as “another painful nail in the coffin of Anglican orthodoxy.” Despite such remarks, Archbishop Vann said the vast majority of responses to her election had been supportive, even as a minority had reacted with hostility.
“It can be very hurtful,” she admitted. “It’s hard to hear some of the things that people say, but I think it’s important that there is space for them to say that. I don’t want people to feel shut down or silenced just because I hold a different view. But it does nevertheless hurt because it feels like an attack on who I am and who God has made me to be.”
Archbishop Vann was elected by her fellow bishops with a two-thirds majority following the retirement of her predecessor, Andrew John, earlier in the summer. John stepped down after serious concerns emerged at Bangor Cathedral, including safeguarding failures, excessive drinking, and instances of church members overstepping sexual boundaries. The revelations marked a turbulent period for the Church in Wales and placed renewed focus on leadership, accountability, and institutional culture.
Against this backdrop, Vann has acknowledged the scale of the task ahead. She said she is acutely aware of her responsibility to help repair trust and address the cultural problems that contributed to her predecessor’s departure.
“I think there is a big cultural issue in the Church,” she said. “Anybody who has tried to change the culture in an organisation will tell you it takes a long time. This is a big thing, and I guess that there will still be work to do when I retire.”
She emphasised that reform must include greater care for those who have been harmed by the church. “We need to take greater care for those who have been damaged by the Church, of which sadly there are many,” she said. “But I am hopeful that we are already making changes. There are many people who are determined to make a difference and ensure that the Church is a place where, when things go wrong, they are dealt with properly.”
Despite the intense focus on her gender and sexuality, Archbishop Vann said these aspects of her identity are not what define her calling or priorities as Archbishop. “Other people find it fascinating,” she remarked. “I had a lot of people contact me rejoicing at my election and saying how much hope and strength they get from the fact that there is now a woman in the role – and a civilly partnered woman at that. I’ve had the opposite as well. That’s just life.”
As she prepares to lead the church through the Christmas season, Vann said her message will centre on hope in the midst of hardship. She has chosen a passage from the Gospel of John that speaks of light shining in the darkness, a theme she believes resonates strongly in the current global climate.
“It’s really about how the coming of Jesus into the world is the light in the darkness – and there’s plenty of darkness around in the world at the moment,” she said. “Our message as Christians is that Jesus comes into all that difficulty and despair and brings the light of hope and love and joy, because of who he is.”
Observers say Archbishop Vann’s leadership represents a defining moment for the Church in Wales, as it seeks to balance tradition with inclusion while rebuilding confidence after a challenging year. Whether her tenure will be judged by cultural change, unity, or institutional reform, she remains clear about her guiding principle.
“We have to find a way as a Church to respect one another’s views and find a commonality in our faith in Christ, despite our differences,” she said.
Follow Africa Live News on social media for more updates:
🔹 X (Twitter): https://x.com/africalivenews2
🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africalivenews
🔹 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@africalivenews
🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Africalivenews
