Electoral college choses new bishop (From Western Telegraph)

Electoral college choses new bishop

THE Church in Wales electoral college has chosen the Venerable Carl Cooper as the new Bishop of St Davids.

He will be the 127th Bishop of St Davids and will replace the Right Rev Huw Jones, who retired as bishop of the diocese at the end of last year. following six years in office.

He is 41 and although he is from Wigan he speaks Welsh fluently, having been educated at the University of Wales, Lampeter. He subsequently attended Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.

Said the Ven Cooper: Being elected to this important post within the Church in Wales has been a humbling experience and I see it as both a privilege and a huge responsibility.

The first role of a bishop is to be a pastor to his people. I would hope that I could bring some of my experience as a parish priest to this aspect of my new role.

The Church in Wales faces many challenges, both old and new, as it stands at the beginning of the 21st century.

I look forward to working closely with my fellow-bishops and all the clergy and lay people of the Church in Wales in facing those challenges and opportunities.

The Ven Cooper has a M.Phil degree from the University of Wales for a study on bilingualism in the Church in Wales.

In parochial ministry, he has served as curate in Llanelli, and as priest-in-charge and subsequently rector of Llannerch Aeron, Ciliau Aeron, Dihewyd, and Mydroilyn.

Since 1993 he has been rector of Dolgellau and in 2000 he also became Archdeacon of Meirionnydd in the diocese of Bangor.

Members of the Electoral College in St Davids Cathedral. PICTURE: Western Telegraph.