The new Archbishop of Wales, Cherry Vann, believes it’s only a matter of time before gay marriage becomes accepted in the church.
In a recent interview, Vann shared how she kept her sexuality hidden for decades while trying to gain acceptance as a female minister. Now 66, she has made history as the UK’s first female and openly gay archbishop, and the first lesbian bishop to lead within the global Anglican community.
She said her deep sense of calling kept her going through the many challenges she faced in the church.
Though she has broken new ground, Vann said she never set out to be a campaigner. She simply wants to stay faithful to what she believes God has asked of her.
Since joining the Church in Wales in 2020, she said things have felt very different. Unlike the Church of England — where gay clergy are expected to remain celibate — the Church in Wales allows same-sex civil partnerships.
Vann publicly revealed her relationship with her partner of 30 years, Wendy Diamond, when she became Bishop of Monmouth five years ago. Before that, they kept their partnership private for fear of being publicly outed.
She recalled how, in England, Wendy had to stay out of sight when guests visited. But now, she attends services with her and is fully part of her public life.
Vann also reflected on the early days of being a female priest, which came with a lot of pushback. While she could hide her sexuality, she said being a woman was impossible to conceal, and that brought its own challenges. Some male priests were openly hostile.
In the 1990s, she and a few other women started meeting with male priests who opposed female ordination. These meetings were hard but necessary. Over time, the resistance eased.
She hopes that with time and understanding, the same progress can be made on issues surrounding sexuality. For her, Christians can disagree deeply but still live together in love and respect.
Vann steps into her new role following the resignation of former archbishop Andy John. He stepped down after issues of financial and sexual misconduct at Bangor Cathedral came to light, though he wasn’t personally accused of wrongdoing.
She says her priority now is healing and rebuilding trust, especially for those hurt by the recent events. She stressed that steps are already being taken behind the scenes to move the church forward.
While she personally doesn’t feel the need for a church wedding — having already made lifelong vows to Wendy — she believes same-sex marriage in the church is inevitable. But she also understands the need to respect those who have strong theological objections.
