The Church in Wales (Yr Eglwys yng Nghymru) has appointed its first
woman as Dean, following the announcement that the Very Rev Alun Hawkins
is to retire as Dean of Bangor.
The Anglican Bishop of Bangor announced this week that the Rev Canon
Dr Sue Jones, born in Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, will take up the
post in Hawkins' place.
In the Anglican Communion, the Dean is the chief resident cleric of a
cathedral or other collegiate church and head of the chapter of canons.
In the Church in Wales, most cathedrals are parish churches, and their
deans are now also vicars of their parishes.
A former Midland Bank employee and trainee teacher, Dr Jones was one
of the first women priests to be ordained in Wales, in 1997.
She has
been chaplain at Swansea University and director of studies at St
Michael's College in Llandaff, Cardiff.
"St Deiniol brought the Christian faith to Bangor in 525 and his
cathedral church has been a continuous place of prayer, praise and study
ever since," said Dr Jones.
"I am looking forward to standing in St
Deiniol's shoes as the 56th recorded Dean of the cathedral, and to
continuing his commitment in shaping the cathedral as a powerful witness
to Christ, nurtured within the distinctive and special culture and
language of Wales."
* Church in Wales / Yr Eglwys yng Nghymru - http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/index_e.php