THE public are invited to attend a celebration at Newport Cathedral, before a new Bishop of Monmouth is elected.
The cathedral will be closed for up to three days next week when a ‘college’ of 47 people drawn from all over Wales, including all the Welsh bishops, meet to nominate and vote on a confidential list of candidates for the next Bishop of Monmouth.
The dean of St Albans, The Very Rev Jeffrey John, is among those tipped as a contender by national media.
The controversial Welsh-born cleric is openly gay and a prominent advocate for gay marriage.
The election follows the retirement of Dominic Walker, who served as Bishop of Monmouth for ten years until last month. The new bishop will be the tenth Bishop of Monmouth.
The electoral college will have up to three days to make a decision, before the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, will unlock the door and announces the name of the bishop- elect.
The meeting begins at 10.30am on July 23 with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The electoral college will then meet in private.
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