THE election of the new Bishop of Monmouth will begin today.

A celebration of the Holy Eucharist will take place at Newport Cathedral at 10.30am before the cathedral’s doors are locked for up to three days while the new bishop is elected.

A total of 47 members of the electoral college of the Church in Wales will nominate and vote on a confidential list of candidates.

The election follows the retirement of Dominic Walker, who served as Bishop of Monmouth for ten years until the end of June.

The new bishop will be the 10th Bishop of Monmouth.

Once a decision is made by the electoral college, the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, will unlock and open the west door of the cathedral and announce the name of the Bishop-Elect from the doorstep.