St. Davids has selected a new bishop to succeed the one who famously declared, ‘Never, never, never trust a Tory.’
Dorrien Davies, previously the Archdeacon of Carmarthen, was elected on Tuesday, taking the reins after Dr. Joanna Penberthy’s resignation in May 2023 due to health issues.
The announcement of his appointment was made at St. Davids Cathedral by the Archbishop of Wales, and the newly elected bishop expressed feeling ‘humbled and honoured’.
Bishop Penberthy held her position for six years, and she issued an apology following her 2021 tweet.
Back then, the head of the Welsh Conservative Party expressed concerns that her remarks might cause distress to numerous parishioners.
The father of two has served in all the counties within the St Davids diocese, including Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, and Ceredigion. As a Welsh speaker, an avid reader, and a painter, he received his training at St. Michael’s College, Llandaff, and was ordained as a priest in 1989.
He is slated to become the 130th Bishop of St. Davids. His journey within the diocese includes his appointment as a Canon of St Davids Cathedral in 2007 and his move to St Davids as a Canon Residentiary in 2010.
In 2017, he took on the role of Archdeacon of Carmarthen and served as priest-in-charge of St. Clears. Archbishop of Wales Andrew John expressed his delight at the selection of Archdeacon Davies, noting, “His experience of this place and his deep wisdom and his skills will all be deployed in both leading the diocese forward,”.
