Barry Morgan
| The Most Reverend Barry Morgan | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Wales | |
 | |
| Church | Church in Wales |
| In office | May 2003 to present |
| Predecessor | Rowan Williams |
| Other posts |
|
| Orders | |
| Ordination |
1972 (deacon) 1973 (priest) |
| Consecration | 9 January 1993 |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Barry Cennydd Morgan |
| Born |
31 January 1947 Neath, West Glamorgan, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Alma mater | |
Barry Cennydd Morgan (born 31 January 1947) is a Welsh Anglican bishop and academic. Since 2003, he has been the Archbishop of Wales and is therefore both Primate and Metropolitan of the Church in Wales. He was the Bishop of Bangor from 1992 to 1999, and he has been the Bishop of Llandaff since 1999. He is currently the longest serving archbishop in the entire Anglican Communion.[1] On 23 August 2016, the Church in Wales announced that Morgan will retire on 31 January 2017.[2]
Early life and education
Morgan was born on 31 January 1947 in Neath, Wales. He studied history at University College, London, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1969.[3] In 1970, he entered Westcott House, Cambridge, an Anglican theological college in the Liberal Catholic tradition, to train for ordination.[3] During this time, he also studied theology at Selwyn College, Cambridge, and graduated from the University of Cambridge with BA degree in 1972; as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Cantab) degree in 1974.[3] He was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from the University of Wales in 1986.[3]
Ordained ministry
Morgan was ordained in the Church in Wales as a deacon in 1972 and as a priest in 1973.[3] He was a curate in the parish of St Andrews Major with Michaelston-le-Pit. He then moved to become chaplain and lecturer at St Michael's College and the University of Wales in Cardiff. Subsequent appointments include warden of the Church Hostel Bangor; chaplain and lecturer in theology at the University of Wales Bangor; Director of Ordinands and in-service training advisor in the Diocese of Bangor; and Rector of Wrexham. From 1986 to 1993 he was Archdeacon of Merioneth.
In 1992 he was elected Bishop of Bangor; he was consecrated on 9 January 1993 at St Asaph Cathedral and then, in 1999 translated to become Bishop of Llandaff. He was elected in April 2003 to become Archbishop of Wales, remaining also Bishop of Llandaff;[4] he took office upon the confirmation of his election in May 2003, and was ceremonially inaugurated on 12 July 2003 in Llandaff Cathedral.[5]
In August 2016 Morgan announced he would retire as Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Llandaff on 31 January 2017.[2]
Other appointments
Morgan has served on the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches and served on the Primates Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion. He was a member of the Lambeth Commission which produced the Windsor Report 2004.
Morgan is currently Pro-Chancellor of the University of Wales, a fellow of University of Wales Institute, Cardiff and was until recently president of the Welsh Centre for International Affairs. He chaired an inquiry on behalf of Shelter Cymru on homelessness in Wales.
Key debates
Trident
In September 2006, Morgan challenged the UK government's plans to renew the Trident nuclear missile system. According to the BBC,[6] he expressed concern "about the government's apparent commitment to a long-term replacement for the Trident weapons system. With that kind of money we could prevent 16,000 children dying every day from diseases caused by impure water and malnutrition. The deaths of 16,000 children a day is the equivalent of 40 jumbo jets crashing every day of every week. Our world would not tolerate that - just look at what happens when our airports grind to a halt. But we do tolerate hunger, poverty and impure water, and are prepared to contemplate spending our resources on weapons of mass destruction." Morgan clarified that the view expressed were his own, and not those of the Church in Wales, however, the Church Governing body later supported his views,[7] supporting the motion that "...the Governing Body deplore the decision of Her Majesty’s Government to consider the maintenance and renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons programme."
Fundamentalist atheism
In December 2007, Morgan blamed "fundamentalist atheism" for the phenomenon of de-Christianisation in public life,[8] claiming that Christmas was being called "Winterval", hospitals were removing Christian symbols from their chapels and schools were refusing to allow children to send Christmas cards.[9]
Devolution
Morgan has argued strongly for increased transfers of responsibilities to the Welsh Assembly.
Immigration
He has expressed disquiet with the deportation of illegal immigrants (in one particular instance involving a cancer sufferer). At Christmas 2014 he asked the British government to accept more refugees from Syria.
Organ donation
Whilst strongly in favour of organ donation, he is against the Welsh Government's Bill on presumed consent where those who have not opted out will be deemed to have opted in for organ donation.
Ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate
Morgan has strongly supported the ministry of women priests in a diocese hitherto strongly opposed to this development and has appointed women to be Archdeacon of Llandaff, Dean of Llandaff and vicar of the central Cardiff parish of St John the Baptist.
The Governing Body of the Church in Wales voted twice during Morgan's time as archbishop on the ordination of women to the episcopate, once in April 2008 (when the Governing Body voted in dissent) and once in 2013 (when it voted in assent).
Published works
Welsh-speaking, Morgan has written books on various subjects, including the poetry of R. S. Thomas.
- Strangely Orthodox: R. S. Thomas and His Poetry of Faith. Gomer Press. 2006. ISBN 978-1-84323-682-5.
Personal life
Morgan was married to Hilary P Morgan of the Crown Prosecution Service, who died on 14 January 2016.[10] He has been a keen golfer. In April 2013 he became patron of the Welsh-language Wikipedia.
References
- ↑ Church in Wales news report.
- 1 2 Church in Wales — Archbishop of Wales to retire in January (Accessed 26 August 2016)
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Barry Cennydd Morgan". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 23 August 2016. (subscription required)
- ↑ Anglican Ink — Primates of the Anglican Communion — Archbishop of Wales (Accessed 31 January 2016)
- ↑ The Telegraph – Archbishop of Wales is inaugurated (Accessed 24 September 2014)
- ↑ BBC NEWS | Wales | Archbishop hits out over Trident
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 October 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-22.
- ↑ BBC NEWS | Wales | 'Atheistic fundamentalism' fears
- ↑ http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/uk-and-world-news/2007/12/22/archbishop-in-attack-on-atheists-84229-20279788
- ↑ Williamson, David (15 January 2016). "Condolences are offered to the Archbishop of Wales on the passing of his wife". walesonline. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
External links
- "Biography at the Church in Wales". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
| Church in Wales titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Cledan Mears |
Bishop of Bangor 1992–1999 |
Succeeded by Saunders Davies |
| Preceded by Roy Davies |
Bishop of Llandaff 1999–present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Rowan Williams |
Archbishop of Wales 2003–present | |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by Dafydd Wigley |
Pro-Chancellor of the University of Wales 2006–present |
Incumbent |