Bishop to head new Royal Chaplaincy for Wales

Bishop Dorrien has been chosen by the King to be Dean of a new Welsh institution.

King’s Honorary Chaplains have traditionally been appointed for the Church of England and the Church of Scotland but now, for the first time, this has been extended to include Wales.

The Chaplains are senior members of the clergy who are appointed by the monarch in recognition of distinguished service. The role is honorary and forms part of the Ecclesiastical Household, the historic body of clergy who serve the Sovereign.

St Davids Cathedral has had historic links with the Royal Family since Tudor times. It is unique among cathedrals in the United Kingdom in that since the Reformation the Sovereign has held the stall of the First Canon Cursal, which is among the stalls, or seats, of the Cathedral Chapter members in the Quire.

The Chaplaincy is made up of six clerics, one from each diocese, in addition to the Bishop as Dean. The appointee from St Davids is Revd Canon Michael Rowlands, currently Dean of Greater Dewisland LMA.

Another is Revd Dr Emma Whittick, formerly chaplain to the University of Wales Trinity St David in Carmarthen and Lampeter, and now Chaplain to the Bishop of Swansea & Brecon, John Lomas.

The Chaplains will wear a distinctive scarlet cassock and a badge with the Royal cypher.

Each Chaplain will get to preach at a Royal residence and to attend a Garden Party. You can also expect to see them in their scarlet robes on civic occasions.

The appointments also recognise the special relationship of The King with Wales. His Majesty was the longest-serving Prince of Wales and he has ensured that the language and culture of Wales is given prominence in Royal occasions, including by using the Welsh language in the Coronation, commissioning the processional Cross of Wales, and continuing with the tradition of Royal Harpist.