'Sadness' at Bishop's retirement
The Bishop of St Davids, Rt Revd Dr Joanna Penberthy, has announced she is to take early retirement at the end of July on health grounds.
In a statement, she says: "This is not a decision I have taken lightly. The migraine, with which I have been living constantly, has adversely affected my ability to function at the level required to fulfil my role."
The Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, thanked Bishop Joanna for her contribution to both diocesan and provincial life. " She has contributed significantly to areas of church life, in particular on environmental matters and with our Social Responsibility network which were part of her portfolio responsibilities.
"A decision like this is never easy to make. Please continue to hold Joanna, Adrian and their family in your prayers as they prepare for this next stage of their life."
Bishop Joanna was elected in November 2016 and made history as the first woman to be consecrated as a Bishop in the Church in Wales in January 2017. She has served as Bishop for six years after a long and well-travelled ministry that took in the dioceses of Durham, Llandaff, St Asaph, Bath and Wells, Swansea and Brecon as well as a spell as Priest in the diocese which she later came to lead.
The Bishop's Senior Staff have issued a statement thanking Bishop Joanna for her ministry over the past seven years. "We have all enjoyed working with her and wish her and her family every blessing in her retirement."
The Chair of the St Davids Diocesan Board of Finance has expressed her "sadness" following the announcement..
In a statement, Hazel Evans, said: "The Board has worked constructively with Bishop Joanna over the last seven years of her Episcopate; we are saddened to hear that she has had to take early retirement from her post due to ill health and we wish her and Adrian every blessing In their retirement together . The Board will continue to function during the vacancy in see and we are very grateful for the direction and vision that the Bishop has shared with us as we move into the future..
The election of a new Bishop will take place in October.