Dictionary

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Bishop

‘Bishop’ comes from the Greek word for ‘overseer’. So a bishop is a senior Christian minister authorised to have oversight for God’s people. As well as duties given to deacons and priests, bishops confirm and ordain.

Diocese

‘Diocese’ refers to the geographical territory in which a bishop exercises oversight. The Church in Wales is divided into six dioceses each with its own cathedral in which is housed the cathedra (the bishop’s ‘chair’ or ‘throne’).

Priest

‘Priest’ comes from the Greek word for ‘elder’. Priests in the Church in Wales are those authorised specifically to proclaim forgiveness of sins, preside at the Eucharist and bless God’s people, as well as other responsibilities.

Home Pobl Dewi: December 2023 “Let's make this journey together”

“Let's make this journey together”

St Davids Diocese has a new Bishop.

Dorrien Davies, formerly Archdeacon of Carmarthen, was elected in October at a two-day meeting of the Electoral College, sitting behind the locked doors of St Davids cathedral.

His election was confirmed at a Sacred Synod on November 27th. He will be consecrated in Bangor Cathedral in January and enthroned back in St Davids on February 3rd.

Born in Abergwili and a native Welsh-speaker, Dorrien trained for ministry at St Michael’s College, Llandaff, and was ordained priest in 1989. He served his curacy in Llanelli before being appointed Vicar of Llanfihangel Ystrad Aeron in Ceredigion. During that time, Dorrien studied for a degree at the University of Wales College, Lampeter, graduating in 1995. He was appointed Vicar of St Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire, in 1999 and served there for 11 years. In 2007, he was made a Canon of St Davids Cathedral and in 2010 he moved to St Davids as Canon Residentiary. In 2017 Dorrien was appointed Archdeacon of Carmarthen.

Bishop Dorrien said he felt “a sense of honour and duty” at his elevation. But, he said, “it’s not about me, it’s not about the position or the authority that brings, it’s about service.”

He sees the Bishop’s role as one of witness to the Gospel and a focus on unity. “This is a diverse diocese with many different views, traditions and expectations. The role of the Bishop is to unify the diocese to work towards the common good.

“Our common purpose as a diocese must be one of collegiate working together. I want to have discussions with people. I intend to take things slowly initially but there are going to be changes and they are not always going to be easy. I just want us to make this journey together.

“I’m mindful that there has been a steep decline in church attendance and we have to ask ourselves why that is. Society has changed. The Church should not necessarily accommodate itself to the standards that Society sets, but we have to be relevant to it, empathetic to what’s going on.

“We are not always going to agree but where we have strength, we must flex our muscles and help people who are searching within their own lives and their personal relationships with Christ, ensuring that nobody feels outcast, rejected or unloved.

“I am Bishop to the Diocese and that means everybody, even those who do not believe. What I want people to be sure of is my prayers, my faithfulness and my love for them. I love this diocese and its people and I commit myself to Jesus to fulfil this service.”