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 UK in that the Sovereign is always an honorary canon of the cathedral chapter and has a special stall in the choir.

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 Lewis. .

The Chaplains will wear a distinctive scarlet cassock and a badge with the Royal cypher, which they will receive from the King himself on Maundy Thursday when he visits St Asaph Cathedral to distribute the annual Maundy Money.

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.