By Fasuyi Tolulope Samuel
The newly appointed Archbishop of Wales, the Most Rev. Cherry Vann, has boldly declared that gay marriage in church is inevitable. This marked a historic turning point in the ongoing debate within the Anglican Communion.
At 66, Vann holds several firsts: she is the first female Archbishop in the UK, the first openly gay archbishop, and the first openly lesbian primate to serve within the global Anglican church.
Speaking with The Guardian, she reflected on the decades she spent hiding her sexuality in order to survive in the Church of England, which only began ordaining female priests in 1994 — the same year she joined its ranks.
“I’ve lived in a time that’s meant I’m a trailblazer,” said Vann. “But I’m not a campaigner. I do seek to be true to what I think God’s asking of me.”
Vann described the deep contrast between her experience in the Church of England and her current role in the Church in Wales, where clergy are allowed to be in same-sex civil partnerships.
While the Church of England tolerates same-sex relationships among clergy, it insists they remain celibate — a standard that forced Vann and her partner, Wendy Diamond, into the shadows for years.
“For a long time, we kept our relationship secret because I was afraid of being outed in the media. Wendy had to stay upstairs if I had visitors. Now, she goes everywhere with me. When I lead services, it’s just normal,” she said.
Read: Why Christians Use Caskets to Bury Their Love Ones and Not Other Religions
Vann publicly acknowledged her 30-year relationship with Wendy upon becoming Bishop of Monmouth in 2020 — a significant milestone in her journey toward full acceptance.
Being a woman in the church was already a challenge, she added. “You can hide your sexuality, up to a point, but you can’t hide being a woman. There was a lot of nastiness. The men were angry. They felt betrayed.”
In the 1990s, Vann and a small group of female clergy began meeting regularly with male counterparts who opposed the ordination of women. “It was awful, but we stuck with it,” she recalled.
“Over time, the hostility faded. That’s what I hope happens with the issue of sexuality too — that we can vehemently disagree and still love one another as children of God.”
Her appointment follows the abrupt resignation of former Archbishop Andy John, who stepped down in June amid a scandal involving financial mismanagement, bullying, and sexual misconduct at Bangor Cathedral. Though John was not personally implicated, the resulting fallout demanded a fresh start.
Vann has made healing and reconciliation her top priority. “There’s a lot of work already going on in the background… We must build trust with those who’ve been hurt and angered.”
On the topic of gay marriage, she remains cautious yet resolute. “I don’t personally feel the need to get married in church; Wendy and I have made our vows and are committed. But gay marriage in church is inevitable. The question is when.”
She added, “There are people who are deeply opposed, and as a leader, I must honour their theologically grounded positions. My job isn’t to push through something that would alienate a large portion of clergy.”
