The Church in Wales has welcomed the first woman and openly gay archbishop in the UK.
On the 3rd (local time), according to the British daily newspaper The Guardian, Cherry Vann, 66, was elected as the archbishop of the Church in Wales with more than two-thirds of the total votes from the diocesan electoral roll on the 30th of last month.
Archbishop Vann, originally from Leicestershire, was ordained as one of the first female priests in the Church of England in 1994. After being appointed as the Bishop of Monmouth for the Church in Wales in 2020, she publicly acknowledged the existence of her long-hidden same-sex partner, Wendy Diamond.
According to The Guardian, the Church of England allows homosexuality but requires celibacy for gay clergy. In contrast, the Church in Wales permits both homosexuality and same-sex partnerships for its clergy.
Archbishop Vann is reported to have been in a relationship with her partner for about 30 years.
In an interview published by The Guardian, Archbishop Vann said, "For years, we kept our relationship a secret," adding, "I was worried that my sexual identity would be revealed on the front page of the newspaper when I woke up in the morning."
She went on to say, "Now Wendy is with me everywhere. It feels just normal even when I celebrate mass."
The Guardian expressed that by becoming the first woman and openly gay archbishop, Vann has added a religious significance to the 'glass ceiling,' which represents the limits on women's advancement in society, stating that she has "broken the stained-glass ceiling."
Archbishop Vann expressed her belief that "same-sex marriage is inevitable in the church. It's just a matter of time."
However, she added, "There are those who strongly oppose it. I must respect their position based on theology as a leader," stating, "I am not in a position to push for decisions that would alienate a significant number of clergy."