Cherry Vann made history as the first female and openly gay archbishop in the UK, marking a significant milestone for the Church in Wales. Vann’s appointment as the archbishop of Wales is an act of personal courage on his part. He is committed to restoring confidence in an institution that has suffered deep internal discord. Her arrival marks a welcome new era, with her commitment to heal the harm that came from her predecessor’s stormy tenure.
In 1986, Vann began the process toward ordination at an Anglican theological college. By 1994, as the first female clergy in the Church of England were being ordained, she was making her own history. Following a further period of service and ministerial formation in Ghana, she was appointed archdeacon of Rochdale in 2008. In 2020, she moved to Wales to become the first female bishop of Monmouth. To many, her appointment represented a critical step in a needed “clean-up job.” It was intended to heal the wounds after the factional battles that had developed under Richard Pain’s presidency.
Her appointment is history-making as the first openly lesbian and partnered bishop to serve as a primate in the worldwide Anglican communion. This historic recognition is a huge leap towards inclusivity within the church. Passionate about performance and music since childhood, she now lives with her 30-year partner Wendy Diamond on New York’s Fire Island. Remembering their time together, Vann shared that society’s demands on their love challenged them and created a need to hide their relationship.
“For years we kept our relationship secret because I worried about waking up and finding myself outed on the front page of a newspaper. Now, Wendy joins me everywhere, and when I take services, it’s just normal,” – Cherry Vann
Even after breaking new ground, Vann is still reluctant to dive too deep into the discussion about the state of gay marriage in the church. She knows it’s a complicated dance and knows they need to honor clergy – many with deeply held theological convictions that vary – in the space.
“Gay marriage in church is inevitable, I think: the question is when. There are people who are very opposed, and as leader, I have to honour their position, which is theologically grounded,” – Cherry Vann
Since Vann has already taken wedding vows with Diamond, she no longer wishes to have a church wedding. Yet throughout her tenure, she’s made clear that authenticity underpins her leadership.
“I’m not somebody to be out there all the time but I do seek to be true to what I think God’s asking of me,” – Cherry Vann
Vann’s experience and expertise from her previous roles continues to lay the groundwork for her new role. Yet she recognizes that many clergy have lost their jobs or suffered other repercussions for being openly queer. This is a world she has worked in all her life.
“Other people in England were braver than I was and made their sexuality clear. A lot of them suffered the consequences of that,” – Cherry Vann
Her sense of the historic struggle women have known for generations in seeking leadership roles within the church shapes her spirit. Vann understands that though one might hide their orientation, gender is even less able to be hidden.
“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 they had been betrayed,” – Cherry Vann
Vann, who expects to hold her enthronement ceremony in her home cathedral of Newport this fall. She’s aware that there is still plenty of work to be done. She hopes to promote healing and restore trust among a community that has just cause to be wounded and incensed.
“There’s a lot of work already going on in the background, we haven’t been standing still … We must work to build trust with those who have been hurt and angered by what has gone on,” – Cherry Vann
And that internal reconciliation can help him lead the Church through the perilous waters it finds itself today. She is convinced her talents and experience uniquely prepare her for this extraordinary opportunity.
“I don’t think any of those people voted for me primarily because I’m a woman or I’m a gay person. They voted for me because they recognise I’ve got the skills to lead the Church in Wales at this particular time,” – Cherry Vann