In Conversation with Cherry Vann, Archbishop of Wales
The recent election of Dame Sarah Mullaly as the new Archbishop of Canterbury was widely covered, as she became the first woman ever to hold this role. Yet, fewer people know that she was not the first female Archbishop in the United Kingdom.
In July 2025, the Church in Wales elected Cherry Vann as Archbishop, marking a historic moment. She became not only the first woman to serve as an Archbishop in the UK, but also the first woman in the global Anglican Communion to be in a civil partnership with another woman.
On 8 November 2025, Archbishop Vann will be formally enthroned. In a conversation with Cherwell, she reflected on her appointment, her education, her ministry, and the Church’s position on contemporary political issues.
Faith, Music, and Ministry
With Oxford’s strong traditions of choral and chapel life, Archbishop Cherry deeply appreciates how music enhances sacred spaces designed for worship. Her background and experience continue to shape her pastoral vision and the way she perceives the Church’s cultural and social roles.
“You don’t have to analyse it or explain it. It engages emotions and the deep worlds of spirituality in often surprising and unexpected ways.”
In her ministry, Archbishop Vann connects faith, art, and community, emphasizing that both music and architecture can act as bridges to spiritual experience and emotional depth.
Author’s Summary
Archbishop Cherry Vann reshapes Anglican history as a pioneer of inclusion, spirituality, and the transformative power of music within faith and community life.