John David Edward Davies KStJ (born 6 February 1953) is a retired Welsh Anglican bishop and former solicitor. From 2008 he was the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon in the Church in Wales. On 6 September 2017, he was also elected Archbishop of Wales; he continued in his role as diocesan bishop. He retired from both offices with effect from 2 May 2021.
Davies was born on 6 February 1953 in Newport, Wales.[1][2] He was educated at Bassaleg School, then a state grammar school.[2] He studied law at the University of Southampton, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 1974.[3] From 1975 to 1977, he undertook his training contract and he was admitted as a solicitor in 1977.[4] He then practised law in a private practice until leaving the profession to enter the church.[4]
In 1982, Davies entered St. Michael's College, Llandaff, an Anglican theological college, to train for ordained ministry and to study theology.[5] In 1984, he completed a Diploma in Theology (DipTh) with the University of Wales.[4] He later undertook postgraduate studies in canon law at Cardiff University, and completed a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in 1995.[4] He was awarded Honorary Doctorates in Law (LL.D)and Letters (D.Litt.) by the Universities of Swansea and Wales (Trinity St David).
Davies was ordained in the Church in Wales as a deacon on 29 September 1984 and as a priest on 28 September 1985.[3][6] From 1984 to 1986. he served his curacy at St Mary's Church, Chepstow in the Diocese of Monmouth.[3] From 1986 to 1989, he was curate-in-charge of Michaelston-y-Fedw and Rudry.[4] He was then Rector of Bedwas and Rudry between 1989 and 1995.[3] From 1995 to 2000, he was Vicar of the Church of St John Evangelist in Newport.[4]
In 2000, Davies moved to the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon where he had been appointed Dean of Brecon Cathedral.[4] In 2005, he was additionally appointed priest-in-charge of Cynog Honddu.[3]
In January 2008, Davies was elected as the next bishop of Swansea and Brecon, in succession to Anthony Pierce;[2] he legally took his see by the confirmation of the election (in Sacred Synod) during April.[7] On 2 May 2008, he was consecrated as a bishop by Barry Morgan, the archbishop of Wales, during a service at Llandaff Cathedral.[7] On 24 May 2008, he was installed in Brecon Cathedral as the ninth bishop of Swansea and Brecon.[7]
As the senior bishop in Wales, Davies served as the acting archbishop of Wales in the vacancy following Barry Morgan's retirement on 31 January 2017.[8] As such, he was the principal consecrator of June Osborne in July 2017.[9]
On 6 September 2017, Davies was elected the 13th archbishop of Wales;[10] he took up the post with the confirmation of that election the same day. He was the first bishop of Swansea and Brecon to be elected as archbishop of Wales.[11] He was enthroned as archbishop at Brecon Cathedral on 2 December 2017.[12][13]
In 2018, he became embroiled in a controversy involving Richard Pain, then the bishop of Monmouth, which ended with Pain leaving the bishopric on the grounds of ill health.[14][15][16]
He retired both as Bishop of Swansea and Brecon and as Archbishop of Wales with effect from 2 May 2021.[17]
In 1986, Davies married Joanna Lucy "Jo" Aulton; she works as a nurse in the NHS.[2][4] Together they have two children: Kate and Christopher.[2] On 15 March 2017 he was appointed as a Knight of the Order of St John.[18]
