The Electoral College of the Church in Wales, meeting at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Llandrindod Wells, has nominated the Rt Revd Dr Rowan Douglas Williams as Archbishop of Wales in succession to the Most Revd Alwyn Rice Jones who retired earlier this year.

The new Archbishop-elect is 49 and is one of the foremost theologians of the Anglican Communion. Having obtained his BA at Christ's College, Cambridge in 1971 he was awarded his MA in 1975 during which year he also obtained his D Phil at Wadham College, Oxford. He continued his training at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield and was ordained Deacon in 1997 and Priest in 1978.

He was Tutor at Westcott House, Cambridge from 1977 to 1980 and Honorary Curate of the parish of Chesterton St George, Ely from 1980 to 1983. He was Lecturer in Divinity at Cambridge from 1980 to 1986 and Dean and Chaplain at Clare College, Cambridge from 1984 to 1986. He was also the Canon Theologian at Leicester Cathedral from 1981 to 1992. He was the Canon Residentiary at Christ Church, Oxford from 1986 to 1992 and was also Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity, Oxford from 1986 to 1992. He was made a Doctor of Divinity in 1989 and a Fellow of the British Academy in 1990.

In 1991 he was elected Bishop of Monmouth and was consecrated Bishop at St Asaph Cathedral on 1st May 1992. He is much in demand as a speaker and lecturer throughout the world and particularly in the provinces of the Anglican Communion. He played a prominent part in the most recent Lambeth Conference (1998).

The Archbishop-elect now has a period of forty two days in which to signify his acceptance of the Electoral College's nomination. His appointment will then be confirmed by the Diocesan Bishops of the Province of Wales meeting in Sacred Synod.