From April 27-30, the cathedral city of St Davids in Pembrokeshire, Wales, hosted the 2026 Celtic Bishops Conference. Bishops from the Church in Wales, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church of Ireland met in the smallest city in the United Kingdom for dialogues on contextual ministry, ecumenism and the roles of the global and local Church. The Deputy Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Rt Revd Dr Jo Wells, also joined the meeting.

About the Celtic Bishops Conference

Every two years, the Celtic Bishops Conference brings together bishops from the Celtic nations for worship, prayer and Bible study, fellowship and shared discussion and reflection. Rooted in the historic and cultural ties between the Celtic Churches, these meetings provide a space for the bishops to meet away from formal synodical structures and to engage with one another as fellow bishops. The three churches rotate the hosting of the meetings: 2026 is the Church in Wales’s turn to host, with St Davids being chosen as the venue. It will be the turn of the Scottish Episcopal Church to host the next Celtic Bishops Conference.

Organisers say that ‘the Celtic Bishops gathering is not a formal decision-making body’ but rather offers the ‘opportunity for honest conversation about theology, mission, ministry and the contemporary challenges facing the Churches within their distinct national and provincial contexts…. They seek to encourage collegiality and deepen a shared sense of vocation within the wider Anglican Communion, while respecting the particular history and character of each Church.’

The conference programme

Each day of the conference began with a Eucharist in which the Primates of the three Celtic provinces each presided on different days, using the Eucharistic rites of their respective provinces. Discussions and sessions were also held on topics such as safeguarding, the theological and political implications of the rise of ‘Far Right’ ideologies, including the challenges this phenomenon poses for Church leaders, as well as recent theological, pastoral and ecumenically significant events in the Roman Catholic Church.

Participating bishops also enjoyed a tour of St Davids Cathedral and a visit to St Non’s well and ruined chapel, which is said to mark the place of the birth of St David, the patron saint of Wales.

The Church in Wales shared on their official Facebook channel that they were ‘delighted to welcome representatives from our sister churches in Scotland and Ireland for our Celtic Bishops Conference in St Davids this week. This is an opportunity for bishops to meet and strengthen ties’.

The Most Revd Cherry Vann, Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Monmouth, shared that it was ‘A real joy to host the Celtic bishops here in Wales. The fellowship is so precious – worshipping together at St David’s, studying Scripture together and generally supporting one another in our ministries.’

The Most Revd Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church & Bishop of Moray, Ross & Caithness, remarked, ‘Once again the gathering of the Celtic bishops has given us time to pray, worship and study together. It has been wonderful to meet in St David’s and as always a joy to meet with friends old and new from the Celtic churches of Ireland and Wales. The Scottish Episcopal Church cherishes this relationship and gives thanks to God for it.’

The Most Revd John McDowell, the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and Metropolitan, reflected that ‘to be at the margins, is to be at the centre of the work of the Church. The biennial meeting of the Celtic Bishops of the Anglican provinces of these islands, in Wales, has been a means of encouragement and of building up – of mutual giving and receiving – in the work of the Gospel and in our apostolic ministry.

‘Through the study of the Scriptures and common worship, and in discussing the current issues facing the Communion in general we have known also the presence of the Holy Spirit. We give thanks to God that we have been brought together in this way.’

The Deputy Secretary General of the Anglican Communion attends 

The Deputy Secretary General of the Anglican Communion - the Rt Revd Dr Jo Wells - was invited to attend and delivered a session on April 29 exploring the life of the Anglican Communion in modern times. The session invited those gathered to consider how communion is sustained amid difference, and what this means for bishops within a global Church.

Speaking about her time at the Celtic Bishops Conference, Bishop Jo said, ‘The fellowship here runs deep, served by the shared Celtic roots. Their programme and bible studies have been shaped around the four marks of the Church - one, holy, catholic and apostolic – and I am so grateful to have shared in this briefly, bringing and exchanging news from around the Anglican Communion. Their laughter also runs deep’.

For more information 

Learn more about the Church in Wales, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church of Ireland.

See an article about the Celtic Bishops Conference 2026 from the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Find out more about St Davids Cathedral and St Non’s chapel and well.