Rt. Rev. Joanna Penberthy has been inducted, installed and enthroned as the 129th Bishop of St. Davids.

The ceremony took place before a packed congregation in St. Davids Cathedral on Saturday.

There was applause all round the cathedral as the Bishop was presented to the congregation by the Dean of St. Davids, Very Rev. Jonathan Lean.

In keeping with the centuries-old tradition, Bishop Joanna had to seek permission to enter her cathedral, knocking three times on the outside of the west door before being admitted by the Dean of St. Davids, Very Rev. Jonathan Lean.

Her mandate, given to her by the Church in Wales’ senior Bishop, Rt. Rev. John Davies of Swansea and Brecon, was presented to the Dean and read out by the Diocesan Registrar, Anthony Jenkins.

After swearing the oath, the new Bishop was escorted to her stall in the Quire for her enthronement.

Then, after a moment of prayer at the Shrine to St. David, she was led back into the body of the cathedral and formally presented to the congregation.

After the service, she appeared outside the cathedral to give a blessing for the city and for the diocese and its parishes, watched and cheered by hundreds of onlookers.

Bishop Joanna is the first woman to become a Bishop in the Church in Wales, following a decision made in 2013 to enable women’s election to the episcopate. Her election took place in November 2016 and was confirmed at a Sacred Synod of the Church in Wales on November 30. Her consecration took place in Llandaff Cathedral on January 21 and she was enthroned in St. Davids on February 11.

Her appointment marks a return to the diocese where she ministered from 1993-2010 and where she was among the first women to be ordained priest.

Born in Swansea, Bishop Joanna grew up in Cardiff. She was educated at Cardiff High School and graduated from Newnham College, Cambridge. She trained for the ministry at St. John’s College, Nottingham and Cranmer Hall, Durham.

She was made a deaconess in 1984, ordained as a Deacon in 1987 and was among the first women ordained as priests in Wales in 1997.

She has served in the dioceses of Durham, Llandaff and St. Asaph She was also the Provincial officer for Parish Development and Renewal for five years. In 2007, she was appointed a Canon at St. Davids Cathedral.

Canon Joanna left Wales in 2010 to serve in the Diocese of Bath and Wells, but returned in 2015 as Rector of Glan Ithon, in the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon, based in Llandrindod Wells.

She is married to the Rev. Adrian Penberthy and they have four grown-up children and one grandchild. Her interests include quantum physics (currently studying for a PhD), reading and bird-watching.