Alwyn Rice Jones
Alwyn Rice Jones, d. 2007
As Archbishop of Wales from 1991 to 1999, Alwyn Rice Jones presided over significant innovation in the Church in Wales, including the ordination of the first female priests in 1996 and permitting divorcees to remarry in church.
He was born in Capel Curig, Snowdonia, in 1934, and became an orphan aged 14. After his education in Llanrwst, he graduated in Welsh from Lampeter and studied theology in Cambridge. He was ordained in Bangor in 1958, later becoming Bangor diocese’s education officer. After a period as Dean of Brecon, he was elected Bishop of St Asaph in 1982. He remained bishop while he was Archbishop of Wales.
He was well known in Church circles for his sense of humour and his attempts to foster a spirit of togetherness, within his diocese and through his work with ecumenical organisations (representing different denominations).
He died unexpectedly in August 2007, leaving his wife Meriel, daughter Nia and two grandchildren. His funeral was attended by more than 600 mourners, including 11 bishops.
The Archbishop Rice Jones Trust was established in 2008, under Meriel’s patronage, to provide funding for education-related projects in the diocese.
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