THE Archbishop of Wales will retire next year after 14 years at the helm of the Church in Wales.

Dr Barry Morgan, who is the longest serving archbishop in the Anglican Communion will retire on his 70th birthday at the end of January.

Announcing his retirement, Dr Morgan said: “It has been an enormous privilege to serve as Archbishop of Wales and to do so during such a momentous era in Welsh life.

“It’s been a rollercoaster ride but all along I have been sustained and inspired by the people I meet.

“Over the years I have seen Wales grow in self-confidence as a nation and I now have every hope that this will be nurtured and enriched with the continued support of the Church in Wales.”

During his tenure as Archbishop, Dr Morgan has changed many things in the Church in Wales, including enabling women to be ordained as bishops.

The First Minister for Wales, Carwyn Jones, said: “He has had such a positive impact on the lives of so many people from Wales’ religious communities, and has encouraged the establishment of good community relations across the country.

“I am grateful for his advice and wisdom on matters affecting the economic, social and cultural life in Wales and for his unwavering commitment to promote interfaith work across Wales.”

Originally from Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen in the Swansea valley, Dr Morgan was elected as the 12th Archbishop of Wales in 2003, following Dr Rowan Williams on his appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury.

He will also retire as Bishop of Llandaff after more than 17 years service.