Church in Wales refuses to confirm former archbishop’s PTO restoration request

The Church in Wales has declined to confirm whether former Archbishop John Davies has applied to have his permission to officiate (PTO) reinstated, amid ongoing scrutiny of his handling of historic abuse allegations.

Davies, who served as Archbishop of Wales from 2017 to 2021, saw his PTO withdrawn after it emerged he had not passed on concerns about a priest who was later convicted of child sexual abuse.

The priest, Anthony Pierce, was jailed in 2022 after pleading guilty to five counts of indecent assault on a boy under 16, offences committed in the 1980s while he was a parish priest in West Cross, Swansea.

At the time of the abuse, Pierce later became Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, a post he held from 1999 until 2008.

Earlier this year the Church in Wales released an independent review of the case, compiled by former barrister and Diocesan Secretary Gabrielle Higgins.

Higgins’ report concluded that several senior clerics, some now deceased, should have relayed their suspicions about Pierce, identifying them only by initials.

It was later established that “Bishop F” referred to in the report is John Davies, who succeeded Pierce as Bishop of Swansea and Brecon in 2010.

The review states: “Bishop F knew that an allegation had been made against AP in 1993 and repeated in 1999, and that in 1999 AP admitted an unidentified allegation from a parent, and had agreed that what had occurred was inappropriate.”

It adds that “On the other hand, he had been told that in 1993 the concern had not been substantiated, but this is difficult to reconcile with, or at the very least should have been superseded by, the admission in 1999.”

Higgins also examined Davies’ correspondence with senior church officials, noting: “Despite this knowledge he wrote to the Head of Resources on 30 March 2009 and to Bishop B and Archdeacon H in similar terms indicating an intention not to refer the matter to Independent Officer K, the person engaged to conduct the HCR unless advised otherwise.”

She further writes: “I do not accept the suggestion he made in February 2010 that he was advised not to do anything, as the matter had been dealt with, and think it considerably more likely that he simply did not receive a reply.”

The report criticises the Head of Resources’ later claim that she had advised Davies by telephone to refer the information only when approached by Independent Officer K, describing the account as “inconsistent with what Bishop F did say the following year”.

John Davies’ PTO, which permits retired or non‑parish clergy to minister within a diocese, requires an enhanced DBS check, mandatory “Safe Church” training and a clergy current‑status letter confirming good standing.

Typically granted for up to three years and renewable, the PTO was withdrawn from Davies after the safeguarding failures were highlighted.

Despite the loss of PTO, Davies retains the title of bishop, though he is currently unable to officiate services without the requisite permission.

A Church in Wales source indicated that it was understood Davies had applied to have his PTO restored, but a spokesperson for the Church would neither confirm nor deny the existence of such an application.

The spokesperson explained: “The procedure for restoration of PTO is exactly the same as granting PTO in the first place: a full application process from scratch.” There’s no separate procedure.”

Current Archbishop Cherry Vann has pledged to ensure that the Church’s safeguarding processes fully comply with best practice, signalling a renewed focus on transparency and accountability.

Vann’s commitment comes as the Church seeks to rebuild public trust after the high‑profile failures that allowed a convicted abuser to rise to senior office.

While the Church awaits any formal application from Davies, the ongoing debate underscores the broader challenges facing Welsh religious institutions in confronting historic abuse and restoring confidence among congregants.