News: The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) cut all ties with the Church in Wales - BroadPosta

On August 5–6, 2025, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) officially announced that it had severed ties with the Church in Wales. This decision followed the election of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian cleric, as the 15th Archbishop of Wales.

The announcement was made by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, who described the development as a departure from biblical teaching. He also compared it to the Church of Nigeria’s earlier decision in 2003 to cut ties with the U.S. Episcopal Church after it consecrated Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Anglican Communion.

About Archbishop Cherry Vann

Cherry Vann was elected on July 30, 2025, becoming the first woman and the first openly LGBTQ individual to serve as Archbishop of Wales, and indeed as a primate in the Anglican Communion across the UK and Ireland. Her election has drawn significant criticism from conservative Anglican provinces—particularly in the Global South, such as Nigeria—that hold to traditional doctrines on sexuality and church leadership.

Implications of the Split

This move by the Church of Nigeria is both symbolic and institutional. It means the Church will no longer recognize the spiritual authority of Archbishop Vann or maintain formal ecclesiastical relations with the Church in Wales.

The Church of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference), a conservative Anglican coalition, and expressed solidarity with orthodox Anglicans in Wales who remain opposed to liberal theological shifts.

This development underscores ongoing tensions within the Anglican Communion, especially between progressive Western churches and conservative provinces in Africa and Asia over issues such as same-sex relationships, ordination, and church governance.