Cysegru Manon Ceridwen James fel Esgob benywaidd cyntaf Bangor
Cysegrwyd y Gwir Barchedig Ddr Manon Ceridwen James yn 82ain Esgob benywaidd cyntaf Bangor
Cynhaliwyd y gwasanaeth cysegru ddydd Sadwrn 12 Medi yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Casnewydd, eglwys gadeiriol Archesgob Cymru, y Parchedicaf Cherry Vann, a arweiniodd y gwasanaeth.
Yn ystod y gwasanaeth, eneiniwyd yr Esgob Manon a chyflwynwyd iddi symbolau gweinidogaeth esgob: modrwy esgobol, croes frest, meitr, Beibl a bagl fugeiliol.
Yn wreiddiol o Nefyn ar Benrhyn Llŷn, ordeiniwyd hi’n ddiacon yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Bangor ym 1994. Ym 1997, daeth yn un o’r merched cyntaf i gael eu hordeinio’n offeiriaid yn yr esgobaeth.
Mae wedi gwasanaethu fel offeiriad plwyf yn esgobaethau Bangor a Llanelwy ac wedi dal swyddi esgobaethol ym meysydd hyfforddiant, addysg a galwedigaethau. Cyn dod yn Ddeon Eglwys Gadeiriol Bangor ym mis Hydref 2025, hi oedd Cyfarwyddwr y Weinidogaeth yn Athrofa Padarn Sant.
Wrth groesawu’r Esgob Manon, dywedodd Archesgob Cymru, “Mae Manon yn adnabyddus iawn i bobl yr esgobaeth, a bydd yn gaffaeliad mawr i’r esgobaeth, y Dalaith a Mainc yr Esgobion. Dymunwn bob bendith iddi wrth iddi ymgymryd â’r weinidogaeth hon.”
Dywedodd yr Esgob Manon, “Rwy’n teimlo ei bod yn fraint fawr cael fy ngalw i’r weinidogaeth hon. Rwyf hefyd yn hynod ddiolchgar wrth gofio’r holl bobl, o fy athrawes Ysgol Sul ymlaen hyd heddiw, sydd wedi fy meithrin a’m hannog yn y ffydd ac wedi fy nghefnogi drwy gydol fy mywyd. Roedd cael fy ordeinio yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Casnewydd yn arbennig iawn, gan fy mod wedi gwasanaethu yno am gyfnod fel Canon Diwinydd, ac roeddwn wedi fy amgylchynu gan deulu, ffrindiau a chydweithwyr sy’n golygu cymaint i mi.
“Yn ystod y gwasanaeth, gwnaethom weddïo am nerth yr Ysbryd Glân i'm harfogi a’m cynnal yn y weinidogaeth hon. Wrth imi ymateb i’r alwad hon, gobeithio y bydd hefyd yn gyfle i bobl ledled Esgobaeth Bangor, a thu hwnt, fyfyrio ar eu galwad eu hunain ac ar yr hyn y gallai Duw fod yn ein galw i’w wneud gyda’n gilydd.
“Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at y cyfleoedd sydd gennym i wasanaethu ein cymunedau ac i rannu cariad Duw â phawb.”
Agorwyd y gwasanaeth gydag emyn yr Esgob Timothy Rees, ‘Arglwydd, trefni mewn doethineb’. Addasodd yr Esgob Manon un o’r penillion i gynnwys seintiau sy’n gysylltiedig ag Esgobaeth Bangor.
Darllenodd gŵr yr Esgob Manon y wers o’r Hen Destament yn ystod y gwasanaeth. Pregethwyd y bregeth gan ffrind o’r coleg diwinyddol sydd wedi bod yn aelod o’i grŵp o ffrindiau a chydweithwyr clerigol am y 30 mlynedd diwethaf.
Cynhaliwyd y cysegru y diwrnod ar ôl i’r Eglwys nodi gŵyl Deiniol Sant, a sefydlodd y gymuned fynachaidd ym Mangor Fawr y mae Esgobaeth Bangor yn olrhain ei gwreiddiau iddi.
Caiff Esgob Manon ei sefydlu yng nghadair yr esgob yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Bangor ddydd Sadwrn 19 Medi am 2pm. Bydd cynrychiolwyr o bob rhan o’r esgobaeth yn ei chroesawu.
Gellir gwylio’r gwasanaeth cysegru ar YouTube.
Manon Ceridwen James consecrated as first woman Bishop of Bangor
The Rt Revd Dr Manon Ceridwen James has been consecrated as the 82nd Bishop of Bangor and the first woman to hold the role.
The consecration service took place on Saturday 12 September at Newport Cathedral, the seat of the Archbishop of Wales, the Most Revd Cherry Vann, who led the service.
During the service, Bishop Manon was anointed and presented with the symbols of a bishop’s ministry: an episcopal ring, pectoral cross, mitre, Bible and pastoral staff.
Originally from Nefyn on the Llŷn Peninsula, she was ordained deacon at Bangor Cathedral in 1994. In 1997, she became one of the first women to be ordained priest in the diocese.
She has served as a parish priest in the dioceses of Bangor and St Asaph and has held diocesan roles in training, education and vocations. Before becoming Dean of Bangor Cathedral in October 2025, she was Director of Ministry at St Padarn’s Institute.
Welcoming Bishop Manon, the Archbishop of Wales said, “Manon is well-known to the people of the diocese, and she will be a huge asset to the diocese and the Province and the Bench of Bishops. We wish her every blessing as she steps into this ministry."
Bishop Manon said, “I feel very privileged to be called to this ministry. I am also deeply grateful as I remember all those people, from my Sunday school teacher onwards, who have nurtured and encouraged me in faith and supported me throughout my life. It was particularly special to be ordained in Newport Cathedral, where I served for a time as Canon Theologian, surrounded by family, friends and colleagues who mean so much to me.
“During the service, we prayed for the strength of the Holy Spirit to equip and sustain me in this ministry. As I respond to this call, I hope it will also be an opportunity for people across the Diocese of Bangor, and beyond, to reflect on their own calling and on what God might be calling us to do together.
"I am excited by the opportunities we have to serve our communities and to share God's love with everyone.”
The service opened with Bishop Timothy Rees’s hymn, ‘Arglwydd, trefni mewn doethineb’ (‘Lord, who in thy perfect wisdom’). Bishop Manon adapted one of its verses to include saints associated with the Diocese of Bangor.
Bishop Manon’s husband read the Old Testament lesson during the service. The sermon was preached by a friend from theological college who has been part of her clergy support group for the past 30 years.
The consecration took place the day after the Church marked the feast of St Deiniol, who founded the monastic community at Bangor Fawr from which the Diocese of Bangor traces its origins.
Bishop Manon will be installed in the bishop’s chair at Bangor Cathedral on Saturday 19 September at 2pm. She will be welcomed by representatives from across the diocese.
The consecration service can be watched on YouTube.