The new Bishop of Bangor in the Church in Wales will formally begin her public ministry when she is installed at Bangor Cathedral on Saturday 19 September.

Her new episcopal ring and pectoral cross contain symbols from Nefyn, Llŷn and Ynys Enlli which tell the story of her faith, ministry and connections with the diocese.

The Rt Revd Dr Manon Ceridwen James was consecrated as a bishop at Newport Cathedral on Saturday 12 September. During the service, she was anointed and presented with the symbols of a bishop’s ministry, including her episcopal ring and pectoral cross.

The crozier presented to her during the consecration had been given to her by Bishop Barry Morgan, the former Archbishop of Wales who ordained her as both deacon and priest.

The ring and cross were commissioned from acclaimed Welsh jeweller Rhiannon Evans of Rhiannon Jewellery. They are among her final commissions before she retires.

Bishop Manon asked Rhiannon to create modern pieces in silver and gold, using symbols drawn from places within the Diocese of Bangor which have shaped her life and faith.

Originally from Nefyn on the Llŷn Peninsula, Bishop Manon is a first-language Welsh speaker. She was ordained deacon at Bangor Cathedral in 1994 and, in 1997, became one of the first women to be ordained priest in the diocese.

Bishop Manon said: ‘When thinking about the design of my ring and cross, it was important to me that they included symbols from the diocese.

‘As I’m from Nefyn, Rhiannon found an ancient cross from between Nefyn and Pistyll which she used in the design.’

The cross is thought to date from between the seventh and ninth centuries. Its design appears on both sides of the stone in Bishop Manon’s ring and on the reverse of her pectoral cross.

Rhiannon has studied early carved stone crosses for many years.

‘The variety in the earliest carved stone crosses is fascinating, so I knew of the cross at Nefyn,’ she said. ‘These early ones are simple incised carvings, dating right back to the age of saints, whereas the more elaborate monastic ones are later, from the eighth to tenth centuries.’

The pectoral cross follows the traditional Celtic shape found along the western coast of Britain and at early monastic settlements.

‘This part of Wales has a large number of very ancient Christian sites, so I used symbolism from the Celtic Church tradition,’ Rhiannon said.

The knotwork on the pectoral cross draws on designs found on crosses on Ynys Enlli. Bishop Manon chose the patterns as a symbol of the Trinity. For Rhiannon, the unbroken, interwoven lines also carry a wider meaning.

‘Knotwork was a feature of Celtic monastic art, representing the way God’s creation is eternal, all interrelated and intertwined, with our human existence merely a part of the whole,’ she said.

At the centre of the pectoral cross is a round lapis lazuli stone.

Bishop Manon said: ‘I wanted a round stone which is lapis lazuli, which often symbolises God’s presence in the Bible.

‘A round stone for me stands for equality and how we all serve and minister to one another.’

Rhiannon also created a central motif inspired by the sea and the fishing tradition of Llŷn. It includes the fish as an ancient symbol of Christ.

‘I was delighted that I was asked to create these pieces for Bishop Manon, as they are probably my last commission before retirement,’ Rhiannon said.

‘I always feel privileged to make religious, spiritual pieces.’

During her career, Rhiannon has created several pieces for bishops and archbishops. One of her earliest commissions was the gold morse, the clasp worn on an archbishop’s robes, which is still used by the Archbishop of Wales.

‘The grandest one was the morse for the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Welsh robes, presented to Rowan Williams by the Welsh Government,’ she said.

For Rhiannon, making religious pieces connects her with the monks who created Christian artwork in the ancient Celtic monasteries.

‘When making them, I feel a connection with those ancient monks who made wonderful religious artwork in the Celtic monasteries, when the making was part of prayer and devotion to God. The angels reputedly gave them inspiration and guided their hands. I hope they have done the same for me!’

Bishop Manon has served as a parish priest in the dioceses of Bangor and St Asaph and has held diocesan roles in training, education and vocations. At St Asaph, she was Director of Ministry. Before becoming Dean of Bangor Cathedral in October 2025, she was Dean for Initial Ministerial Training at St Padarn’s Institute.

She will be installed as the 82nd Bishop of Bangor and the first woman to hold the role at Bangor Cathedral at 2 pm on Saturday 19 September. The service is by invitation only because of limited space.

More information

Read the Diocese of Bangor’s article on the consecration of the Rt Revd Dr Manon Ceridwen James as the first woman to become Bishop of Bangor.