Carl Cooper

Carl Cooper (born 1960) is a former Anglican bishop who was the Bishop of St. David's from 2002 to 2008.

The Right Reverend

Carl Cooper
Bishop of St David's
ChurchChurch in Wales
DioceseSt David's
In office2002–2008
PredecessorHuw Jones
SuccessorWyn Evans
Orders
Consecration2002
Personal details
Birth nameCarl Norman Cooper
Born (1960-08-04) 4 August 1960
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglicanism
SpouseAmanda Claire (m. c. 1983; sep. 2008)
Previous postArchdeacon of Meirionnydd

Early life

Cooper was born on 4 August 1960 and grew up in Wigan in Lancashire. He first spent time in Wales as an undergraduate at the University of Wales, Lampeter, where he took a degree in French before studying theology at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford.[1]

Unusually for a non-native Welsh bishop, Cooper is a fluent Welsh-speaker. He received a Master of Philosophy degree for a study in bilingualism in the Church in Wales.

Ordained ministry

He served as curate in Llanelli, then as the Rector of Ciliau Aeron, Ceredigion.[2] He also served at Dolgellau and as Archdeacon of Meirionnydd.

He was elected and consecrated Bishop of St David's in 2002. In his role as bishop, Cooper was invited to Uganda by the "old friend of west Wales", George Katwesigye,[3] there he met MP and University of Wales graduate David Bahati. At that meeting Cooper was quoted as saying, "Wales' influence often stretches further than we realise."[4]

David Bahati later tried to pass an act through the Ugandan Parliament to have the death penalty applied to certain homosexual acts.[5] Bishop George Katwesigye has accused "perpetrators" of homosexuality of "indirectly bringing back colonialism in Uganda".[6]

In February 2008 it was announced that Cooper was separating from his wife of 25 years, Joy.[7] There then followed press speculation linking Cooper with his chaplain and communications officer, Mandy Williams-Potter. After consultation with the Archbishop of Wales, Cooper took a leave of absence on 12 March 2008;[8] and then resigned his position on 29 April 2008.[9][10][11]

Later life

After standing down as a bishop of the Church in Wales, Cooper was appointed Chief Executive of the Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO),[12] a post that he still holds as of 2014.[13]

Personal life

Cooper was married to Joy and they have four children together. They separated in 2008 after 25 years of marriage.[14]

In 2008, he stepped down as Bishop of St David's because of allegations that he had been having an affair with his chaplain, Mandy Williams-Potter. They both denied the affair.[15][16] Williams-Potter had been married to her husband for 15 years and they had had two children together, before splitting in 2008.[17]

References
  1. Who's Who 2008 London, A & C Black, 2007 ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8
  2. Crockford's clerical directory1995, (London, Church House 1994) ISBN 0-7151-8088-6
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 April 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. http://ssempanews.blogspot.com/
  7. The Daily Telegraph, 22 February 2008, p7
  8. "Bishop given leave over rumours". BBC Wales News. 12 March 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
  9. "Bishop resigns after speculation". BBC Wales News. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
  10. "Bishop and Vicar resign after gossip over 'love affair'", by Tom Peterkin in The Daily Telegraph, 30 April 2008.
  11. "Press Release - Bishop of St Davids resigns". Church in Wales. 29 April 2008. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
  12. Williamson, David (30 June 2008). "First day in a new job for the ex-bishop who's now Mr Cooper". The Western Mail. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  13. "Chief Executive". PAVO. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  14. "Bishop and wife are to separate". BBC News. 21 February 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  15. "Bishop given leave over rumours". BBC News. 12 March 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  16. "Chaplain denies bishop 'rumours'". BBC News. 6 March 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  17. Shipton, Martin (3 June 2010). "Former bishop shares home with ex-chaplain". Wales Online. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
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