Former Archbishop of Wales dies

Bishop Noakes was formerly Bishop of St Davids

A former Archbishop of Wales, the Right Reverend George Noakes, has died, the Church in Wales has announced.

The Rt Rev George Noakes, who was Archbishop of Wales from 1987 until 1991, was 83.

Originally from Bwlchllan, Ceredigion, he served most of his ministry in west Wales and was Bishop of St Davids for nine years.

Current Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, paid tribute to his predecessor's ministry in Wales.

He said: "Bishop Noakes was a great pastoral bishop and a gifted preacher.

"His down-to-earth, approachable manner endeared him to people across society and he mixed well.

'Greatly esteemed'

"His kind and gracious presidency of the governing body of the Church in Wales was much appreciated.

"He was a respected and greatly esteemed leader," he said.

Dr Morgan also extended the sympathy of the Church in Wales to Bishop Noakes's widow Jean.

Bishop Noakes, a fluent Welsh-speaker, graduated from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and trained at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.

He then moved back to west Wales, beginning his ministry as assistant curate at Lampeter.

He was then vicar at Eglwyswrw and Meline and at Tregaron before becoming vicar of the Eglwys Dewi Sant in Cardiff city centre.

Later he became rector at Aberystwyth and was also a canon at St Davids Cathedral.

He was appointed Archdeacon of Cardigan and then consecrated Bishop of St Davids in 1982 and, in 1987, Archbishop of Wales. He retired in 1991.

Bishop Noakes died at West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen on Monday.