THE Very Revd June Osborne, Dean of Salisbury, is to become the next Bishop of Llandaff.

One of the most senior priests in England, June Osborne has served as Dean for 13 years, leading the ministry of Salisbury Cathedral.

She has now been chosen as the 72nd Bishop of Llandaff, responsible for a diocese which serves most of Cardiff, the South Wales Valleys and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Calling it a great privilege, she said: "It will be something of a homecoming for the family, particularly because my husband is from Cardiff and it is a place we know and love.

"Leading a diocese that is so diverse, in an area that is both historic and beautiful, will be challenging but I have an enormous appetite for the task and am deeply honoured to have the opportunity to join a diocesan team, which is strong and imaginative.

"These are turbulent times across the world and the need for faith, and for the confident, distinctive leadership of the Church has never been more important.

“I will, of course, be sad to say goodbye to Salisbury. It has been my home, both spiritually and as a family, for over two decades.

"I have been surrounded by wonderful colleagues, staff and volunteers, who have made my job a joyful undertaking.

"It has been a great pleasure to witness how the cathedral has developed and flourished over the years and to have shared our marvellous Magna Carta 800 celebrations.

"I am immensely proud of what has been achieved here and wish all at the cathedral and its diocese well in the years to come.”

The Bishop of Salisbury, Nicholas Holtam, described June as an “outstanding Dean”.

He said: “June Osborne is one of the Church of England’s leading clerics. She has made significant contributions to the wider Church of England including helping to organise the Leading Women group which has been massively influential in growing women into positions of leadership in the Church.

"I am delighted she has been appointed Bishop of Llandaff. The whole of the Diocese of Salisbury will join me in giving thanks for the enormous contribution she has made to this diocese where she has served for 22 years. We wish her well and pray for her and her family as they prepare for all that lies ahead.”

A ground-breaking figure in the Church of England, Dean June was one of the first women to be ordained as a priest in England in 1994, having been a Deaconess since 1980.

She was the first female Dean to be appointed to a medieval cathedral, having previously served as Salisbury Cathedral’s Canon Treasurer for nearly 10 years.

Welcoming her appointment, the Church’s Senior Bishop, the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, John Davies, said: “In June Osborne, both the Church in Wales and the Diocese of Llandaff will find themselves to be richly blessed. June’s track record admirably demonstrates her passion for Christian ministry modelled on the Gospel imperatives of love, justice, inclusivity and openness.

"She is known as a leader with clear vision, a pastoral heart and a strategic mind, all of which commend the Church to the wider community."

In her time at Salisbury Dean June has overseen the majority of the cathedral’s 30-year Major Repair Programme.

She was instrumental in the commissioning of Salisbury Cathedral’s William Pye font, she championed the installation of the girl Chorister Bishop in 2015 and played a significant role in the Magna Carta 800 celebrations two years ago. She has also been a deputy lieutenant of Wiltshire.

In response to the news, The Revd Canon Dr James Woodward, Principal of Sarum College, said: "The life of the Church of England would be very different today without June's tireless commitment to women's ministry and leadership. June is an able teacher and an inspiring communicator. 

"All at Sarum College wish her well as she moves into new chapter of her ministry. Her presence will be much missed and we offer our congratulations and prayers."

She will celebrate her final Sunday at Salisbury Cathedral on July 9 and will be consecrated as Bishop in Brecon Cathedral on July 15 and enthroned the following week at Llandaff Cathedral.