ABSTRACT
The disestablishment of the Anglican Church in Wales plagued the politics of the nation for over half a century. The Liberal government was successful in 1869 in disestablishing the Irish Church, and the desire to disestablish another notionally unrepresentative Church was strong. John Owen, bishop of St Davids 1897-1926, played a pivotal role in the campaign against the disestablishment of the Anglican Church in Wales. Although Owen had been actively involved in the campaign against disestablishment in his previous positions, it was the office of bishop of St Davids which was to provide him with the platform from which to launch his campaign. By comparing the record of the Church in Wales with that of the Church of England, Owen was able to argue that there were no better grounds for disendowing the Welsh Church than there were for disendowing the Church of England.
