The current Archbishop of Wales has apologised over the "ruinous" fall-out from the nine-month absence and 2019 retirement of former Bishop of Monmouth Richard Pain.

"Numerous people’ were left "vulnerable and damaged" by the handling of the whole affair, said Most Rev Andrew John, which rocked the Monmouth diocese and included inquiries, a long and failed process of mediation and a "misleading and damaging" press statement that fuelled unfounded rumours of a bid to oust the Bishop.

A 20-month review into the "tragedy" headed by former Bishop of Norwich Graham James reported in mid-December, making 28 recommendations, 13 applying to the broader culture and constitution of the Church in Wales, following claims of "excessive drinking" and "swearing" among some senior Church in Wales figures.

In a statement, the Archbishop and the chair of the Church in Wales Representative Body, James Turner, jointly said: "We wish to express our sorrow and regret that what could have been an opportunity to attend well to a challenging situation became ruinous and distressing and left numerous people vulnerable and damaged.

"This has not reflected well on the Church in Wales, and for that we apologise unreservedly to all those wounded by our failures."

The current Bishop of Monmouth, the Rt Revd Cherry Vann, also said: "I am pleased that the Monmouth inquiry and review has at last been published.

"I know that this will be a relief to many in the diocese of Monmouth who were left confused and dismayed when their former Bishop, Richard Pain, stood back from his role and eventually retired.

"The report will go a long way to answering their questions and explaining much of what happened and why.

"I am particularly pleased that the report exonerates the current Archdeacon of Newport, Jonathan Williams, and the former Dean, Lister Tonge, and the former Archdeacon of Monmouth, Ambrose Mason.

"I want to pay tribute to them and to the office staff, clergy, and people of the diocese who continued faithfully with the work of Church whilst feeling left bereft and abandoned."

The trio were completely exonerated of any blame over what happened, following unfounded reports and rumours of an attempt to oust Bishop Pain following concerns for his health and wellbeing.

Rt Rev Pain, the former vicar of Monmouth, stood back from his duties in 2018 while one inquiry examined a complaint of "inappropriate behaviour to the provincial secretary", and another looked at the state of the relationships between the Bishop and senior clergy.

A process of mediation was later initiated by then Archbishop Rt Rev John Davies, as reports surfaced of a rift between senior church leaders, before the Bishop’s retirement was announced in April 2019.

"Rumours abounded within the diocese, particularly about the role of the Dean and Archdeacons in relation to the Bishop’s retirement," said the review.

As matters dragged on, it became "extremely difficult for the Dean and Archdeacons to continue effectively in ministry, and prompted the early retirement of the Dean".

In a joint statement in response to the review, the trio said they would live with "deep scars" from the "traumatic events".

They thanked Bishop James and the review group for the "thorough and pastoral way" in which they handled such a "very difficult and damaging periodâ¦

"We regret that some sections have been redacted, but hope that what has been published will help a better understanding of everything that occurred and the consequences of various decisions made. We totally accept the report in full."

The three also expressed gratitude for the apology by the Archbishop and Mr Turner, "and for the retraction of the misleading and damaging press statement issued in December 2018. These steps will help us greatly in moving on from the traumatic events" detailed in the review.

But they add: "We shall continue to live with the deep scars those events have caused us."

They hoped that the diocese and the wider Church in Wales would reflect on and learn from the events described.

The panel said: "We believe a sea-change in attitudes is needed so that dignity at work and maintaining appropriate boundaries are seen only in positive ways."

It recommends a full review of the role and powers of the Archbishop of Wales in the constitution, and "a process enabling whoever is appointed Archbishop of Wales to engage in transition to their new role with appropriate and sufficiently senior staffing to support them, so that those in other important senior posts do not have tasks devolving inappropriately upon them in times of difficulty or crisis".