Read Ruth Gledhill's blog on the Bishop of St David's

An Anglican bishop has resigned after weeks of speculation about his marriage and his relationship with his female chaplain, the Church in Wales announced this morning. The chaplain also resigned.

The two clerics, both of whose marriages have broken down, have consistently denied any inappropriate behaviour.

The Right Rev Carl Cooper, 47, who has three children with Joy, his wife of 25 years, had already been given leave of absence from his diocese.

His resignation will come as a blow to the Welsh province of the Anglican Communion. The wider Communion is already reeling close to schism amid controversies over gay bishops and women bishops. The Church in Wales’s governing body recently rejected moves to ordain women to the episcopate.

Bishop Cooper was one of just six diocesan bishops, and his loss as a Welsh speaker will be felt keenly in a province that struggles to find good clergy and bishops to serve its dwindling congregations. One of Wales’ most notable exports was the present Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.

The resignation of an Anglican bishop in such circumstances is extremely rare.

In a statement today the Church in Wales said: “The Bishop of St Davids, the Right Rev Carl Cooper, has resigned. He has apologised for any of his actions that have caused offence and made it impossible for him to continue his ministry as Bishop of St Davids.

“The Archbishop and the Bench of Bishops of the Church in Wales have accepted the resignation as being in the best interests of the diocese and the Church in Wales at this time.”

Bishop Cooper came under pressure after some of his clergy demanded a tribunal be set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the breakdown of his marriage.

His chaplain, the Rev Mandy Williams Potter, 38, said speculation about their relationship was false, while the Bishop and his wife described their split as “amicable” and said no-one else was involved on either side. Ms Williams Potter has also split with her husband Chris. The couple have two children.

Ms Williams Potter, who acts also as the diocesan communications officer, had earlier also been granted leave from her duties.

Bishop Cooper was born in Wigan and moved to Wales as an undergraduate. When he was enthroned at St David's in 2002, he was hailed as one of the province’s “new generation of clergymen