The tenure of Anne Dyer, Scotland's first female bishop, has been marked by controversy, culminating in her retirement amidst accusations of bullying and a dispute over the status of a cathedral. The Daily Mail reports that Dyer's time as bishop has been described as an "unholy disaster."
In August, Dyer announced her plans to retire in a pastoral letter to her diocese. However, her departure follows a series of contentious events.
One significant dispute involved the naming of St. Mary's as the pro-Cathedral. Dyer was suspended over the allegedly unlawful naming of the institution. Further controversy arose in 2020 when Bishop Anne was accused of breaking church law by unilaterally stripping St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Aberdeen of its status. The bishop was also reportedly involved in a "bizarre spat over an organist."
These events have overshadowed Dyer's historic appointment as Scotland's first female bishop.