C of E's first black archbishop takes up post

-05/10/05

The Church of England's first black Archbishop will formally take up his post in a ceremony today (Wednesday).

Dr John Sentamu, who once fled Idi Amin's Uganda, will be confirmed as the 97th Archbishop of York at St Mary-le-Bow church, Cheapside, London.

Sentamu has recently said [1] that he believes the church must face up to racism and the under-representation of minority ethnic groups in its ranks.

He played a major role in encouraging the churches to speak out against institutional racism in 1999, following the public enquiry in the wake of the death of teenager Stephen Lawrence. He also chaired the Damilola Taylor review.

He also backs the extension of 'restorative justice' programmes [2].

The ceremony today will be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and six senior bishops. There will be a brief address by Dr Williams.

The event, called the Confirmation of the Election, marks the start of Dr Sentamu's reign as Archbishop of York and comes after his election by York Minster's college of canons in July.

But Dr Sentamu does not begin his public ministry in the post - the second highest in the Church of England - until he is enthroned in York Minster on November 30.

Dr Sentamu succeeds Dr David Hope, now Lord Hope of Thornes, who resigned as Archbishop of York in February to take up a post as parish priest in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

Born and educated in Uganda, where he practised as a barrister and a judge, Dr Sentamu was an outspoken critic of Idi Amin's regime, before coming to the UK in 1974.

He trained as a priest in Cambridge. After serving in a succession of London parishes, he was appointed Bishop of Stepney in 1996 and Bishop of Birmingham in 2002.

The sixth of 13 brothers and sisters, Dr Sentamu, who is 56, has two grown-up children with wife Margaret.