Articles - Miscellaneous

Welcome John Sentamu 97th Archbishop of the Province and Diocese of York

Brian and Anne Sampford and Joyce Sundram give their impressions of the inauguration and enthronement of the Archbishop of York.

Anne and I were surprised and delighted to receive tickets to attend Archbishop John's inauguration and enthronement in York Minster on Wednesday 30th November. What an awe inspiring, exciting and emotional day it turned out to be despite the bitter cold! - the Minster has no heating and especially as the great west doors remained open for most of the morning!!

The great and the good were in their places by 11.30am and Archbishop John arrived at the west doors of the Minster and demanded entry to his Cathedral Church by knocking three times on the door with his pastoral staff made of wood from an olive tree in Bethlehem. On entering his Cathedral Archbishop John knelt in prayers in St Cuthbert's Chapel, surrounded by fourteen children, one from each Diocese.

To the strain of Hubert Parry's "I was glad" our new Archbishop moved to the dais on the centre of the nave where the Archbishop of Canterbury's mandate was read, the oath taken and he was presented with the pastoral staff of the Diocese of York.

Without doubt one of the most moving moments occurred when Archbishop Rowan of Canterbury anointed John with holy oil and then the two archbishops embraced to much heartfelt applause.

Finally the Dean of York placed the Archbishop in the Cathedra (or Seat) before presenting him to the people. Archbishop John was greeted with much joyful applause.

There then followed one of the most exciting, delightful moments when dancers from Uganda preformed the "Bwola" a dance of rejoicing and thanksgiving to God during which our new Archbishop, with a beaming smile, joined the drumming in a spontaneous gesture of pure delight.

Without doubt Archbishop John declared his credentials, his intentions, his faith and spirituality during one of the most powerful and challenging sermons we have heard. He will be a great Archbishop for York - please pray for him.

Brian and Anne Sampford

Wonderful! What a day! Rivetting!

Such were the exclamations from an ecstatic congregation. "The Minster has never seen the likes of this before", said a delighted dignitary from Church House, Westminster. It was a celebration and a real party atmosphere prevailed. We even had party puzzles - Sudoku and a crossword - to while away the hour or so before the service. But, throughout it was a Christian Party.

Warm and cosy with a grandstand view of everything from the cinema screen just in front of us, we were with the overflow congregation in the adjacent church of St Michael-le-Belfry.

Children were very much to the fore throughout the service. A child's "portrait" of the Archbishop decorated the glossy cover of the Order of Service, fourteen girls and boys flanked the Archbishop and two ascended the dais. During the Anointing ceremony, it was a young boy who authoritatively voiced the injunction "Archbishop Sentamu always remember that you are first an adopted child of God. A Christian with us and an Archbishop for us." Another read the Gospel and it was three very dignified children whose feet the Archbishop so tenderly washed and dried.

The Mothers' Union from East London, sang a beautiful, melodious Ugandan hymn and it was the most recently consecrated Bishop of Blackburn who led the intercessions.

The whole ceremony was marvellously colourful, enhanced with the Archbishop, resplendent in psychedelic cope and matching mitre and the twenty or so dancers in leopard print adorned with waving plumage of red, white and black ostrich feathers. Sensational!

Ever imaginative, considerate and gracious, as he gave the final blessing on the city, diocese and province of York from outside the great west door of the Minster, the Archbishop himself simultaneously used the British sign language. Such consideration and care was apparent in all the arrangements, even to the feeding of the four thousand or so attending the service.

Instead of loaves and fishes, we had M & S fare. Sitting near us were close family friends of the Sentamu family from Kampala and curacy days, so we were able to meet the Archbishop and his family. Emboldened by the comments in the sermon about making friends with those of other faiths, I gave the Archbishop a copy of St Edmund's Church magazine and told about the Rabbi's visit on the previous evening. He must be reassured that our Church is in the forefront of the practices he urged!

Priests and prelates alike were rocking and swinging to the African beat and the revved-up dances when I left the Minster close on four, and having dispensed with the regalia, the Archbishop was enjoying himself hugely. What a day!

Joyce Sundram

30 December, 2005