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Stephen Cottrell appointed archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell named as next archbishop of York
(32 minutes later)
Bishop of Chelmsford to take over from John Sentamu, Downing Street has announced Bishop of Chelmsford will take over from John Sentamu who is retiring next year
The next archbishop of York will be the current bishop of Chelmsford, Stephen Cottrell, Downing Street has announced. Stephen Cottrell has been named as the 98th archbishop of York, the second most senior figure in the Church of England, to replace John Sentamu who is retiring next year.
He will take over from John Sentamu when he retires in June. Cottrell, 61, the bishop of Colchester, is well liked in the church for his down-to-earth persona. He was brought up in Essex, attended a state school and studied at the Polytechnic of Central London.
Cottrell, who in the past has called on the Church of England to shed its middle class “Marks & Spencer” image, said he was “humbled and excited” at the prospect of becoming the 98th archbishop of York. He told a press conference in Church House, Westminster: “I’m a boy from a very ordinary family, from a secondary modern school in Essex, who is now called to be the archbishop of York.”
“I will receive the baton from Archbishop Sentamu. These aren’t just big shoes to fill, but a big heart and a big vision. However, I am not daunted,” he said. Sentamu’s retirement means the loss of the C of E’s most high-profile figure from a black or minority ethnic background. In the past, Cottrell has publicly criticised the church for its shortcomings in promoting BAME clergy into senior positions.
“Archbishop Sentamu and I have worked together in mission on many occasions and I hope to build on the work he has pioneered. On Tuesday he said: “Our record is not good, there’s no point in pretending otherwise. This is something that matters hugely to me. I hope that when I do hang up my mitre, the church will look different and more diverse.”
“Working alongside the archbishop of Canterbury, I hope to help the church be more joyful and more effective in sharing the gospel and bringing hope and unity to our nation. He said he anticipated that “one day” the church would have a female archbishop of Canterbury.
“Although I was born and grew up in Essex, I lived and served in Huddersfield for nine years. I know and love the north of England. Two of our children were born there. Cottrell said the UK was standing “on the edge of great change as we leave the European Union” and there were “many challenges ahead”.
“I now look forward to returning and being a voice for the north, sharing the liberating good news of the gospel and helping to address the discrepancies of wealth and opportunity that too often favour the south.” Reflecting on last week’s election results, he said: “I don’t think anyone was quite ready for the scale of Conservative victory … Boris Johnson has spoken about one nation, and that deserves our support, but the particular contribution the church can make is a global view.”
Cottrell was ordained as a deacon in 1984 and as a priest in 1985. He said the church had a “particular responsibility to speak for the poorest and most marginalised”, and added. “There is a north-south divide that is shockingly real.”
More details soon … Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, said at the press conference that Cottrell was “one of the most inspiring leaders in the church. He preaches, he writes beautifully, he writes poetry, he thinks very deeply, he communicates superbly, he is not hierarchical, he’s got a huge heart that is open to the needy and poor and vulnerable, he’s a pastor.”
Sentamu said Cottrell had “the gospel in his belly and a tiger in the tank. His nomination as my successor has gladdened my heart and he can rely on my prayers.”