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Archbishop of Canterbury to be enthroned by a woman for first time Justin Welby enthroned as archbishop of Canterbury
(about 4 hours later)
At 3pm amid African dancers and to the strains of Punjabi music, Justin Portal Welby will be formally enthroned as the 105th archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the world's 77 million Anglicans. At 3pm amid African dancers and to the strains of Punjabi music, Justin Portal Welby was formally enthroned as the 105th archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the world's 77 million Anglicans.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall as well as the prime minister, David Cameron, will be among about 2,000 people attending the ceremony at Canterbury cathedral. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall as well as the prime minister, David Cameron, were among about 2,000 people attending the ceremony at Canterbury cathedral.
The service will draw on hundreds of years of ecclesiastical tradition, but the proceedings will differ in one key respect: for the first time in the Church of England's history, its head will be enthroned by a woman. The service drew on hundreds of years of ecclesiastical tradition, but the proceedings differed in one key respect: for the first time in the Church of England's history, its head was enthroned by a woman.
The Venerable Sheila Watson, archdeacon of Canterbury, will take a central role in the ceremony, which marks the beginning of Welby's public ministry. The Venerable Sheila Watson, archdeacon of Canterbury, took a central role in the ceremony, which marks the beginning of Welby's public ministry.
The cleric, who was made the first female archdeacon of Canterbury in 2007, will install the archbishop on the diocesan throne in the cathedral, a historic moment symbolising his appointment as bishop of Canterbury – the first of three roles held by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The cleric, who was made the first female archdeacon of Canterbury in 2007, installed the archbishop on the diocesan throne in the cathedral, a historic moment symbolising his appointment as bishop of Canterbury – the first of three roles held by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Welby will then be installed by the dean of Canterbury, the Very Rev Robert Willis, on the marble chair of St Augustine in the cathedral, marking his appointment as head of the Church of England and also representing his inauguration as spiritual leader of the global Anglican communion. Welby was then installed by the dean of Canterbury, the Very Rev Robert Willis, on the marble chair of St Augustine in the cathedral, marking his appointment as head of the Church of England and also representing his inauguration as spiritual leader of the global Anglican communion.
Watson's role in the ceremony will inevitably put the issue of female bishops in the spotlight once again. Four months ago the General Synod voted against legislation to introduce female bishops. Like his predecessor, Rowan Williams, Welby voted in favour of their introduction.Watson's role in the ceremony will inevitably put the issue of female bishops in the spotlight once again. Four months ago the General Synod voted against legislation to introduce female bishops. Like his predecessor, Rowan Williams, Welby voted in favour of their introduction.
Another female member of the Anglican communion, Evangeline Kanagasooriam, will play an important part in the ceremony when she asks the archbishop formal questions about his role after he strikes the west door of the cathedral three times with his staff at the start of the service. Another female member of the Anglican communion, Evangeline Kanagasooriam, played an important part in the ceremony when she asked the archbishop formal questions about his role after he struck the west door of the cathedral three times with his staff at the start of the service.
The African aspect of the ceremony is a nod to Welby's links with the continent in both his previous career as an oil executive and as a conflict negotiator during his time at Coventry cathedral. The African aspect of the ceremony was a nod to Welby's links with the continent in both his previous career as an oil executive and as a conflict negotiator during his time at Coventry cathedral.
The archbishop of Burundi in central Africa, the Most Rev Bernard Ntahoturi, will pronounce a blessing in French on the archbishop and African dancers will perform before the gospel is read at the service. The archbishop of Burundi in central Africa, the Most Rev Bernard Ntahoturi, pronounced a blessing in French on the archbishop and African dancers performed before the gospel was read at the service.
Other personal touches include Welby's choice of robes for the service. He will wear colourful vestments originally designed and made for the late bishop of Peterborough, the Most Rev Ian Cundy, who was his tutor at Cranmer Hall, Durham, where he trained in preparation for ordination between 1989 and 1992 after leaving the oil industry. Other personal touches included Welby's choice of robes for the service. He wore colourful vestments originally designed and made for the late bishop of Peterborough, the Most Rev Ian Cundy, who was his tutor at Cranmer Hall, Durham, where he trained in preparation for ordination between 1989 and 1992 after leaving the oil industry.
The archbishop will be asked to make the declaration of assent outlining his loyalty to the Church of England by the archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu. He will then be asked by Willis to swear an oath of faithfulness on the Canterbury gospels, brought to Britain by St Augustine in 597. The archbishop was asked to make the declaration of assent outlining his loyalty to the Church of England by the archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu. He was then asked by Willis to swear an oath of faithfulness on the Canterbury gospels, brought to Britain by St Augustine in 597.
The service will feature a newly commissioned anthem using the opening words of the Rule of St Benedict set to music by the composer Michael Berkeley. The ceremony coincides with the feast day of St Benedict of Monte Cassino, a significant figure for both Canterbury cathedral, which was a Benedictine monastery 1,000 years ago, and Welby, who is an oblate of the Order of Benedict. The service featured a newly commissioned anthem using the opening words of the Rule of St Benedict set to music by the composer Michael Berkeley. The ceremony coincided with the feast day of St Benedict of Monte Cassino, a significant figure for both Canterbury cathedral, which was a Benedictine monastery 1,000 years ago, and Welby, who is an oblate of the Order of Benedict.
When the pomp and splendour is concluded, the archbishop will begin the job of presiding over a communion that is greatly divided over the issue of female bishops and same-sex marriage. When the pomp and splendour concluded, the archbishop began the job of presiding over a communion that is greatly divided over the issue of female bishops and same-sex marriage.
In an interview with Channel 5 News that will have delighted proponents of women in the highest echelons of the church, the archbishop said he believed there would be a female archbishop one day, in spite of the Synod vote.In an interview with Channel 5 News that will have delighted proponents of women in the highest echelons of the church, the archbishop said he believed there would be a female archbishop one day, in spite of the Synod vote.
Pressed on the timing, he said: "Oh, I have no idea … when the right person turns up. But, yes, I think there certainly will."Pressed on the timing, he said: "Oh, I have no idea … when the right person turns up. But, yes, I think there certainly will."
On Thursday Welby addressed the question of same-sex marriage, saying that some gay couples had loving and monogamous relationships of "stunning quality".On Thursday Welby addressed the question of same-sex marriage, saying that some gay couples had loving and monogamous relationships of "stunning quality".
He said he backed the church's traditional view of marriage as the union of one man and one woman, but he had witnessed the strength and profundity of same-sex love in the relationships of some of his friends.He said he backed the church's traditional view of marriage as the union of one man and one woman, but he had witnessed the strength and profundity of same-sex love in the relationships of some of his friends.
"You see gay relationships that are just stunning in the quality of the relationship," he told the BBC, adding that he had "particular friends where I recognise that and am deeply challenged by it"."You see gay relationships that are just stunning in the quality of the relationship," he told the BBC, adding that he had "particular friends where I recognise that and am deeply challenged by it".
It emerged that Welby sent a letter on Wednesday night to the human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, offering to meet him face to face.It emerged that Welby sent a letter on Wednesday night to the human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, offering to meet him face to face.
The invitation was in response to an open letter in which Tatchell accused Welby of being homophobic by opposing gay marriage and said some local Anglicans had colluded in persecution of gay people in Africa.The invitation was in response to an open letter in which Tatchell accused Welby of being homophobic by opposing gay marriage and said some local Anglicans had colluded in persecution of gay people in Africa.
In his response, the Times reported, Welby thanked Tatchell for his "very thoughtful" letter and said the points he had made were "powerful".In his response, the Times reported, Welby thanked Tatchell for his "very thoughtful" letter and said the points he had made were "powerful".