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Enthronement of Archbishop of Canterbury


Archbishop Welby

Archbishop Welby

The Archbishop of Canterbury is due to be enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral on Thursday afternoon. The ceremony, which begins at 3pm, will be attended by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, Prime Minister David Cameron and archbishops and bishops from around the world, including Archbishop Vincent Nichols. Representatives of many other faiths will also be present.

Following tradition, while Archbishop Justin waits outside the cathedral’s west door, the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, Robert Willis, will be inside reading out a letter from the Queen, Supreme Governor of the Church of England. This letter authorises the Dean and cathedral community representatives to go to the church’s west door to greet the Archbishop.

Archbishop Welby will then strike the door three times with his pastoral staff, and the Dean will open the door to greet him. The Archbishop will be led up to the nave altar, where the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, will ask him to swear an oath of faithfulness to the statutes of the Church of England and an oath of faithfulness to the Queen of England.

The Dean then presents the Archbishop with the ancient Canterbury Gospels, brought to England by St Augustine in 597, on which he will swear faithfulness. The Archbishop is then enthroned on his seats, marking the core of the ceremony. First he is led to the Diocesan throne and installed by the Archdeacon of Canterbury as Bishop of the See of Canterbury. He is then led to the chair of St Augustine where the Dean installs him as Primate of All England.

Having been installed, Archbishop will read the Gospel and preach a sermon from St Augustine's chair.

The service will feature music chosen by Archbishop Justin, including hymns marking Passiontide and looking forward to Holy Week, which starts next week. It will also include an African song, and improvised organ music following the Archbishop’s sermon.

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