Rowan Williams Enthroned as 104th Archbishop of Canterbury
Episcopal News Service. February 27, 2003 [2003-043]
(ACNS) In a ceremony that included everything from robust Welsh hymns to colorful dance, thunderous applause and pageantry, the archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Douglas Williams, was enthroned February 27 following ancient custom in Canterbury Cathedral, the "mother church" of the Anglican Communion. The dean of Canterbury, the Very Rev. Robert Willis, led the archbishop by the hand to his chair.
Handing the archbishop the pastoral staff, the dean said: "I give you this pastoral staff, a symbol of your investment with the spiritualities of the See of Canterbury." The bishop of Dover then gave this blessing: "May Christ the Good Shepherd so uphold and sustain you that you may lead with courage and guide with love those committed to your charge."
Williams then took his seat as the 104th archbishop in succession to St. Augustine. The ceremony was attended by many representatives of other churches and faiths. The primates of the Anglican Communion were present, along with bishops of the Church of England and the readers and clergy of the Diocese of Canterbury.
Dancing replaces fanfares
In place of the sounding of fanfares, the response to the act of enthronement was the dancing accompanying the singing, "Amen. Siakudumisa." The archbishop took the corporal oath on the Canterbury gospels book.
During the exchange of the peace, Williams was joined by his wife, Jane, in greeting dozens of people seated in the area behind the high altar. Approximately 600 people from the Church in Wales made the journey to Canterbury to see their own archbishop take on a new role for the worldwide church.
From nave and quire
The design of the cathedral dictates creative liturgical planning. Under the direction of the Rev. Kevin Goss, precentor of Canterbury, the service took place both in the nave and in the quire, with the new archbishop giving a blessing from the St. Augustine's chair as well as the nave altar.
The renowned choir of men and boys of the cathedral sang the church's great hymn of praise, "Te Deum Laudamus," to a setting by Benjamin Britten.
Members of the government were present as was His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales. Security was tight and there has been a significant police presence in the precincts of the cathedral in recent weeks.
Williams legally became the Archbishop of Canterbury at the Confirmation of Election ceremony in St Paul's Cathedral on December 2. Today's enthronement service was his formal reception and a celebration of the start of his new ministry.
The sermon is available in full on the Anglican Communion web site.
Episcopal Life's Nan Cobbey was present at the enthronement and her story will appear on Episcopal News Service.
For details about the February 27 broadcast, webcast and video of the enthronement of the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, visit these web sites:
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/canterbury/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/