Given the close relationship between Terry Waite and Robert Runcie, it is appropriate that the first volume of stories about Lord Runcie to appear since his death last July should come from his former advisor on Anglican Communion affairs.

Waite joined Runcie's staff at Lambeth at the beginning of Runcie's primacy in 1980, and was a central figure in the developing work of the archbishop's office until Waite's capture in Beirut seven years later. But even after his capture, his presence was felt at the palace: A candle burned day and night in the crypt chapel for him and for the other hostages, and Waite's successor as Runcie's secretary for Anglican Communion affairs, Roger Symon, was always referred to as the "acting secretary," in recognition that Terry Waite was still, technically, the holder of that position.

This book tells some of the stories of Waite's travels round the Anglican Communion with Lord Runcie and his former chaplains, Richard Chartres and John Witheridge. There are no reminiscences here of Waite's involvement with the hostage crisis in the Middle East or his own captivity. One has to go elsewhere for that story. But these breezily written vignettes of trips with Lord Runcie to Africa, Asia, Australia and the United States show us a glimpse of Waite's work at Lambeth that few know much about, yet which was crucial as Robert Runcie responded to the need and the desire for the ministry of the Archbishop of Canterbury in a growing, increasingly diverse, worldwide Communion.

Although previous archbishops had traveled to various parts of the Anglican Communion, and Michael Ramsey and Donald Coggan were known particularly well outside Britain, it was Runcie who put the relationship of the archbishop with the Communion on a firmer and more organized footing. No previous archbishop had visited so many provinces of the Communion, and Terry Waite was the member of his staff who, along with Runcie's domestic chaplain, made all this new work happen.

This book is not meant to be a history of the Runcie primacy, or even a partial biography. It is the affectionate remembrance of a former boss and friend, who himself often remarked on his "affectionate remembrance" of so many people and places the world over. Those who knew Robert Runcie will enjoy this book for the memories of him that Waite recalls, and those who may not have known the archbishop will learn a little bit of one of the most taxing, yet one of the most rewarding, aspects of the ministry of the Archbishop of Canterbury. As one who himself helped to organize some of Lord Runcie's trips in retirement and who traveled with him on one occasion, there are scenes here that sound very familiar to this reviewer.

I was glad to review this book for another reason. By chance I happened to be with the Runcies the evening of the day that Terry Waite's release was announced. The next morning, the archbishop was taken to the airport to meet Terry Waite off the plane. Characteristically, as he folded himself into the car, he was full of apologies for the fact that our time together had been rather unavoidably intruded upon. But that was not how it felt: It seemed to me that he had brought me into an extraordinary story in which I was privileged to share. But that was one of the things that Robert Runcie did so well for all those who met him and knew him. He brought us into the story, and by bringing us into the story, he made us keenly aware that we are a part of something much bigger than ourselves that is worth the risk of faith.

This was one of his rare gifts. It made him such splendid company, and such a remarkable archbishop.

(The Rev. Canon) Peter Eaton

Lancaster, Pa.