Updated
The Most Reverend Justin Welby became the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury at lunchtime today, when his election was confirmed at a ceremony in St Paul’s Cathedral.
The Archbishop of York gave this Welcome to Archbishop Justin Welby.
Update
St Paul’s Cathedral has this report of the ceremony, Justin Welby is made Archbishop of Canterbury at St Paul’s, with links to photographs and the order of service.
Update Tuesday
The Archbishop is now The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby following his appointment to Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.
oh lovely, who can resist orders of service !
Let’s hope not expensively produced but xeroxed !
Deeply disappointing that one of his first official utterances is support for the CoE’s homophobic statements and positions. It would have been easy enough to refer to the variety of positions within the CoE that need to be heard and considered. Saying that he has to think about the “whole Anglican communion” rather than just the 1.25 million in England also doesn’t bode well. Is Justin poised to used human rights abusers in Uganda to continue Rowan’s policy of isolating TEC, Canada, and those who actually believe that all people are created in the image of God? I wish him… Read more »
Not quite sure when St Paul’s Cathedral muscled in as the venue for the confirmation process for a new Archbishop? Fairly recently if I remember rightly, as the traditional place was in St Mary le Bow in Cheapside the City of London. George Carey was confirmed there.
Historically, previous confirmations have had their problems in St Mary’ but hasn’t St Paul’s Cathedral got enough kudos already without upstaging and usurping the traditional Bow Bells church?
I look forward to the Dean and Chapter’s measured explanation…
I must say that the photograph of the line up of bishops (Leicester, Rochester, Salisbury, London,York, Worcester, Lincoln and Norwich) doesn’t portray their Lordships as looking very happy in welcoming the new Primate of All England!
“Say ye holy shepherds say
What your joyful news today?”
Cynthia, I agree entirely about ‘deeply disappointing’. I would add: ‘utterly imbecilic’, because these bishops and archbishops will be beaten on this issue – rightly so, in my opinion, but they will drag the rest of us (in the UK) into the mud.
What Cynthia Said. He has my prayers—but they are particularly for his *conversion*. Gracious God, grant us ALL More Light!
I agree with Cynthia about the vital focus being England but I hope he will change his position over gay marriage .Sad he attacked it straight away but I suppose it was in response to a question.
Does anyone know why is he wearing a black gown over the linen one when the other bishops are a wearing red one? Anything to do with his churchmanship?
Unlike, Cynthia, John, et al, in my opinion this is first glimmer of hope I see for the Communion. Have the winds shifted? I pray so. God bless and guide ++Justin.
“Deeply disappointing that one of his first official utterances is support for the CoE’s homophobic statements and positions.” Indeed.
Is “Virger” a misspelling of “Verger”?
Rowan Williams’s confirmation of election also took place in St Paul’s (Monday 2 December 2002 according to the copy of the Order of Service etc in front of me). I think the problems with St Mary-le-Bow are size and accessibility. St Paul’s permits many more people to be present and to see what is going on, including the media. Additionally, I am told that the Court at St Mary-le-Bow is in the Crypt and it is virtually impossible for anyone other than the able-bodied to access it. St Paul’s may have its own accessibility issues (with lots of steps up… Read more »
Tom: I know that for some reason he likes to wear a black shirt and not a magenta one, perhaps this applies to his rochet as well.
@Tom: “Does anyone know why is he wearing a black gown over the linen one when the other bishops are a wearing red one? Anything to do with his churchmanship?”
The “gown” is a chimere.
According to Wikipedia “Traditionally, the red chimere was worn only by bishops holding the degree of Doctor of Divinity and the black chimere by the others, arising from the academic history of the garment. However, in recent times this distinction has not always been followed.”
So could it be that he doesn’t hold a DD, and is therefore correctly wearing a black chimere?
I thought there was a softening of mood which was very welcome
The photos do give the impression of a sombre occasion.
Prayers for the new Archbishop from across the water.
Though the order of service indicates that at least a couple of females took part in the liturgy, the lineup of dour-looking males in the photographs serves to dramatise the CofE’s present situation.
Spirit, I have come upon this spelling of ‘virger’ before, and my 1947 Shorter Oxford English Dictionary tells me that it “is still retained in various cathedrals, e.g. St. Paul’s and Winchester”. What in America we call the ‘verge’ (the staff of office) can correspondingly be spelt ‘virge’.
I don’t know why anyone would be disappointed. What did you expect, after all this? Stubborn, selfish, fearful rejection of change masquerading as some sort of commitment to Holiness is the hallmark of the church.
Rob, I wish you’d explain your “glimmer of hope” and question about the “winds shifting.” Rowan supported the same homophobic utterances that Justin supported. And Rowan attempted to use the “80 million Anglican Communion” as leverage to ram misogyny and homophobia down the throats of the progressive churches. Justin’s talk actually threatens more of the same. Hope would be church leaders who understand that God created a diverse world and that ALL of us are created in God’s image, not just old white men in England. Homophobia and misogyny are theologically lame, and it’s hurtful. Very hurtful. That can’t be… Read more »
Red or black? I thought it was to do with red (or not) letter days. Here in the Church of Ireland Bishops in black chimeres are often seen, according to the Kalendar, I note that newly consecrated bishops in the C of E always wear black chimeres, even if their consecrators are in scarlet. In the Lords bishops seem to be in black as far as I can tell. I suspect that C of E bishops should wear black more often, but the urge to pretend they are cardinsals must be hard to resist-indeed at an Ebbsfleet ‘do’ he was… Read more »
@evensongjunkie. Rowan Williams also chose to avoid the pink vest but I thought that was to be more like the Roman Catholic Bishops who when wearing a suit only differentiate themselves from lesser clergy by the wearing of a pectoral cross. @ Alan T Perry, Thanks for that. I had thought that academic dress was, on the contrary, modelled on older monastic choir dress. The black pleated Benedictine monk’s cowl gave way to the open-fronted BA gown, with an adaptation of slits in the sleeves at the MA level. BA hoods lined with white fur (Oxford + Cambridge) were standard… Read more »
Thanks for the explanation Simon. My spies tell me too that that is the official reason. In fact it is a pretty feeble excuse and it is felt at least by some that St Paul’s managed a coup d’etat for their own benefit. Poor little St Mary le Bow, they’ll never get the privilege back again.
Simon — you are right that, historically, the court at St Mary-le-Bow Church, Cheapside, was in the crypt of the church: hence its full name as the “Arches Court of Canterbury”. However, in recent years (unless the practice has been reversed very recently), court proceedings have taken place, not in the crypt but in the nave of the church. This was certainly the case on the two occasions I have attended the court: for the confirmation of the election of the present Bishop of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich on 22nd October 2007 (but with the reception after the ceremony held… Read more »
Fear not for the future of St Mary le Bow as the normal venue of confirmations of election. +Sentamu was confirmed there & so are jobbing Bishops. But as others have said it’s probably to small for all who want to see Cantuar confirmed.
Incidentally, Simon, the Court of the Arches now normally sits in the upstairs church. Anciently it sat in the crypt which as you say isn’t accessible to wheelchair users.
The black chimere tends to be worn by the person being “done” (consecrated, licensed, whatever) while the rest of the bishops wear a red chimere. And “virger” is St Paul’s speak for “verger”. And I’m becoming an ecclesiastical anorak. Good Lord, deliver us…
And the reason why St Paul’s was that (a) Justin wanted it in the context of worship, not just the usual legal gubbins that gets done normally, and (b) he wanted people to be able to come. So don’t pity St Mary le Bow; I’m sure they’ll get it back for the next one that isn’t in the Northern Province (Blackburn, Manchester and Durham in the queue)
rambler
Are you saying that the Bishop of Ebbsfleet was dressed as a cardinal? I’d think it unlikely – though he is seen in Roman episcopal choir dress reasonably often.
The Vicar of St Mary, Kenton is a chaplain to the Queen and his interpretation of what he should wear in choir makes him look a little like a cardinal in his scarlet.
Richard: you are quire right. crimson rather than scarlet, Gorgeous anyway.
Pete Broadbent, thank you for a spirited intervention regarding hard done by St Mary le Bow.
Alas, there’s nothing in your analysis that leaves a convincing argument (during worship etc) for St Paul’s over and above what could have been done in the traditional ‘Court of Arches’ venue. St Paul’s still looks like a take over job – whatever will they be after next – King William V’s coronation perhaps, on the grounds that there’s more space and better worship?
I beg to differ with the Bishop of Willesden but bishops being consecrated in the Southern Province tend to wear red chimeres – while those being “done” in the Northern Province wear black chimeres.
So the new ABC is greeted by arguing over venues and sex and an extensive discussion of clergy fashion. It’s enough to make me want to pray.
Well I know what colour I was asked to wear. But can’t be bothered with tat wars.
Probably worth mentioning that St Mary le Bow was the chief church of the old deanery of the Arches – that is, the peculiar jurisdiction that encompassed thirteen parishes within the City of London, of which only four remain (St Mary le Bow, St Michael Paternoster Royal, St Vedast alias Foster and St Mary Aldermary – although many of the fittings of All Hallows Lombard Street are now at All Hallows Twickenham, and a couple of fittings of St Dionis Backchurch are now at St Dionis Parsons Green). Whilst almost all peculiar jurisdictions were abolished in 1845, it would have… Read more »
Chimeres – red, black, blue or gold – are hardly at the top of most Anglican’s agenda at this moment in the history of the Church of England.
Much more important is the reality of whether, or not, the new ABC is going to tackle the endemic climate of homophobia and misogyny in the Church
Richard,I gather Chaplains to the King/Queen wear red [crimson? scarlet? what’s the difference, please?]
This is why the Pannett Art Gallery at Whitby boasts a portrait of a former Marquis of Normanby in Holy Orders and Royal Chaplain looking for all the world like a renaissance Cardinal
@Peter Michael Thorber: I am not certain that Normanby was ever a chaplain in ordinary per se (I would need to check in back numbers of Whitacker’s Almanack, but his entry in Who Was Who makes no mention of him ever holding that post). However, he was entitled to wear a red cassock on account of his being a canon of Windsor, as he was from 1891 to 1907. Of course the distinction is a fine one.
The Bishop of Willesden states that he “can’t be bothered with tat wars” but it would seem that colour still holds some importance and significance for His Lordship. I note that the bishop who once famously dyed his hair purple still favours the imperial purple episcopal shirt rather than the more humble black as favoured by the two most recent Cantuars. Father Ron – of even greater importance than the new ABC’s views on human sexuality – which so diverted and dominated Rowan’s archiepiscopate – must be the Gospel call to evangelise. Wouldn’t it be good if Justin got down… Read more »
In response to Father David; I’m sure that, given his Evangelical provenance – with HTB and the Alpha Scheme – Archbishop Justin will do his best to evangelise his diocese and, hopefully, assist in the propagation of the Gospel – so that it will be Good News to all – irrespective of race, ethnic background, colour, gender or sexual-orientation.
This is my prayer for his ministry.
Oh, yes. I remember Coggan’s grey face on the telly talking about that!
But for the sake of accuracy, wasn’t the Decade of Evangelism a legacy of Lambeth 1988?