From the Anglican Communion News Service:
The Most Revd Josiah Idowu-Fearon, the Anglican Archbishop of the
Province of Kaduna and Bishop of Kaduna diocese, was installed as a Six
Preacher [Thursday] during Evensong by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the
Most Revd Rowan Williams, and the Very Revd Robert Willis, the Dean of
Canterbury. The appointment is for five years and may be renewed.
Archbishop Idowu-Fearon replaces Canon Dr John Polkinghorne, who has
retired as a Six Preacher. Recent Six Preachers include Bishop John
Robinson and Prof A J Mason, the translator of many hymns.
Archbishop Idowu-Fearon was born in 1949 in Nigeria. Although he trained
briefly as a soldier, he soon decided that he wished to serve God as a
priest and was ordained in 1971, becoming a bishop in 1990. He has a
doctorate degree in Islamic studies, with special interest in
Christian-Muslim relations, and is married to Comfort; they have two
sons, Ibrahim and Dquda, and a daughter Ninma.
“We have already come to know Archbishop Josiah as a friend from his
time spent teaching in our International Study Centre to the Canterbury
Scholars course” said Robert Willis earlier today. “This appointment –
one of the first from the wider Anglican Communion – enhances the
concept of the teaching ministry at Canterbury Cathedral that was so
firmly laid down by Cranmer at the time of the Reformation”. “I feel
humbled by this appointment” Archbishop Idowu-Fearon said yesterday
before the service, “remembering that this ministry was founded by
Archbishop Cranmer. Being a Six Preacher will give me a sense of
belonging to the community at Canterbury Cathedral which has existed for
over 1,400 years – my own Diocese of Kaduna is only 50 years old! I hope
that this recognition will help me to be an ambassador for Christ, not
just within the Anglican Communion, but to my Muslim neighbours”.