In his first sermon as spiritual leader of the 77 million-strong Anglican global communion, the Most Rev. Justin Welby said he sees “every possible reason for optimism about the future of Christian faith in our world and in this country.” Welby was enthroned today as Archbishop of Canterbury. BBC News reports on today’s service, held at Canterbury Cathedral:
The Prince of Wales and Prime Minister David Cameron were among the 2,000 guests at Canterbury Cathedral.
Archbishop Welby told them: “The present challenges of environment and economy, of human development and global poverty, can only be faced with extraordinary Christ-liberated courage.”
He went on: “Courage is released in a society that is under the authority of God, so that we may become the fully human community of which we all dream.”
For the first time in history, a woman – the Venerable Sheila Watson, Archdeacon of Canterbury – carried out one of the two enthronements.
She firstly installed the archbishop on the diocesan throne in the cathedral, before he was then sworn in as the Archbishop of Canterbury by the Dean of Canterbury, the Very Rev Robert Willis, on the marble chair of St Augustine.
See full story and photo highlights here.