News

Durham University sends congratulations as alumnus appointed Archbishop of Canterbury

(9 November 2012)

Bishop Justin Welby

Durham University has sent its congratulations to alumnus Justin Welby on his appointment as the 105^th Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Right Reverend Welby, currently the Bishop of Durham, was a student at Cranmer Hall, St John’s College, Durham University, between 1989 and 1992. He studied for a degree in Theology and obtained the Cranmer Diploma in Ministerial Studies.

He will take up the post of Archbishop of Canterbury in March next year, succeeding Dr Rowan Williams, who himself holds an honorary degree from Durham University.

Bishop Justin is due to make one of his first public appearances since his appointment at Durham University when he delivers a lecture as part of the Durham Castle Lecture Series.

The lecture, entitled “Seen but not Heard – Should Believers have a Voice in the Polis?” is due to take place at 7.45pm on Wednesday, November 14, in Durham Castle, home to Durham’s University College. Further details can be found here: www.dur.ac.uk/university.college/events/?eventno=14060

St John's College, Durham University, and in particular Cranmer Hall, warmly welcomed the appointment of Bishop Justin as the 105^th Archbishop of Canterbury.

Bishop Justin trained in preparation for ordination at Cranmer Hall and is remembered as a student with a deep faith, personal warmth, and a hard working, but humble ordinand of great ability.

His return to Durham as Bishop has been marked by his characteristic wisdom, grace, clarity and ready encouragement, the College added.

The Reverend Mark Tanner, Warden of Cranmer Hall said: "We will deeply miss Bishop Justin's inspiring leadership and his remarkable ability to both support and challenge us in just the right proportions, but we are in no doubt that he is the right appointment to succeed Archbishop Rowan Williams, to whom we also owe a great and lasting debt of gratitude.

“Justin epitomises so much that is good about Cranmer Hall, combining a first rate mind with a gracious heart and deep personal faith. He is a leader, an entrepreneur, a peace-maker, a teacher, and an often prophetic voice speaking wisdom into broken situations. We will be praying for him and his family as he takes on this new responsibility."

Reverend Professor David Wilkinson, Principal of St John's College, of which Cranmer Hall is part, said: "We are delighted at the news of this appointment and also want to pledge our support to Bishop Justin and the Church of England at this key time.  As one of our former students and our diocesan Bishop, we have had the privilege of experiencing Justin's creativity, integrity and earthed spirituality. He combines humility with joyful confidence in the gospel."