Church must live with history of ‘saints and slave-traders’, archbishop says

Being a Christian in the Church of England means living with “baggage” which includes “saints and slave-traders”, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.

Justin Welby said the Church has an inheritance “to be reformed, to be repented of, to be imitated” during a virtual service on Thursday for the Confirmation of Election of Stephen Cottrell as the 98th holder Archbishop of York.

The archbishop also acknowledged that the “ravages of the coronavirus” have shaken the foundations of our society to their core.

In his address following the formal election ceremony, Mr Welby said: “Living as a Christian requires us to live not only in fellowship with Christians around the world but, also, with the Church throughout time, in practice that draws us into traditional and inherited patterns.

“With the Church of England we know that some of those bring baggage.

“We find saints and slave-traders, the proud and prelatical, with the humble servant of the people.

“They are part of us, of our inheritance, to be reformed, to be repented of, to be imitated.”

The archbishop told those watching online: “We gather together during a time of uncertainty when many are suffering, many are fearful and the foundations of our society have been shaken to their core by the ravages of the coronavirus.

“The whole church is committed to pray for all those who have been affected and continue to be affected by this pandemic; Jesus told us to keep on praying and not to lose heart.”

Referring to the unusual circumstances of the service, Mr Welby said: “Even though this ministry begins today in a digital environment, it will be earthed in the world that Christ came to save.”

Mr Cottrell, who has been Bishop of Chelmsford, succeeded Dr John Sentamu as the second most senior cleric in the Church of England, after the legal proceedings were completed during the service, which has been adapted due to the pandemic.

He is due to undertake the custom of knocking three times on the west door of the Minster with the Braganza crozier, his staff of office, which is normally part of the now-deferred enthronement service.

The new archbishop was born in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, in 1958 and is married to Rebecca, a potter.

They have three sons.