You are here

Diocese of Newark priest attends - and reports on - enthronement of new Archbishop of Canterbury

Canterbury Cathedral
By: 
The Rev. Matthew Corkern

As a member of Friends of Canterbury Cathedral in the United States (FOCCUS), the Rev. Matthew Corkern, Rector of Calvary Church in Summit, was one of just a few Americans privileged to attend the enthronement of Justin Welby as 105th Archbishop of Canterbury. Here is his eyewitness account:

While of national and international importance, with a panoply of pageantry riding upon a crest of exultant enthusiasm, this occasion was marked by an underlying simple dignity, ushering in a new decade of hope and personal relationships. For this Anglo-American witness thrilled to be present, a sense of anticipation pervaded the liturgical and cultural ethos.

As expected, pilgrims and spiritual leaders from the four corners of the globe converged on Canterbury Cathedral as the heartbeat of the Anglican Communion begins here. With no less than seventeen separate processions, about one-third of the 2000 attendees traversed the great aisle either in their chains of office, wigs and ermines, or in their equally impressive ecclesiastical robes of state. A manifold display of pomp and piety entered with the Anglican bishops and archbishops ranged before or behind the leaders of the Christian denominations in Britain and representatives of Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikhs, Jain and Buddhist faiths. From the sidelines, local parishioners and cathedral staff watched alongside bishops’ wives, invited visitors and media observers. Besides Bishop Peter Lee who led the delegation of visiting bishops, and our own Presiding Bishop who took her place among the Anglican Primates, there were twelve of us hailing from The Episcopal Church. Together, our deputation represented the National Church Office, the Dioceses of Virginia and Connecticut invited for their friendship with the Diocese of Liverpool, Episcopal Relief & Development, and those of us who serve as American trustees to Canterbury (FOCCUS) or chapter-members of the Compass Rose Society.

The British nation itself was also represented accordingly by The Great and The Good – in the personages of The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Prime Minister and leading politicians, the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, the High Sheriff of Kent, several Lord Mayors, the Law Lords of the United Kingdom, as well as sundry dignitaries and venerable county families too numerous to affirm. And yet, Justin Welby requested that this occasion be referenced as an inauguration rather than an enthronement. A new day has indeed dawned.

The service began with the Archbishop’s entry into his Cathedral, having struck the West Door with his pastoral staff. The whole congregation joined the archbishop confessing their sins and seeking God’s mercy in penitence. The service then moved to the Nave Altar where prayers were offered in remembrance of the Christian calendar whereby the anniversaries of the death of St. Benedict, patron saint of Europe, whose Rule continues to influence the life of the Church, and of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, whose Book of Common Prayer shaped the worship of the Church of England. The Archbishop then made a Declaration of Assent to the Archbishop of York, and swore an Oath of Faithfulness upon the sixth-century Canterbury Gospels sent by Pope Gregory the Great, with promises “to strive for the visible unity of Christ’s Church.” Amidst the ministry of the Word being proclaimed, the Archbishop was led first to the Diocesan Throne to be seated as Bishop of the See of Canterbury, and then to the Chair of St. Augustine to be installed as Primate of All England. After a passing of the Peace, the Archbishop was drummed and danced out into the nave with a tribal song from Ghana, for him to proclaim the Gospel before preaching his sermon. Further prayers and exquisite music concluded our worship together. All participants were joined to the wider world as the Archbishop offered blessings.

Indeed, this transformative day was magical! Canterbury Cathedral seemed to smile with her enormous welcome to the world through superb liturgy, brilliant music and extraordinary hospitality. This was exuded by Dean Robert Willis himself innately calm while presiding over on the most profound moments of worship after seven months of planning to welcome all who would come. The highlights of the day must be the personal relationships reinforced and newly formed whilst in prayer. Even before this day, the Archbishop proved his mettle and gave us a glimpse of his heart by coming to his inauguration on the heels of a thoughtful five-day prayer-pilgrimage asking others to pray for him and with him. In person, the Archbishop was warm, genuine, and self-aware of making rounds to meet all who had gathered. Later on a returning train to London, I had the good fortune to meet two of his earliest parishioners from Southam, Warwickshire. Pam Ireland-Brown stated, “He is real. He does not just pray at you; he prays with you and asks for your prayers often.”

What a spectacular day for our new Archbishop to be installed in the chair of St. Augustine which, for Anglican Christians, is the center of their communion and fellowship! With much heralded future promise, this brilliant businessman turned forward-thinking, listening minister of the Gospel will make a difference at the helm of our spiritual armada. I feel humbled and privileged to have been among that number invited to bear witness to the prayers ascending.