John Sentamu

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable John Sentamu, FRSA, is the new (as of October 2005) Archbishop of York. He is the first member of a racial minority to serve as an archbishop in the Church of England.

Related Topics:
The Most Reverend - Right Honourable - FRSA - October 2005 - Archbishop of York - Archbishop - Church of England

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Sentamu was born in 1949 in a village near Kampala, Uganda, the sixth of thirteen children. He was educated for the law at Makerere University, and practised as an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda. Sentamu was appointed a High Court judge at the age of 24 shortly after Idi Amin rose to power. But he became a critic of Idi Amin, and was forced to flee to the United Kingdom in 1974.

Related Topics:
1949 - Kampala - Uganda - Makerere University - Advocate - High Court - Judge - Idi Amin - United Kingdom - 1974

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He studied for a doctorate in theology at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, and was ordained as a priest in 1979. He served as assistant chaplain at Selwyn College, Cambridge, before becoming chaplain at a remand centre and in 1996, after a series of parish appointments, Bishop of Stepney (a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of London). It was during this time that he served as advisor to the Stephen Lawrence Judicial Enquiry. In 2002 he chaired the Damilola Taylor review.

Related Topics:
Ridley Hall - Cambridge - 1979 - Chaplain - Selwyn College, Cambridge - 1996 - Suffragan bishop - Diocese of London - Stephen Lawrence - 2002 - Damilola Taylor

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That same year he was appointed Bishop of Birmingham, where his ministry, according to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, was praised by "Christians of all backgrounds". On 17 June 2005 the Prime Minister's office announced his translation to York. On 21 July he was formally elected by the Canons of York Minster and on 5 October installed as Archbishop at a ceremony in London. He is to be enthroned at York Minster in November.

Related Topics:
Bishop of Birmingham - Archbishop of Canterbury - Rowan Williams - 17 June - 2005 - Prime Minister's - 21 July - York Minster - 5 October - London

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