Friday, 16 March 2012

So it's 'Farewell' to Rowan

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has announced he is leaving his post to become Master of Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge in January 2013

It has been an immense privilege to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury over the past decade, and moving on has not been an easy decision. During the time remaining there is much to do, and I ask your prayers and support in this period and beyond. I am abidingly grateful to all those friends and colleagues who have so generously supported Jane and myself in these years, and all the many diverse parishes and communities in the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion that have brought vision, hope and excitement to my own ministry. I look forward, with that same support and inspiration, to continuing to serve the Church’s mission and witness as best I can in the years ahead.

Well, it's 'goodbye' to a truly brilliant and humble man and 'hello' to a contest that will be interesting in the extreme. Hill's, the book,maker are already running a book and the runners are:

6/4 John Sentamu (a good runner, lots of success when the going is tough)

Others in the frame (apparently) are:

7/4 Richard Chartres (London)
5/1 Nick Baines (Bradford)
6/1 Christopher Cocksworth (Coventry)
8/1 Tom Wright(formerly Durham)
10/1 Graham Jones (Norwich)
12/1 Stephen Cottrell (Chelmsford) and John Inge (Worcester)

Cry God for England and Harry and get that bet on?

8 comments:

Steve Day (therevsteve) said...

Lord, O Lord, O Lord,
Stephen Cottrell is the only name on that list who would be on mine.
Interesting to note, however, that I know three of them, met one more, and encountered a fifth on Twitter!

Simon Heron said...

I think Stephen Cottrell is Chelmsford, not Reading. He is my diocesan, so I really ought to know!

Neil Bradley said...

Well, vic
My money is in the usual Anglican fudge tradition.
How about James Langstaff?

UKViewer said...

I'm sad to say that there's not many on that list who would fit into the mould of the role of Arch Bishop.

Last time, we looked to the Church in Wales for Arch Bishop Rowan.

Perhaps we'll do the same this time around? Bishop David Chillingworth of the Scottish Episcopal Church would be a good contender.

Anonymous said...

Graham James ( Norwich) ..knows the workings of the C of E well, was Runcie's chaplain so aware of the anglican Communion...known as a stable, intelligent "calmer down".

Perry Butler, Canterbury

Vic Van Den Bergh said...

Simon - duly corrected :-)

What fun we're going to have over the next few weeks.

Fudge anyone?

I remember that Christopher Herbert was billed as a safe pair of hands when there was conflict over the vacancy Rowan eventually filled. Who are the 'safe' hands in the list thus far I wonder?

Pax

Anonymous said...

That should leave a vacancy for you somewhere then!

Bob said...

It would be totally unlike the Anglican communion to go with an unsafe pair of hands - like the current incumbent at Rochester. Now he would really stir the place up...