The Archbishop of York, Dr Sentamu, will perform his final duties in office tomorrow, Trinity Sunday, preaching during a national online service, to be broadcast at 9 a.m. His wife, the Revd Margaret Sentamu, will lead the intercessions.
At 8 a.m. on the same day, Dr Sentamu will reflect on the trials that he has faced — including living under the regime of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin and surviving cancer — in a special broadcast on BBC local radio stations.
Monday will mark his formal retirement, two days before his 71st birthday. Ecclesiastical law states that all bishops and archbishops must retire at 70, but the Queen exercised her right to grant a one-year extension. At the time that his retirement was announced, Dr Sentamu expressed gratitude to the Queen for enabling him “to complete the work to which I have been called”. The Archbishop of Canterbury said: “Your devotion to Christ and service to the Church of England is something we rejoice in with great gratitude.”
Born in Uganda in 1949 and trained in law, Dr Sentamu was ordained deacon and priest in 1979. He served as a prison chaplain and in Southwark diocese before being consecrated bishop in 1996, for the Stepney Area in London. He was translated to Birmingham in 2002. He was installed as the 97th Archbishop of York in November 2005.
Dr Sentamu’s successor, the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, will be confirmed as the 98th Archbishop of York at 11 a.m. on Thursday 9 July, in a ceremony broadcast on Zoom, which will be available on the Church of England’s website.
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