Ceremony in contrast to Sentamu’s flamboyant arrival

IT WAS as memorable for its flamboyance as it was as an initial statement of intent for his tenure as the Archbishop of York.

Fifteen years ago, Dr John Sentamu announced his own arrival into the role of the Church of England’s second highest position in a service that was as far removed from yesterday’s enthronement ceremony as it could have been.

His inauguration on November 30, 2005, has lived long in the memory of the 3,500-strong congregation who experienced an eclectic mix of centuriesold tradition and ritual with vibrant African customs from

Ugandan-born Dr Sentamu’s homeland.

The two-hour service was interspersed with African drumming and traditional song, along with performances by a 20-strong group of dancers, some bare-chested, wearing colourful head plumage of red, white and black feathers and leopard-skin print skirts and Tshirts.

The enthronement of Dr Sentamu heralded a major step forward into the 21st century for the Church of England as he became Britain’s first black archbishop.

Throughout the intervening decade-and-a-half, he captured headlines for his outspoken views on a host of issues from young people, slavery, social injustice and conflicts abroad.

Dr Sentamu, the former Bishop of Birmingham who was announced as the 97th Archbishop of York in the summer of 2005, arrived at the Minster after travelling by boat along the River Ouse from his official residence at Bishopthorpe Palace with African drummers on board.

After his enthronement and in a clear indication of how he would engage with the wider public during his time as Archbishop, Dr Sentamu spent two hours mingling with members of the congregation, signing autographs and posing for photographs.