North must see promises kept – new Archbishop

Synod told church is ‘tribal and divided’

THE new Archbishop of York has called for equality of wealth and opportunity between the North and the South to be “kept on the agenda”.

Speaking yesterday after carrying out his first service at York Minster, Stephen Cottrell also expressed his hope that the church would “examine itself” and become a more “loving, accepting and hospitable organisation”.

The Archbishop, who previously served as Bishop of Chelmsford, was confirmed in his new role last Thursday.

Much of yesterday’s service was conducted online, with the new Archbishop being welcomed to the Minster by small numbers, compared with the 3,500-strong congregation when his predecessor, John Sentamu, was confirmed.

Dr Sentamu retired last month after serving as the second most senior Church of England cleric for over 15 years.

Though born in the South, Mr Cottrell is passionate about the North and has a history of being a more progressive bishop, as a supporter of same-sex marriage and an opponent of nuclear deterrents.

“We all understand we’re in changed times from when we had the election just over six months ago,” he said. “But the Government did make promises to the North and, as far as possible, we need to help them make good on those promises.”

Mr Cottrell also warned that the Church of England has become “tribal and divided”, as he spoke to members of the General Synod, which is meeting virtually because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said the church has allowed “secondary things to obscure our belonging to each other”.

He said there had been wideranging discussions with people from across the church, including with younger Christians whose voices are “not so easily heard”.

In his first public address since his confirmation, Mr Cottrell told the assembly that he plans to build a “safe, loving” church for worshippers.

He told the General Synod that the church’s voice remains “overly-dominated” by one which is “usually white, usually male, usually with a certain sort of education, usually over 60”.