I was the Archbishop’s ghost
John Sentamu, the former Archbishop of York, wrote all his own sermons and speeches, but needed help with his huge correspondence. As the Church of England’s first black archbishop, Sentamu was hot news – and in great demand. He asked a retired archdeacon to assist with the shoals of letters, invitations and emails.
One day, that archdeacon asked if I’d look at an article he’d drafted for the Sunday Express. I had also retired – so it was two ‘oldies’ working together. The first half was more Observer than Express
– so I rewrote that in popular journalese. Two days later, I was delighted to find the article exactly as written.
And I was amused to read a note saying that the Archbishop had generously donated his (our?) fee for the article to charity. Quite right, too.
A glossy Yorkshire magazine wanted a Christmas piece from the Archbishop. His press officer asked me to write a draft. I knew a bit about John Sentamu’s early family life in Uganda from interviewing him for a Radio 4 Sunday-morning service. And I guessed that his favourite place to celebrate Christmas might be York Minster.
Again, I was amused – and pleased – to find my article in that periodical exactly as I’d penned it, complete with a photo of the Archbishop. They also serve, who only sit and write… I drafted low-level responses to letters. The Archbishop and his Chief of Staff read those letters and made them personal before they were signed by the Archbishop. The topics were varied: anything from a serious point of theology to church politics; from a complaint about a local vicar or church practice to a thank-you letter. Am I being disloyal to the Archbishop in revealing these secrets? I decided to contact a former senior member of the palace staff to ask advice: he encouraged me to go ahead.
This gives some insight into the pressures of high office – whether in the world of commerce, politics or religion. Archbishops and bishops work very long days.
When they are out of their diocese or province – perhaps travelling to encourage Christians and others in distant lands – emails and questions need to be dealt with in their absence.
By Rev Canon John Young, York, who receives £50
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