(Daily Mail): CANTUAR's Installation

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2296812/Archbishop-Canterbury-Justin-Welby-says-gay-couples-relationships-stunning-quality.html

Archbishop of Canterbury says some gay couples have relationships of 'stunning quality' as he is due to be enthroned by a woman for the first time in history

• Justin Welby will officially become 105th Archbishop of Canterbury at 3pm
• Will be enthroned by Sheila Watson, first woman to perform the ceremony
• Praised the loving relationships of gay couples despite his beliefs
• Agreed to meet with campaigner Peter Tatchell to discuss gay marriage
• Protesters gather at Canterbury Cathedral to demonstrate against cuts

By Hugo Gye
PUBLISHED:04:50 EST, 21 March 2013| UPDATED:10:02 EST, 21 March 2013

Justin Welby will today be officially enthroned as the Archbishop of Canterbury - and for the first time in history, the person presiding over the ceremony will be a woman.

Sheila Watson, Archdeacon of Canterbury, will install the new head of the Anglican church on his throne in Canterbury Cathedral at 3pm today, marking the start of his public ministry as the 105th Archbishop.

In another break with tradition, Mr Welby has praised some homosexual couples for the 'stunning quality' of their relationships, and offered to meet prominent gay-rights campaigner Peter Tatchell to discuss his position on same-sex marriage.

Ceremony: Justin Welby, left, is today being enthroned as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury by Archdeacon Sheila Watson, right

Preparation: The Archbishop pictured in Canterbury today ahead of his official enthronement

The new Archbishop has repeatedly expressed opposition to all sex outside of marriage, including between gay couples, but in an interview with BBC News today he said: 'You see gay relationships that are just stunning in the quality of the relationship.'

He added that his views had been affected by 'particular friends where I recognise that and am deeply challenged by it'.

After being publicly criticised by Mr Tatchell for speaking out against the legalisation of same-sex marriage, Mr Welby emailed him thanking him for the 'very thoughtful' open letter and offering to meet to discuss the issue 'without the mediation of the press'.

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While it is less hardline than other denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England is firmly opposed to gay sex and same-sex marriage.
Anglicans in Africa have spoken out in fiery terms against gay relationships - bishops in Nigeria denounce 'the evil of homosexuality which is a perversion of human dignity'.
Liberal Anglicans in North America, on the other hand, have appointed gay priests and bishops, leading to a serious deterioration in ties between the various branches of the church.

Setting: Mr Welby is being enthroned at the centuries-old Canterbury Cathedral

Procession: Clerics entering the cathedral ahead of the formal installation ceremony

Ecumenical: Representatives of other faiths were invited to the ceremony in Canterbury

In another interview with Channel 5 this morning, the Archbishop said he believed one of his successors would eventually be a woman, despite the defeat of the latest effort to allow female priests to become bishops.

Around 2,000 people are expected to attend the enthronement ceremony in Canterbury today, with the Prince of Wales and David Cameron scheduled to be among the congregation.

The service is set to feature African dancers, Punjabi music, a blessing from an African archbishop and even improvised organ music, as Mr Welby seeks to put his own stamp on the venerable office.

This morning the Archbishop showed his light touch as he jogged past camera crews in the precincts of the cathedral dressed in a yellow lycra top and black leggings.
'He was very cheery - there was a little bit of cheekiness,' said one cameraman who was setting up for the ceremony. 'He wanted to make sure we clocked him.'

Others in the area were less cheerful - around 50 protesters gathered near the cathedral to demonstrate against the Coalition Government's austerity programme ahead of the Prime Minister's arrival.

Campaigners who had gathered for the protest which they had dubbed a 'Carnival Against the Cuts' waved placards including 'Cuts are crippling me' and 'Fight the bedroom tax'.
Keith Woods, of Keep Our NHS Public, said: 'This isn't a protest against royalty or the church because Justin Welby has been a supporter of what we are fighting for.
'But we couldn't let this occasion pass with David Cameron being here without saying we don't agree to the cuts that are hitting the poorest in society.'

Historic: The new Archbishop, pictured with his wife Caroline, will break with tradition during the service

Pilgrimage: The Archbishop, pictured in Chichester, has spent the past few days travelling around the country

Expedition: The Archbishop with the Bishop of Southwark walking across the Millennium Bridge in London

 

Ms Watson will enthrone him as Bishop of Canterbury before the Dean of Canterbury, Robert Willis, installs him on the chair of St Augustine, marking his appointment as the senior clergyman in the Church of England and spiritual leader of the world's 77million Anglicans.
Other features of the ceremony include a key role for a young member of the Anglican Communion, Evangeline Kanagasooriam, who will ask Mr Welby formal questions about his role after he has struck the west door of the cathedral three times with his staff at the start of the service.

Meeting: Mr Welby has agreed to talk to gay-rights campaigner Peter Tatchell about same-sex marriage

 

The service will also include an African element, reflecting the Archbishop's ties with the continent through his former job as an oil executive and most recently in peace and reconciliation work.

The Archbishop of Burundi, Bernard Ntahoturi, will pronounce a blessing in French and African dancers will perform before the Gospel is read at the service.

Other personal touches include the choice of Mr Welby's robes for the service.
He will wear colourful vestments originally designed and made for the late Bishop of Peterborough, Ian Cundy, who was the Most Rev Welby's tutor at Cranmer Hall, Durham, where he trained in preparation for ordination between 1989 and 1992 after leaving the oil industry.

Westminster Cathedral organist Matthew Martin will perform an organ improvisation during the service when five representatives from the worldwide Anglican Communion place symbols representing their region on the high altar of Canterbury Cathedral.

During the service, Mr Welby will be asked to make the declaration of assent, outlining his loyalty to the Church of England, by the Archbishop of York John Sentamu.

He will then be asked by Mr Willis to swear an oath of faithfulness on the Canterbury Gospels, brought to Britain by St Augustine in 597.

The service will feature a newly commissioned anthem using the opening words of the Rule of St Benedict set to music by the composer Michael Berkeley.

The ceremony coincides with the feast day of St Benedict of Monte Cassino, a significant figure for both Canterbury Cathedral - which was once a Benedictine monastery - and Mr Welby, who is an oblate of the Order of Benedict.


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