Page 10
www.celtic-connection.com
OCTOBER 2002
WELSHMAN TO BE NEW ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
By EIFION WILLIAMS
The new head of the world-wide Anglican Church is a Welsh-speaking theologian and academic with a reputation for speaking out on public issues.
The current Archbishop of Wales, The Most Reverend Dr. Rowan Williams, will succeed Dr. George Carey as Archbishop of Canterbury at the end of this month, becoming the first non-Church of England Archbishop in 300 years.
Dr. Williams was born in the small Swansea Valley industrial town of Ystradgynlais but grew up in Mumbles, near Swansea, hitherto better known to most people as the home of Hollywood star Catherine Zeta Jones.
Dr. Williams is an outstanding scholar who has held senior posts in theology at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities. But according to one observer it is his ability to inspire both awe and affection in people from all walks of life that has most impressed those who know him.
The Rt. Rev. Anthony Pearce, Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, said of him: "Rowan is a man of deep spirituality with a fine intellect and at the same time is a person who has the ability to relate to people of all ages and backgrounds. He has the ability to help people think things through in a creative and unifying way."
Dr. Williams will need this latter ability in his new position. As Archbishop of Canterbury he will be the head of a world-wide Anglican community of over 70 million members, a community currently involved in a divisive debate over social and moral issues, especially on questions of sexual morality.
In the past Dr. Williams has expressed support for the ordination of gay and lesbian clergy. He has also accepted the view that divorced people can be remarried in the Anglican Church, a view that might encourage Prince Charles to pop the question to Camilla Parker-Bowles.
There is even speculation that his views on marriage might have influenced the Queen and Tony Blair in approving his appointment as Archbishop.
Blair and his Government may find the new Archbishop's views on other issues less welcome. He opposed the bombing of Afghanistan and has publicly voiced his opposition to any future military attack on Iraq.
Dr. Williams was in New York and actually witnessed the destruction of the World Trade Center, an act which he called "unspeakably wicked." But at the same time he cautioned the United States against retaliation based purely on revenge.
The new Archbishop has also expressed great concern for the way society treats children.
He condemns corporations, including the Disney Corporation, for the corruption and "pre-sexu-alization" of children through advertising, tying in consumer items like clothing and toys with the movies, and creaUng characters in children's films who are inappropriately sexual.
At the same time, he has praised The Simpsons as a positive force for common sense and virtue. (His other favourite television program is Father Ted, a British comedy about a bumbling priest).
He is also opposed to so-called school "league tables," where British schools are ranked according to exam results, an issue that has also been the subject of recent debate in Canada. He maintains that such rankings lead to "a spiral of failure for the less successful competitors."
These strongly-held views will undoubtedly make Dr. Rowan Williams a controversial Archbishop of Canterbury, although he said after his appointment, "I don't come to this task with a fixed program or agenda.
"If there is one thing I long for above all else it is that Christianity in this country will capture the imagination of our culture again."
Predictably, Dr. Williams' appointment has been criticized by many Anglicans who disagree with his liberal views on moral issues.
One of the more absurd criticisms of the future Archbishop came last month when the Times of London and a representative of the conservative evangelical group Reform claimed that the future Archbishop was becoming involved in paganism and druidism by being accepted into the Gorsedd of Bards at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.
Dr. Williams responded by saying, "The National Eisteddfod and the Gorsedd are an important and integral part of Wales' national life and admission to the Gorsedd is one of the greatest honours which Wales can bestow on her citizens."
National Eisteddfod officials pointed out that the Gorsedd ceremony has a strong Christian tradition and many of its members, including past Archdruids, have been clergymen.
They might also have pointed out that the present-day Gorsedd ceremony is a relatively recent invention by an eccentric Eighteenth Century London Welsh literary figure named Iolo Morgannwg.
Motivated by a desire for a renewal of Welsh patriotic fervour, Iolo Morgannwg sought to revive ancient Celtic traditions, many of which existed only in his own fertile mind.
Dr. Williams said recently, "Leaving Wales is going to be very hard indeed and I cannot imagine I will ever forget it. I feel it was a great privilege to grow up in Swansea."
Most would agree that Wales' loss will be a significant gain for the world-wide Anglican community. Whether or not he will be able to assist in settling controversies such as the one in the Diocese of New Westminster over the blessing of same-sex marriages remains to be seen.
A clue might be found iu the words of Paul Vallely, associate editor of the Independent newspaper, who knows him well, "People call him a liberal, and in many ways he is. But he's an orthodox liberal when it comes to doctrine."
Fond Farewell to British Consul General
VANCOUVER - On September 25, friends gathered to wish a fond farewell to the British Consul General, Ian Kydd and his wife Louise. The reception, hosted by the British High Commissioner to Canada, Sir Andrew Burns, was held at the Vancouver Club.
After a four-year posting in Vancouver, the Kydds depart later this autumn to take up a new posting in India. The popular couple have enjoyed a high local profile and attended many Scottish cultural events over the past four years.
The new Consul General, James Rollinson and his wife Katherine will arrive from Bordeaux, France in early November to commence their new posting in British Co-lumbia-
BRITISH CONSUL GENERAL lan Kydd with his wife Louise at a reception to say farewell to friends and associates at their Vancouver posting.
BOB AND BETH ARMOUR with Elizabeth Murray and Jim and Diane Bain.
SIR ANDREW BURNS - The British High Commissioner to Canada
SHOWN BELOW: (L-R) Sally Warren, Hamish and Isla Roberts, Dawn Bastian and Jade Wong.
LIAM AND JACKIE HOPKINS with Ann Roberts and Ken and Margaret Williams