BBC Learning English
Words in the News
Ceremony for new Archbishop
of Canterbury
4 February 2013
The former Bishop of Durham, Justin Welby, will become the 105th Archbishop of
Canterbury at a service at St Paul's Cathedral in London today, legally confirming his
selection last year. What has been a dry legal ceremony has now been transformed into
a church service for the new leader of the Church of England. BBC Religious Affairs
correspondent, Robert Pigott, reports:
Even by the standards of Church ritual, the confirmation of an Archbishop of
Canterbury's election is an extraordinary event. Senior bishops will sit in St Paul's
Cathedral as a court of law, using elaborate language and flowery titles to certify
Justin Welby in his new post.
The ceremony, little changed over centuries, was originally intended to prevent false
claimants being appointed to what were lucrative posts as bishop. Bishop Welby's
enthronement, amid colourful ritual and soaring music is next month in Canterbury
Cathedral, and the event has usually eclipsed this legal ceremony.
However, Justin Welby requested that today's event be set in a full church service -
including hymns and a sermon - to reflect the essentially religious nature of his new
post. As the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, reads and signs a "final proclamation",
Bishop Welby will become archbishop, and spiritual leader of some 80 million Anglicans
across the world.
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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Vocabulary and definitions
ritual solemn formal ceremony
court of law place where judges hear cases and make decisions
based on the rules of the country
flowery elaborate or complicated
lucrative posts positions that are well paid
enthronement ceremony where a person with authority or influence,
such as monarch or archbishop, starts their new role
soaring higher and louder
eclipsed overshadowed or dominated
essentially mostly or primarily
proclamation public or official announcement
Anglicans members of the Church of England
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Related News story
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21315054
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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